How to Teach Elementary Students about Thanksgiving

This fall, teach your first and second graders about Thanksgiving and celebrate it in your classroom with these fun activities. Keep reading for my favorite Thanksgiving resources that will make learning meaningful for elementary learners!

Thanksgiving PowerPoint Lesson

Teach first and second graders about Thanksgiving Day with this engaging PowerPoint lesson. Students will analyze calendars to learn when Thanksgiving is, and analyze a timeline to learn about the history of Thanksgiving. They will "Turn and Talk" with peers about how people celebrate Thanksgiving. Finally, they will check their understanding at the end with five multiple-choice questions. This will make teaching Virginia SOL 1.2 and 2.3 a breeze!

Create Thankful Turkeys

This classic activity is still valuable! Teach students what it means to be thankful with a read aloud like I Am Thankful: A Thanksgiving Book for Kids by Sheri Wall. You can show a video of the story being read on Youtube as well. After the story, have students write down things they are thankful for, one thing on each feather. You can display the completed turkeys in the hallway or send them home before the holiday.

Plan a Thanksgiving Meal

Incorporate math and real-world learning by having your students plan their own Thanksgiving meal! Students will choose a main course, side dishes, and dessert and add up the total cost of the meal. This is a great opportunity to discuss students' traditions as well. You can ask them if there's something they usually eat on Thanksgiving that is not included in the options, or having students share their favorite Thanksgiving Day food.

Worried your kids won't read over Thanksgiving Break? Check out my Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge!

Let me know if you try out any of these activities! Happy Teaching!