Easy and Effective Thanksgiving Activities for Middle Schoolers
November is here and it’s the perfect time to incorporate some meaningful Thanksgiving activities for middle schoolers. Whether you teach language arts or social studies, there are so many ways to get kids in the spirit of gratitude. So if you are tired of the same old boring worksheets that do nothing more than have some turkey clip art, read here for some fresh ideas.
Thanksgiving Activities for Middle Schoolers in Social Studies
An obvious way to recognize the holiday is to introduce students to Native American history and the first Thanksgiving. If you teach social studies, this would be a great choice. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Be accurate. For example, although there may have been wild turkey served, wild duck and venison were probably more plentiful. Consult a few primary sources to get the facts.
Be sure not to generalize. Not all Natives were a part of this. Be sure to be specific when you mention the Wampanoag tribe.
Have a focus. The constant re-telling of the first Thanksgiving can get boring by the time kids are in middle school. Perhaps focusing on the theme of survival or trading can bring it more to life.
Some Thanksgiving Social Studies Ideas:
Have kids examine a primary source of the first Thanksgiving. Then, create a piece of art that accurately depicts the event. This primary source article might help: Primary Source
Do a KWL chart. You can have kids do the “K” (know) and “W” (want to know) first. Then, they can research for the “W” part of the chart and record what they learned in the “L” (learned) portion. It would be fun to work in pairs for this activity.
Have kids create a slideshow of the first Thanksgiving. They could consult the primary source to do this. Have them include the who, what, when, where, why, how, and any outcomes.
Thanksgiving ELA Creative Activities
Many teachers have kids write what they are thankful for as a Thanksgiving activity for middle schoolers. However, there is so much more that you can do:
Letter writing that is authentic. Have kids write a meaningful letter to someone for whom they are grateful. It’s nice to pick someone from the school (cafeteria worker, principal, bus driver, custodian, etc.)
Try a creative writing activity. You can have them write a story by using some prompts. If you need ideas, check out my Thanksgiving Write Around the Room activity; it will guide kids into writing for different genres.
Short Stories: It’s always a good time of year for short stories! Short stories are crucial for teaching literary devices in a digestible way. Because many can be complex in nature, it’s good to have a “guided” experience. Try my “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” story autopsy...it takes kids step-by-step as they “dissect” the story in a creative way.
Thanksgiving Themed Activities
As I said, just using a worksheet with a turkey on it does not make it a Thanksgiving activity. But there are ways to do this that are a little more authentic. Incorporating a Thanksgiving theme into your more standard lessons such as grammar and vocabulary is a good way to go. Here are some examples:
If you are learning about verb tenses, have kids create sentences with different tenses using Thanksgiving themes. Example: Past progressive tense – We were watching the parade all morning.
Perhaps you are doing a lesson on direct objects. You can have kids write a Thanksgiving-themed story that includes them. Example: My grandma gave me mashed potatoes even though I don’t like them.
Vocabulary sentences could have a Thanksgiving theme. Example for the vocabulary word intricate: The turkey float in the parade had such an intricate design on the feathers.
Boom cards are fun and self-correcting!Color coding makes everything more fun!
Choice Boards Thanksgiving Activities for Middle Schoolers
In my opinion, choice boards are the way to go for any holiday in middle school. Here is what I love about choice boards:
You can leave them up in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
They are great for your “fast finishers”.
When activities are printed, they make a great bulletin board.
They provide a variety of activities for kids. As we know, kids gravitate to ideas that align with how their brains function.
You can make your own choice boards. Include many types of activities, such as writing, drawing, creating songs, etc. If you’d like one that is already done, check this out Thanksgiving Choice Board:
This choice board has 15 different activities!
If you’re not sure, I have a free sampler! Grab one now:
This is the time of year when your bulletin board needs some freshening up. Here is an idea; it’s a collaborative poster. Just print (it’s all set up in 24 pieces) have kids color and write what they are grateful for, and assemble. All the directions are included. This is super easy but is also meaningful.
Collaborative posters are great for any class!
Not enough time to read? Try the Podcast!
I recently started a Podcast for middle school language arts teachers. Check it out!
Listen here!
I hope this information was helpful. Please comment below with any of your Thanksgiving activities for middle schoolers. Wishing you and your students a wonderful and well-earned Thanksgiving break!