Free Thanksgiving Printables, Unit Studies, and Fun Activities for Kids

Thanksgiving is one of those wonderful times of year that’s all about family, gratitude, and delicious food. But it’s also a fantastic opportunity to help kids learn about history, develop new skills, and, most importantly, practice thankfulness. With so many free Thanksgiving resources out there, Thanksgiving can be a time of fun, learning, and heartfelt connections. Here’s a roundup of free Thanksgiving activities, printables, and unit studies that will make Thanksgiving memorable and meaningful for the whole family.

Free Thanksgiving Printables for Kids

Let’s kick things off with some fun free Thanksgiving-themed printables! These are easy to use, often requiring only a printer and some crayons or markers, and will add some festive flair to your Thanksgiving prep. Here are 15 awesome options:

• Coloring Pages – What kid doesn’t love a good coloring page? Find fun Thanksgiving-themed pages with turkeys, pumpkins, and pilgrims. (Homemade Gifts Made Easy)
• Gratitude Journal Pages – These pages allow kids to reflect on what they’re thankful for, helping them develop a habit of gratitude. (Natural Beach Living)
• Thanksgiving Word Searches & Puzzles – Keep those minds busy with fun word searches and puzzles that also introduce Thanksgiving vocabulary. (Simply Full of Delight)
• DIY Thankful Trees – A lovely family activity! Each family member writes what they’re thankful for on a leaf to add to the tree. (Pineapple Paper Co.)
• Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt – Go on a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt with this printable. Kids will love the adventure! (Play Party Plan)
• Thanksgiving Bingo Cards – Perfect for family gatherings. Just print, play, and enjoy! (Simply Love Coloring)
• Turkey Craft Templates – Print templates for cute turkey crafts, perfect for decorating the house. (Simply Full of Delight)
• Thanksgiving Placemats – These interactive placemats are perfect for kids at the dinner table. They can color and do activities while waiting for the meal. (Busy Toddler)
• Thanksgiving I-Spy Sheets – These printables let kids play a Thanksgiving version of I-Spy, counting images and having fun. (Busy Toddler)
• Thanksgiving Mad Libs – For some hilarious Thanksgiving fun, let kids fill in the blanks for funny Thanksgiving stories. (Play Party Plan)
• Thanksgiving Word Scramble – A fun word game where kids unscramble Thanksgiving-themed words. (Play Party Plan)
• Turkey Maze – Help the turkey find its way to safety in this fun and festive maze. (Simply Full of Delight)
• Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle – This Thanksgiving-themed crossword is a great way to reinforce spelling and vocabulary skills. (Simply Full of Delight)
• Printable Thanksgiving Hats – Kids can make and wear their own pilgrim or Native American hats with these printable templates. (Play Party Plan)
• Thanksgiving Memory Game – Test memory skills with this matching game using Thanksgiving images. (Simply Full of Delight)

Free Thanksgiving Unit Studies

Thanksgiving unit studies are a great way to dive deeper into the history and meaning behind the holiday. From studying the Pilgrims to exploring the concept of gratitude, these units can help kids build a richer understanding of Thanksgiving.

• History of Thanksgiving – Explore the story of Thanksgiving, from the Pilgrims’ journey on the Mayflower to the first Thanksgiving feast. (Organized Homeschooler)
• Pilgrims and Native American Studies – Kids can learn about both the Pilgrims and the Native Americans who played a significant role in Thanksgiving history. (Whole Child Homeschool)
• Gratitude & Generosity Lessons – Thanksgiving is the perfect time to teach kids about giving thanks and showing kindness. This unit helps build character through simple, thoughtful activities. (The Lead Learner Mom)
• Math and Science Thanksgiving Activities – Add some math and science to the mix with activities that incorporate counting games or studying fall leaves. (Loving Homeschool)
• Thanksgiving Lapbook – Kids can create a lapbook full of Thanksgiving facts, pictures, and more for a hands-on learning experience. (The Homeschool Mom)
• Thanksgiving Literature Studies – Introduce kids to Thanksgiving-themed books, complete with reading comprehension questions and activities. (Simple Living Mama)
• Thanksgiving Writing Prompts – Encourage creativity with Thanksgiving prompts that ask kids to write about things like their favorite Thanksgiving foods or what they’re most thankful for. (Mama’s Learning Corner)
• Thanksgiving Geography Lessons – Learn about the journey of the Mayflower and map out early colonial settlements in the U.S. (Growing Up Herbal)
• Thanksgiving Art Projects – Thanksgiving-themed art projects give kids a chance to make festive decorations while learning about the holiday. (Pam Barnhill)
• Thanksgiving Music and Songs – Celebrate Thanksgiving with music! Learn traditional songs and understand their cultural significance. (The Unlikely Homeschool)
• Thanksgiving Cooking Lessons – Bring Thanksgiving into the kitchen with simple recipes kids can help prepare, learning about traditional foods along the way. (Growing Up Herbal)
• Thanksgiving Nature Studies – Study the natural elements associated with Thanksgiving, such as turkeys, fall foliage, and more. (Loving Homeschool)
• Thanksgiving Language Arts Activities – Use Thanksgiving themes to teach grammar and vocabulary in a way that’s both festive and educational. (The Lead Learner Mom)
• Thanksgiving Social Studies – Delve into how Thanksgiving traditions have changed over time and explore what the holiday means today. (Organized Homeschooler)
• Thanksgiving STEM Challenges – Kids can build mini Mayflower models or solve Thanksgiving-themed engineering challenges. (Whole Child Homeschool)

Free Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

When it comes to Thanksgiving, hands-on activities are a surefire way to keep kids entertained and engaged. Here are 15 creative ideas for making Thanksgiving even more interactive:

• Thanksgiving Recipe Cards – Let kids write down and share their favorite family recipes. It’s a fun way to introduce them to family traditions. (Made with Happy)
• Turkey Crafts – From handprint turkeys to paper plate crafts, these turkey projects are easy and adorable. (Simply Full of Delight)
• Acts of Kindness Printables – Challenge your kids to perform small acts of kindness, from making cards to helping a neighbor. (Natural Beach Living)
• 4 Thanksgiving Place Cards Crafts – 4 Different Thanksgiving place card crafts for kids. (How Does She)
• Thanksgiving Thankful Tree Printable – Print and Create a thankful tree by adding leaves with written thanks from each family member. (Kingdom First Motherhood)
• Turkey Trot Bingo – Get active with Thanksgiving Bingo, which includes movement-based activities. (Play Party Plan)
• Make Thankful Stones – Create melted Crayon stones and write what you are thankful for  (Artful Parent)
• Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt – This resource offers two versions: one with clues and another as a checklist. It’s designed for indoor use and can be a great activity to keep kids entertained. (The Best Ideas for Kids)
• Thanksgiving Puppet Show – Kids can create puppets and put on a Thanksgiving-themed show. (Busy Toddler)
• Turkey Hunt – Print and hide turkey images around the house or yard for kids to find, similar to an Easter egg hunt but with turkeys! (The Dating Divas)
• Thanksgiving Pictionary – Use Thanksgiving word cards for a festive Pictionary game. (123 Homeschool 4me)
• Pilgrim Hat Ring Toss – Set up a ring toss game with Pilgrim hats. Kids can play and earn points. (Made with Happy)
• Pumpkin Bowling – Set up a bowling game using mini pumpkins as bowling balls and empty bottles as pins. Kids can enjoy this fun twist on a classic game with a Thanksgiving theme. (woojr)
• Thanksgiving Charades – Another great game option for family gatherings, Thanksgiving-themed charades will get everyone involved. (Play Party Plan)
• Printable Thanksgiving Bingo – Fun activity for the whole family – Printable Thanksgiving Bingo. (The Incremental Mama) 

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to engage in creative crafts that bring families together. Here are 15 popular Thanksgiving crafts! Don’t miss our huge list of Fun Fall Arts and Crafts! 

• Handprint Turkeys: Trace your child’s hand on paper to create a turkey outline, then decorate with colors and feathers. (Reader’s Digest)
• Pinecone Turkeys: Collect pinecones and transform them into turkeys using feathers, googly eyes, and construction paper. (Prudent Penny Pincher)
• Paper Plate Pilgrim Hats: Craft Pilgrim hats using paper plates and black construction paper for a fun and educational activity. (Better Homes & Gardens)
• Gratitude Trees: Create a tree with branches and attach leaves where each family member writes something they’re thankful for. (Artful Parent)
• Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys: Recycle toilet paper rolls into adorable turkeys with paint, paper, and googly eyes. (Prudent Penny Pincher)
• Feather Headbands: Make festive headbands using construction paper and feathers, perfect for Thanksgiving dress-up. (Hands On As We Grow)
• Cornucopia Centerpieces: Assemble a traditional cornucopia using a paper cone and fill it with paper fruits and vegetables. (Creating Really Awesome Fun Things)
• Pumpkin Pie Craft: Use paper plates and colored paper to create a slice of pumpkin pie, complete with a dollop of whipped cream. (Prudent Penny Pincher)
• Popsicle Stick Scarecrows: Construct mini scarecrows using popsicle sticks, fabric scraps, and markers.
  (We Are Teachers)
• Thankful Wreaths: Design a wreath with paper leaves, each inscribed with something you’re thankful for, to display during the holiday. (Artful Parent)
• Paper Bag Turkeys: Transform brown paper bags into turkeys using construction paper, markers, and googly eyes. (Prudent Penny Pincher)
• Thanksgiving Placemats: Create personalized placemats by coloring Thanksgiving-themed printables or designing your own. (Better Homes & Gardens)
• Beaded Indian Corn: String beads onto pipe cleaners to resemble ears of corn, showcasing traditional harvest symbols. (Prudent Penny Pincher)
• Pumpkin Jar Candle Holders: Paint mason jars to look like pumpkins and place a candle inside for a festive glow. (We Are Teachers)
• Leaf Garland: Collect colorful fall leaves and string them together to create a natural garland for decoration. (Better Homes & Gardens)
• Printable Turkey Headband, Ties and Bracelet Craft – Make headbands, ties or bracelets with these free printable crafts. (Daydream Into Reality)

Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday—it’s that special time of year when we get to gather the whole family, soak in gratitude, and create memories that will stick around. With these free Thanksgiving printables, unit studies, crafts and hands-on activities for kids, you’ll have everything you need to fill the season with both meaning and a whole lot of fun. From sweet gratitude journals to silly turkey crafts, these activities give you endless ways to get the kids excited about Thanksgiving. It’s all about learning, laughing, and showing our little ones just how amazing a thankful heart can be.

So, print, craft, play, and learn together this Thanksgiving. Let’s make it one to remember!

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!