Free Thanksgiving Word Search Printable for Kids

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to engage your little ones in delightful and educational Thanksgiving activities for kids. What better way to do that than with a Thanksgiving word search printable?

 This word puzzle is designed to keep the kids entertained while expanding their vocabulary and boosting their cognitive skills. 

This free Thanksgiving word search activity is a fantastic addition to your holiday celebrations, offering hours of family friendly fun and learning!

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Word Search Puzzles for Thanksgiving

Word search printables are excellent for when the kids just need a break. 

Put away the core curriculum and keep the kids busy with these fun Thanksgiving homeschool activities.

Download the free printables below, if the email doesn’t come through within 5 minutes please check your junk folder.

This free word search is available for free download but is for personal use or classroom use only. Scroll to the bottom of the page to get the pdf file.

The Thanksgiving words can be found, horizontally, vertically, diagonally, frontwards, or backward! Just to make it that much harder!

I have also added some black and white Thanksgiving-themed images for the kids to color in too! Perfect if the kids find the words too quickly! 

Tip: I recommend either using a highlighter pen or circling around the letters. Do not cross the letters out if you have found a word, as it may be used in another word!

Thanksgiving word bank

There are 15 Thanksgiving Day hidden words to find:

• Gravy
• November
• Turkey
• Gratitude
• Football
• Cooking
• Festival
• Harvest
• Family
• Friends
• Corn
• Autumn
• Pilgrims
• Leaves
• Pumpkin

The answer key is included in the download which you can get at the bottom of this post. 

Why not treat the kids to the History Smashers: The Mayflower book? It is perfect for upper elementary-aged kids, and goes over what really happened.

Playing Thanksgiving word search at the dinner table

With Thanksgiving break just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for the whole family to have some fun. What better way to do that than with a Thanksgiving word search printable? 

This word puzzle is designed to keep the older kids entertained while expanding their vocabulary and boosting their cognitive skills. But it’s not just an individual activity; you can also turn it into a lively competition or a fun activity to be enjoyed at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

You will also enjoy the Thanksgiving trivia game free printable!

This free Thanksgiving word search game can add an extra layer of excitement to your holiday celebrations. Here’s how you can play it on Thanksgiving:

1. Family Word Search Competition: Encourage friendly competition by giving each family member a copy of the Thanksgiving word search. Set a timer, and see who can find the most words in a given time frame. You can even offer a small prize for the winner, like the first slice of pumpkin pie!

2. Thanksgiving Dinner Table Fun: Place a copy of the Thanksgiving word search at each person’s dinner setting. As you gather around the table, take turns searching for the hidden words. It’s a fun way to keep everyone engaged and entertained while waiting for the apple pie to be served.

3. Cooperative Play: Instead of competing, consider working together as a family to find all the words in the word search. This can be a great way to encourage teamwork and communication during the holiday meal.

4. Themed Decorations: To make it even more festive, use Thanksgiving-themed decorations like mini pumpkins or colorful leaves as markers for the found words. You can also use these markers to keep track of who finds the most words in a competition.

This free printable Thanksgiving word search is not only an educational activity but also a fantastic way to enhance the Thanksgiving spirit and bond with family and friends. So, whether you choose to turn it into a competition or simply use it as a delightful diversion at the dinner table, this word search is a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving celebration.

Have fun with our free Thanksgiving word scramble printable too!

Thanksgiving word search at school

While Thanksgiving activities are often associated with family gatherings, there’s a lot of educational fun to be had with a Thanksgiving word search at school too. Teachers and homeschoolers can incorporate this engaging activity into their English language arts lesson plans, providing a seasonal and enjoyable learning experience for students. Here’s how you can use the Thanksgiving word search in a school setting:

1. Vocabulary Enrichment: Thanksgiving word searches can be a valuable tool for building students’ vocabulary. Teachers can use this activity to introduce and reinforce Thanksgiving-themed words, helping students expand their language skills.

2. Spelling Practice: For younger children, the word search can serve as a fun way to practice spelling. Encourage them to spell out each word they find, reinforcing proper spelling skills and pronunciation.

3. Cognitive Skills: Word searches are excellent for developing cognitive skills, such as pattern recognition, problem solving, and attention to detail. These skills are vital for a well rounded education and can be honed through enjoyable activities like this one.

4. Seasonal Classroom Decor: Display completed Thanksgiving word searches in the classroom to add a festive touch to your school environment. It’s a great way to infuse the spirit of the season into the learning space.

5. Homework or Extra Credit: Teachers can send the word search home as homework or offer it as an extra credit assignment. This way, students can continue to have Thanksgiving fun beyond the classroom.

6. Team Building: Encourage group participation by having students work together to find the hidden words. This fosters teamwork and collaboration, essential skills in any learning environment.

7. Thematic Discussions: After completing the word search, teachers can lead discussions about the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans, and the new world. 

Check out even more free Thanksgiving printable games!

Additional Thanksgiving activities

Transform your Thanksgiving gathering into an adventure by organizing a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt, a perfect activity for kids of all ages.  

Set up a creative corner with a variety of free printable Thanksgiving coloring pages, allowing guests to relax and express their artistic side by filling autumn scenes with vibrant colors.

Provide guests with free Thanksgiving bookmarks to color, offering a personalized keepsake that combines creativity with functionality.

Give a classic game a twist with these Thanksgiving scattergories. Challenge players to brainstorm and write down holiday-related words that fit specific categories and start with a chosen letter.

Inspire poetic expression by offering Thanksgiving acrostic poem templates for the word “Thanksgiving,” prompting guests to create heartfelt verses that capture their gratitude and reflections on the holiday.

Have fun with all of the best Thanksgiving word games.

Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!

Download the free printable Thanksgiving word search pdf

To get your free printables for kids, simply add your name and email address to the form below.

Other free and fun word searches

Celebrate every holiday with these word search games:

• St Patrick’s Day word search printable
• Easter word search printable
• Earth Day word search printable
• Cinco de Mayo word search printable
• Star Wars word search printable
• Mother’s Day word search free printable
• Memorial Day word search printable
• Father’s Day word search free printable
• July 4th word search printable
• Halloween word search printable
• Christmas word search printable

Last Updated on 27 June 2024 by Clare Brown