Thanksgiving Celebrations in the Classroom

There is SO much to be thankful this month. It is important we teach our kiddos ALL about Thanksgiving and the meaning of being thankful. Today’s blog post is full of all sorts of ideas that can be fun for Thanksgiving celebrations in the classroom. To read more about holidays in the classroom, read some tips HERE.

If you are looking for general tips about holidays in the classroom, check out an old post HERE. For other November ideas visit my November category on my blog! For other seasonal activities, consider November Binder Tasks, November Directed Drawing, or November Vocabulary Activities.

* This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and end up purchasing, you pay no extra cost, but I earn a small fee for referring you.

What Is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is more than just turkeys. So often we focus on turkeys and pumpkins that student’s don’t learn the true meaning of Thanksgiving. I liked to teach students about Thanksgiving using this social story. This social story can be reviewed several times over the month to help them prepare for the big day!

Thanksgiving Feast in the Classroom

Every year, when I was in the classroom, my classroom had a “feast.” I talk all about this feast (and some freebies) in an old blog post HERE. To discuss Thanksgiving dinner prep students with this social story.

How To Manage Behaviors On Thanksgiving!

Do you have a feast in your classroom? Are there parties or celebrations? Either way, most students will experience some kind of a celebration. It is important to review expectations for the big day and to minimize undesirable behaviors.

School Celebrations: This lesson is kind of a given if your school celebrates holidays. If you are having a celebration or performance the routine is going to be different. Review expectations before the celebrations begin!
Manners: Please and thank-you’s are so important during any Thanksgiving feast celebration!
Greeting Others: This holiday your students may be visiting other homes for a Thanksgiving dinner. Re-fresh their skills and teach them proper greetings.
I Won’t Hurt Myself: This lesson is an important reminder for students who resort to self injuries behaviors when overwhelmed or stressed. Holidays can be overwhelming, and we must teach them the importance of taking care of themself!
Taking Turns: This lesson is important for school celebrations because often times with celebrations come fun activities. These activities typically require sharing and taking turns with peers.
Cafeteria Manners: If you are having a large Thanksgiving feast in your classroom, it is important to review this lesson, even if you are not hosting it in your cafeteria. This lesson and rules still apply to eating in your classroom!

Thanksgiving Picture Books

Picture books and holidays go hand in hand for me! I loved to display my favorite holiday books on display each month in the classroom. I love picture books because they are a great way to build vocabulary. They also help provide opportunities for communication. Lastly, they are FUN!

I Pick Fall Pumpkins by Mary Lindeen
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Thankful by Eileen Spinelli
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Day Pilkey
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey by Lucille Colandro
Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Communication on Thanksgiving

Communication is so important because it helps us connect with our students. Thanksgiving celebrations in the classroom can be difficult to provide communication because they require words that are not typically used. To help you I created two different communication boards for Thanksgiving. The two different pages are:

Holiday Page
Thanksgiving Food Items

Thanksgiving Videos and Songs

Below are some of my favorite videos for Thanksgiving that can also be used for the entire month of November. Some of these dances are just SO fun for kids to get their wiggles out!

Thanksgiving Goodies

I love games, trinkets and decorations for the Thanksgiving celebrations in the classroom. These can also be used for vocabulary activities as well.

Below are some of my favorite finds for crafts ideas for November:

Make a Turkey Stickers: Perfect for a craft station during a Thanksgiving feast celebration!
Build a Turkey Craft: This is also a great idea for a November craft!
Turkey Craft: This could be a fun craft to implement during a party rotation!
Kids Coloring table Cloth: I LOVE this idea for hosting a thanksgiving feast in the classroom. Students can all contribute to coloring the table cloth for your feast!

Below are a few activities and games for a Thanksgiving celebration. These ideas can also be implemented all month long during recess, sensory breaks or fun Friday team building activities!

Thanksgiving Mad libs: This is a perfect activity for your language arts rotation!
Thanksgiving Bingo: I love bingo for fun Friday’s! This is also a great way to generalize November vocabulary!
Thanksgiving Bean Bag Toss: This is perfect for gross motor skills, following directions and team building activities.
Fall Tree felt board activity: This is a great addition to a morning meeting activity! Students can identify colors, shapes and follow directions!

I love seasonal hats! I know they are cheesy, but they can also be a great reinforcer for students. If students are on task, they can earn the hat! Over the years, I collected a few different holiday hats for the classroom.

Thanksgiving Crafts and Sensory Activities

Below are some fun ideas for Thanksgiving that I wanted to share with you! Click on each image to be taken to the original author for more information!

Read my blog post about November Sensory Activities HERE.

These cute turkey crafts from The Resourceful Mama are to die for cute!

Below is a fall craft idea perfect for Thanksgiving! To read more, click HERE.

Holidays can be a blast in the classroom if planned out ahead of time. I know this blog post is full of all sorts of goodies, and I completely understand if you can’t incorporate all of these ideas every year. I do hope you found some of these tips and tricks helpful for this holiday season. If you plan on discussing more holidays this year, check out my Holiday social stories discounted bundle!