Thanksgiving Homeschool Activities Kids Will Love

Thanksgiving homeschool activities are one of my favorite ways to keep learning fun during the holiday season.

When my son was younger, we always slowed down that week, but I still wanted lessons to feel meaningful.

Adding Thanksgiving-themed games, worksheets, and crafts gave us just the right mix of structure and celebration.

Whether you’re cooking a big meal or enjoying a quiet week at home, these Thanksgiving activities are designed for kids ages 5–14 and work just as well in homeschool lessons as they do in family gatherings.

**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**

Thanksgiving Language Arts Activities

These Thanksgiving homeschool activities for language arts make writing and reading practice feel festive instead of forced.

When my son was younger, he loved silly mad libs and word scrambles, while older kids enjoyed writing prompts and acrostic poems that got them thinking more deeply about gratitude.

They work well as morning warm-ups, center work, or just a fun way to keep learning going during holiday week.

• Thanksgiving acrostic poem templates – Kids use the letters in THANKFUL or GRATEFUL to spark creative writing and practice descriptive language. Great for grades 2–6.
• Thanksgiving Mad Libs – A silly grammar activity where kids fill in nouns, verbs, and adjectives to make funny stories. Keeps parts of speech practice lighthearted.
• Thanksgiving poetry printables – Introduce short, themed poems and give kids practice reading aloud or writing their own holiday verses.
• Scarecrow acrostic poem – Another creative twist on acrostics, tying fall imagery into writing practice.
• If I were a turkey writing prompt – Kids imagine life as a turkey before Thanksgiving. Great for narrative writing and younger students who enjoy humor.
• Thanksgiving crossword puzzle – A vocabulary builder that helps reinforce holiday words in a puzzle format.
• Thanksgiving word search – Easy prep filler activity that keeps kids practicing spelling and word recognition.

• Thanksgiving word scramble – Perfect for upper elementary; challenges them to unscramble themed vocabulary.
• Gratitude journal prompts for kids – Encourages reflective writing and daily thankfulness. Simple prompts can be used at the dinner table or in journals.
• Thanksgiving alphabet printables – Helps young learners connect holiday vocabulary with letter recognition.
• Thanksgiving tracing worksheets – Handwriting and fine-motor practice wrapped in seasonal images.

• Gobble Gobble Mad Libs – A turkey-themed spin on mad libs that kids find extra funny. Keeps the grammar practice going without them noticing.
• Cranberry Thanksgiving Lapbook from Homeschool Share – A literature-based activity built around the classic book Cranberry Thanksgiving. Combines reading, writing, and hands-on projects.
• Thanksgiving dice writing activity from Walking by the Way – Roll the dice to get random prompts, then write a quick story. A playful way to beat writer’s block.

Pair these activities with some favorite Thanksgiving read alouds to inspire writing prompts and journaling.

Thanksgiving Math Worksheets

These homeschool Thanksgiving activities for math turn practice into something kids look forward to. Instead of plain drills, they’ll count turkeys, graph pumpkins, and solve dot-to-dots that reinforce number sense.

They’re simple to set up and work well for ages 4–10 as morning work, centers, or quiet practice during holiday week.

• I Spy Thanksgiving – Kids search for themed pictures, count how many they see, and record the totals for an easy intro to data skills.
• Thanksgiving graphing worksheets – Build early graphing skills by tallying seasonal objects and shading in bar graphs.
• Thanksgiving counting worksheets – Practice number recognition and one-to-one correspondence with turkeys, pies, and pumpkins.
• Thanksgiving color by number – Combine coloring with number recognition for a fun, low-prep review.

• Thanksgiving math worksheets – Simple addition and subtraction with holiday images, perfect for early learners.
• Thanksgiving dot to dot printables – Connect the numbers to reveal seasonal pictures, reinforcing sequencing.
• Thanksgiving math drills worksheets – Extra practice for addition, subtraction, or multiplication with a festive twist.

Science Thanksgiving Worksheets

These homeschool Thanksgiving ideas for science mix hands-on fun with seasonal themes. Kids can explore life cycles, try simple experiments, and connect holiday traditions with real science concepts. They’re a great way to keep curiosity alive during a busy holiday week.

• Thanksgiving science worksheet – A general activity pack to introduce themed science practice.
• Life cycle of a pumpkin worksheets – Follow a pumpkin’s journey from seed to fruit, perfect for fall harvest studies.
• Pumpkin life cycle coloring page – A simple visual activity for younger learners to reinforce sequencing.
• Label parts of a turkey worksheet – Practice basic biology by identifying a turkey’s body parts.
• Life cycle of a turkey worksheet – Helps kids understand growth stages and animal science in a holiday context.

• Pumpkin magic milk (Fun A Day) – A colorful surface tension experiment with milk and food coloring.
• Fizzy pumpkin science experiment (Living Life & Learning) – Explore chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar in a festive setup.
• Native American corn recipes (Education Possible) – Learn about food science and history by exploring how early settlers preserved and cooked corn.
• Scarecrow unit study (Hess Un-Academy) – A broader lesson that blends science, history, and problem-solving.
• Pumpkin pie sensory play (Fun A Day) – A sensory bin activity that introduces kids to textures and measurement while connecting to the holiday.

Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts

These homeschool activities for arts and crafts give kids a creative break while still tying into the holiday. From coloring pages to handmade cards, they’re easy, low-prep projects that work well for ages 4–10 at home or in small groups.

• History of Thanksgiving coloring pages – Pair with a short history lesson for a blend of art and social studies.
• Thanksgiving sorting worksheet – Practice categorizing holiday objects while cutting and pasting.
• Thanksgiving coloring pages – Simple designs for younger kids or more detailed ones for older children.
• Printable Thanksgiving cards to color – Kids can make thoughtful holiday cards to share with family.

• Thanksgiving handprint template – A keepsake craft that captures little hands while creating a turkey or seasonal design.
• Thanksgiving bookmarks to color – Quick craft that doubles as a functional reading tool.
• Thanksgiving activity placemats – Keep kids busy at the holiday table with coloring and puzzles.

Thanksgiving Games

These Thanksgiving homeschool activities for games are a fun way to bring learning and laughter together. Whether you’re keeping kids busy before dinner, planning a homeschool co-op party, or just adding a festive twist to family game night, these printable options work for a wide range of ages.

• Thanksgiving scavenger hunt – A playful way to get kids moving indoors or outside while spotting holiday-themed items.
• Thanksgiving trivia – Test knowledge of holiday history, food, and traditions, great for mixed ages.
• Thanksgiving matching game – Strengthens memory skills while kids pair Thanksgiving pictures.
• Thanksgiving scattergories – A word game that encourages quick thinking and creativity with seasonal categories.

• Thanksgiving photo scavenger hunt – Kids take photos of themed items, perfect for older children with phones or cameras.
• Thanksgiving bingo – A classic group game that works well at the kids’ table or in small classes.
• Thanksgiving escape room printables – More challenging puzzles and riddles that older kids and teens love.

Bonus Fall Printables

If you’re looking for activities to stretch beyond the holiday, these bonus fall printables are a fun way to keep kids engaged throughout the season.

• Autumn Mad Libs – While not strictly Thanksgiving, these seasonal versions work well for early November language lessons and vocabulary review.
• Fall letters printable – Early learners can trace and color alphabet letters with fall illustrations. Works well as a handwriting station.
• Fall leaves coloring sheet – Great for a seasonal art station, even outside the holiday week.
• Fall coloring sheets – Broader autumn themes for kids who enjoy variety.
• Fall scattergories – A seasonal variation that can be used throughout autumn, not just at Thanksgiving.
• Fall bingo – Another flexible group game that’s simple to set up and fun across ages.
• Outdoor fall scavenger hunt – Burn off energy with a nature walk or backyard search tied to the season.

I’d love to hear, what’s your family’s favorite Thanksgiving homeschool activity? Share in the comments!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, don’t miss our updated list of Black Friday homeschool deals, we’ll keep adding new finds as they go live.

Last Updated on 14 September 2025 by Clare Brown