Turkey and Thanksgiving Preschool Activities

Thanksgiving and Turkey Preschool Activities

Thanksgiving time is here, which means turkeys, gratitude, and delicious food! Thanksgiving is a great holiday to explore concepts of sharing, expressing thanks, and learning the importance of gratitude. If you’re looking for a few more activities to include during your Thanksgiving unit, we’ve gathered a list of our favorites. There are various crafts, resources, and sensory experiences. Your preschoolers won’t even realize all the learning they are doing! 

Take a closer look at these Preschool Turkey & Thanksgiving Activity Ideas!

Thanksgiving is a great holiday to teach preschoolers about important traditions while celebrating family, friends, and those who are most important to us. Through hands-on and engaging actives we can not only educate students but have fun, too! Be sure to check out our Thanksgiving and Turkey theme page for more ideas.

Thanksgiving and Turkey Activity Pack

Our Thanksgiving Activity Pack is loaded with math and literacy activities perfect for centers, group work, or individual play.

Turkey Pattern

 Preschoolers can practice patterning with the  Turkey Pattern Clip Cards found in our Turkey and Thanksgiving activity pack!

Pumpkin Pie Game

Another fun game in our Thanksgiving activity pack, is this fun Pumpkin Pie game.

Pumpkin Pie
Upper and Lowercase Match

Practice matching upper and lowercase letter with a everyone's favorite pumpkin pie. Grab this activity and more literacy activities from our Thanksgiving and Turkey Themed Activity Pack.

Learning to Set the Table

Learning to set the table is important chore at Thanksgiving! This is an activity that even the youngest learner can help with! Set up a table setting invitation (you can use our printable place mat as a visual to help), for them to get some practice at this chore before the big day.

Manners

Learning to use our manners is an important skill, especially at Thanksgiving. Practice passing food and using words and phrases such as "Excuse me", "Can you please pass?" and "Thank You".

Thanksgiving Sensory Bin

It's no secret that preschoolers love sensory bins, especially when they have a theme. Create a Thanksgiving Inspired Sensory bin with materials found at local craft stores or the Dollar Store.

         Thanksgiving and Turkey Books

One of the best ways to teach preschoolers is through read-alouds. There are so many hilarious and educational books on Thanksgiving that will quickly become favorites for your preschool students. Check out some of our favorite Thanksgiving and turkey books. 

Be sure to grab Turkey Trouble and pair it with our Free Turkey Trouble Book Companion.

Pie Stand Dramatic Play

It's not Thanksgiving without a delicious pie. Transform your dramatic play center into a delicious Pie Stand. Your preschoolers will be baking and selling pies just in time for Thanksgiving Day! Preschoolers will practice sharing, collaborating, learning to follow recipes, and enjoying some delicious pies. Take a look at this transformed Pie Stand! You can extend this activity by making apple pie in a cup with your preschoolers and practice graphing your preschooler's favorite pies. 

Turkey Tracks Process Art

Turkeys are super fast, but they always leave their tracks. Preschoolers will pretend to be turkeys by leaving their paint tracks across the paper. This process art activity allows preschoolers to explore painting with new materials while using their imaginations to be quick little turkeys. For an extension, pair this activity with the book How to Catch a Turkey. ​

Turkey Crafts

Turkeys make some of the cutest crafts out there! With Thanksgiving Day quickly approaching, it's time to make a few crafts, including our favorite birdie. We have compiled an extensive list of Thanksgiving and Turkey Crafts that you can bring out during November.

Grab our  Free Turkey Name craft and worksheet!

Thanksgiving Holiday Preschool Social Studies Language Unit

For many preschoolers, Thanksgiving is filled with turkey and good food. As educators, we know there is much more to Thanksgiving than a wonderful meal. Our Thanksgiving and Social Studies Unit 
helps facilitate and support discussions around Thanksgiving Traditions for each family!

Thanksgiving Fine Motor

The more the student is engaged with the activity, the more learning that happens. This is especially important when it comes to a skill that might be more of a challenge. Fine motor is no exception, and the good news is that there are so many great activities to foster development. Turkey lacing cards are always a hit! You can find more Thanksgiving fine motor activities in our Thanksgiving and Turkey Fine Motor pack.

Paint with Turkey Basters

Add a fun Thanksgiving twist to painting by allowing preschoolers to use turkey basters to paint. It's also a great opportunity to teach preschoolers about this utensil that they may have never seen before. Learn more about this activity on our Thanksgiving and Turkey Theme Page 

     Grocery Store Dramatic Play

Preschoolers love to visit the grocery store and without this important trip Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be possible. Transform your dramatic play into a grocery store with a grocery store dramatic play set. Don't forget to make the Thanksgiving grocery list! 

             Schools Closed Freebie

Remind your students and their families about school closures with this free sign to hang in your classrooms.

Fill the Horn a Plenty

Cornucopia is more than likely a new word for many of your preschoolers. Fill a Horn a Plenty is a great activity that can be used with a paper bag, plastic food, and dice. Simply roll and add the corresponding foods to the cornucopia. If you're looking for more math Thanksgiving activities, head to our Thanksgiving and Turkey-themed page.

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More Turkey and Thanksgiving Preschool Resources

Free Turkey and Thanksgiving Preschool Theme Lesson Planning Page
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More Preschool Turkey and Thanksgiving Activities

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