Get Your Students Writing a Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving writing activity that meets the needs of a wide range of students, then a Thanksgiving acrostic poem is a great choice!

Acrostic poems make an ideal Thanksgiving writing activity because they combine holiday themes with an accessible structure that works for all ability levels. They provide a low-stakes entry point into poetry, giving younger students a clear framework to follow while still offering older or more advanced students opportunities to extend their ideas. 

This Thanksgiving acrostic poem template pack includes:

• Writing instructions
• Example acrostic poem
• Graphic organizers
• Templates for Feast, Family, Turkey, Harvest, Thankful and Gratitude
• 6 x blank templates

This resource downloads as a black-and-white PDF or editable Google Slides file.

Thanksgiving Acrostic Lesson Ideas 

There are many ways you can build an entire lesson or series of lessons around writing a Thanksgiving acrostic. Here are some ideas you might like to consider:

• Thankfulness Brainstorm Wall – Before writing their acrostic poems, have students contribute words or short phrases about things they are thankful for onto sticky notes and place them on a classroom chart. This can serve as a word bank for their poems.
• Art Activity – Encourage students to add drawings or even create a separate artwork to accompany their finished poems. These can be displayed on a classroom bulletin board during the holiday season as a collective reflection of Thanksgiving.
• Poetry Sharing Circle – Once the students have finished their Thanksgiving acrostic, have volunteers read their work aloud in small groups or as a class to celebrate different perspectives on the Thanksgiving holiday.

Download and Write Thanksgiving Acrostic Poems Today 

Use the Download button to access your preferred version of these Thanksgiving acrostic poems templates. Please note that you will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides file before accessing it.

With these ready-to-use templates, your students can practice their writing skills while reflecting on the people, traditions and moments they are truly thankful for.

This resource was created by Brittany Collins, a teacher in Indiana and a Teach Starter collaborator.

Resources to Accompany These Thanksgiving Acrostics

Click below to explore more teacher-created resources to use in conjunction with these Thanksgiving acrostics:

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