There are so many ways to make Thanksgiving memorable this year, including Thanksgiving science experiments, art projects, printable activities, and themed fun for preschoolers. Read on for exciting Thanksgiving activities that will keep kids entertained, engaged, and learning all November!
Thanksgiving Science and STEM Projects
STEMS-Giving Science Projects and Lesson Plans
Thanksgiving science and STEM activities are perfect for bringing learning into the festivities. Here are some exciting ideas for kids to explore:
💡Make sure to look through our full STEMs-Giving lesson plan menu for science and STEM.
- Food Science Fun: Try simple food experiments with Thanksgiving ingredients! Kids can investigate density by layering colored liquids in a jar, baking bread, making butter, counting seeds, or observing how cranberry sauce thickens and changes.
- Pumpkin Decomposition Experiment: Use pumpkins from Halloween to show how organic matter decomposes—a fascinating process for budding scientists!
- Insulation Experiment: Dive into temperature science by testing various materials for insulation, keeping items warm just as they do in nature.
- Sink or Float: Explore density and buoyancy with a fall theme!
- Turkey Lapbook: Explore life cycle and body parts of the turkey with this printable project.
- Candy Corn Science: Explore what dissolves with fall theme candy.
- Hot Chocolate States of Matter: Prep a warm drink and explore the states of matter. Liquid: milk; Solid: cocoa powder and marshmallows; Gas: steam from the hot cocoa.
Build-Your-Own Turkey Hideout
Combine engineering and creativity with a Turkey Hideout Challenge! Kids can design and build miniature “shelters” for turkeys using materials like construction paper, leaves, and sticks, exploring engineering basics and habitat ideas.
Thanksgiving Catapult
Introduce physics and fun with a DIY catapult made from popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Kids can launch mini marshmallows or pom-poms and learn about energy and motion.
Turkey Day Disguise Activities
Help your turkey avoid the Thanksgiving dinner table with these clever disguises and escape activity ideas! From fun disguises to engineering escape plans, these Turkey Day projects bring creativity, art, and STEM together for a unique Thanksgiving experience.
- Turkey Disguise STEAM Project: Design a clever disguise to help your turkey blend in! Use our free template or come up with a unique idea.
- Turkey Disguise Color by Number: Disguise the turkey with a color-by-number activity, letting kids turn the turkey into something else!
- Turkey Escape STEM Challenge: Design an escape plan for the turkey with this hands-on STEM challenge. Kids can create a vehicle, zip line, or parachute to help the turkey “escape.”
Thanksgiving Crafts and Art Projects
Thanksgiving is the perfect season for creative, turkey-themed crafts! Here are a few favorites that focus on seasonal materials and textures:
- Textured Turkey Art: Using feathers, leaves, and other natural materials, kids can create textured turkeys that are perfect for decorating.
- Thanksgiving Zentangle: Practice line work with a Thanksgiving-themed zentangle, creating intricate patterns on turkeys, leaves, or cornucopias while learning mindfulness through art.
- Picasso Poultry Artist Project: Explore art with a Picasso-inspired turkey disguise! Kids can create a colorful, abstract disguise using Cubist shapes and bold colors, hiding their turkey in a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
- Scarecrow Craft: Grab the free printable template and build your own scarecrow.
Fall Leaves and Harvest-Inspired Art
- Negative Space Leaf Art: This technique creates beautiful autumn designs and explores negative space.
- Silhouette Art: Explore shape and the 7 elements of art with a fall sunset and silhouette art project.
- Cornucopia Collage: Kids can create a “feast” in a cornucopia using cutouts from construction paper, magazine clippings, or even real leaves. Roll construction paper into a cone shape for a 3d cornucopia challenge!
Thanksgiving Printable Activities
Printable activities are an engaging way to bring Thanksgiving fun into learning, making them ideal for both classroom and home use.
- Thanksgiving Bingo: A classic game with a Thanksgiving twist! Also includes more Thanksgiving activities to enjoy.
- Pumpkin Pie Playdough Mats: These mats let kids “make” pumpkin pies by rolling playdough to fill the pie shapes—a fun sensory activity with the addition of simple fractions.
- Thanksgiving Dinner Placements: Kids can enjoy fun Thanksgiving games and activities right at the table.
- Thanksgiving Banner for Holiday Decorations: Add festive decor with a printable Thanksgiving banner. Kids can color and assemble their own “Happy Thanksgiving” banner.
- Thanksgiving Coloring Pages: Turkeys, pumpkins, and fall scenes make these coloring pages a hit.
- Daily Thanksgiving Math Worksheets: Incorporate math skills with Thanksgiving-themed worksheets, covering simple counting to addition and subtraction with seasonal flair.
- Thanksgiving LEGO Challenge Cards: These challenge cards encourage kids to build Thanksgiving-themed creations using LEGO bricks.
Preschool Thanksgiving Activities
Share these Thanksgiving activities with your preschoolers! Include activities from the list above to round out your month.
- Sorting Colors Sensory Activity: Fill a sensory bin with colorful fall items—like pom-poms—and let kids sort them by color. Give it a Thanksgiving food theme like ours!
- Fence STEM Challenge: Kids can build a miniature “fence” for a turkey or pumpkin using craft sticks, playdough, and small natural materials, encouraging fine motor skills and engineering concepts.
- Pumpkin Pie Playdough: Preschoolers can “make” pumpkin pies with pumpkin-scented playdough.
- Fall Sink or Float Experiment: Using items like mini pumpkins, cranberries, and acorns, kids can test which items sink or float, sparking curiosity and discovery.
- Pumpkin Investigation Tray: Set up an exploration tray with a small pumpkin, magnifying glass, and tools for kids to observe the seeds, pulp, and textures up close.
- Cranberry Sensory Play: Fill a bin with cranberries and water for a sensory experience, adding spoons and bowls for scooping and pouring.
- Turkey Hat Craft: Make construction paper turkey hats with our easy to follow template.
- Pilgrim Hat Craft: Make this cute Pilgrim hat craft from paper cups.
- Thanksgiving Playdough: Make this easy no cook playdough with oats for texture.
- Paper Plate Turkey: This paper plate turkey craft is such a fun Thanksgiving craft!
More Thanksgiving Fun
- Thanksgiving Story Time: Gather Thanksgiving or autumn-themed books for a cozy story time.
- Leaf Collage: Provide leaves, glue, and paper for a simple collage capturing fall colors.
- Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt: Take a nature walk and look for fall items like acorns and pine cones to investigate later.
Thanksgiving Traditions with Activities
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without some beloved traditions. These moments add a sense of togetherness and excitement:
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: The parade is a beloved tradition. STEAM IDEA: Create a Macy’s Parade craft where kids make their own parade balloons or float from construction paper and balloons attached to a straw!
- Thanksgiving Football Game: Watching a big game or setting up a family-friendly game in the backyard is a Thanksgiving classic. Make our LEGO paper football game set up.
- Sharing a Gratitude List: Before the feast, gather family members to share what they’re thankful for. Kids can create gratitude trees or write notes of thanks to decorate the table. Check out our free printable gratitude ornaments.
Printable Thanksgiving Project Pack
STEMS-Giving Pack! A full menu of Thanksgiving dinner science activities, secret codes, and more! Grab this printable resource in our shop today.
