150 Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers (Fun, science, math, art, writing, reading, learning skills)

Thanksgiving is not just for adults! This holiday is a great time to get your little ones involved in the festivities! It’s always fun to see what kinds of thanksgiving activities your preschoolers enjoy.

So here are a few ideas for Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers that you can encourage them to participate in and learn different skills that help them to grow mentally and emotionally.

150 Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers

The following is a list of thanksgiving activities for preschoolers:

1. Building towers out of blocks: Have your child lay out a few blocks on the floor. Next, have them take one block and put it on top of another block. Have them do this until they get to the top of the tower.

2. Drawing with crayons: Allow your child sit in a chair and then have someone else draw a picture on the wall in front of them. Once the picture is finished, have them take a piece of paper and crayon and color over the picture.

3. Making a Toy Thanksgiving turkey: Cut a piece of paper into a turkey shape and have your child glue it to a piece of cardboard. Next, have them cut out a shape for the head, wings, and tail. Then, have them glue those shapes to the turkey body. Finally, have children decorate the turkey with pieces of food.

4. Give thanks in song: Let your kids Sing Christmas carols or Thanksgiving songs together around the Thanksgiving dinner table.

5. Drawing a Thanksgiving turkey: Have your child sit in a chair and then have someone else draw a picture of a Thanksgiving turkey on a piece of paper. Once the picture is finished, have them take a piece of paper and crayon and color over the picture.

6. Make a Thanksgiving quilt: Quilts are a great way to show off your child’s artistic skills. This is also a great way to help them learn about color and pattern. Start by choosing a design or pattern and then cutting out the pieces. Assemble the quilt using batting, quilt fabric, and binding. Allow your child to help you sew the pieces together and then finish the quilt off with a quilted edge.

7. Crafts: Encourage your child to make a Thanksgiving decoration out of foam balls, pipe cleaners, or paper plates. Alternatively,  Have your child make a pilgrim hat out of felt, make a Thanksgiving turkey ornament, or create a turkey puppet.

8. Thanksgiving games: Have your child play “Turkey Hunt,” “Turkey Drop,” or “Turkey Buzz.”

9. Cook a Thanksgiving dinner: This can be done either by yourself or with your child helping. Start by gathering all of the ingredients needed for the dinner and have your child help you put them all together. Once everything is ready, have your child help you cook the dinner.

10. Make a Thanksgiving bulletin board: Collect pictures of your family and friends and put them on a bulletin board. Then, write a Thanksgiving story about each picture and have the children read it aloud.

11. Make a Thanksgiving sign: This is a great activity for younger preschoolers who are just starting to learn how to read. You can use simple, block letters or create a more complicated sign.

Also read: 300 Thanksgiving activities for kids and school students of all grades ( toddlers, preschoolers, infants, kindergarten, 1-10 year olds)

Thanksgiving science activities for preschoolers

Here are some Interesting Science thanksgiving activities for preschool:

1. Investigate how different materials react when heated.

2. Create simple chemical reactions.

3. Make slime using baking soda and water.

4. Make a volcano using play dough and a spoon.

5. Make a balloon animal using modeling clay.

6. Make a solar system out of small plastic balls.

7. Make a model of a flower using modeling clay.

8. Talk about how water, food, and air create things like rain, the sky, and plants.

9. Make a nature chart with different types of plants and how they get water, food, and air.

10. Have your child make a plant model out of clay and water, food, and air.

11. Have your child make a nature quilt with different types of plants and fabric.

12. Make a model of a house using modeling clay.

13. Make a model of a car using modeling clay.

14. Encourage your preschooler to use paper, cardstock, and construction paper to create drawings and models of Airplanes and rockets.

15. Have your child make a model of a tornado out of construction paper and straws.

Also read: 300+ Thanksgiving activities that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit (2022 Edition)

Thanksgiving math activities for preschoolers

These are a few thanksgiving math activities for preschoolers:

1. Make a nature math activity like measuring distance, counting leaves, or making a plant model

2. Make a math counting game with different objects, like counting how many pieces of candy are in a jar, or how many different fruits are in a bowl

3. Make a math game of matching numbers, like matching 3-digit numbers or 2-digit numbers with the same number in the middle

4. Make a simple math problem like finding the total number of play toys in a box, or counting how many bricks are in a stack

5. Make a math problem using shapes, like finding the length of a triangle, or counting the number of different fruits in a bowl

6. Make a math problem using patterns, like finding the total number of dots in a line, or counting the number of different animals in a zoo.

7. Encourage your preschooler to create their own math problems, like figuring out how many different ways there are to make a six-pointed star.

8. Let your preschooler try out different math activities with you, like playing a game of math hopscotch or doing a math treasure hunt.

9. Have your preschooler learn about math concepts by exploring fun math symbols and pictures, like the number 7 with a seven-pointed star, or the equation 2 + 2 = 4.

10. Create a math lesson plan with your preschooler, covering topics like counting, shapes, equations, and more.

Best math thanksgiving activities preschool

11. Try out different math activities with your preschooler at home, like playing a game of math Bingo, making a math obstacle course, or create a math center where they can explore different math concepts.

12. Train your preschooler’s math skills with fun practice exercises, like 

13. Have your preschooler try out different math activities with you outside of the classroom, like playing a math game of catch, doing a puzzle using math problems, or trying out a math activity at a local park.

14. Trick your preschooler into learning about math by disguising it as a game, like playing a math word game, or making a math “puzzle” that is actually something fun like a puzzle painting.

15. Let  your preschooler figure out the working of a clock or other simple math problems by experimenting with different activities, like making a clock out of a toy ball, or counting the number of steps it takes to run around the block.

Thanksgiving art activities for preschoolers

Here is a list of Art Activities for thanksgiving in preschool

1. Draw a Thanksgiving turkey or other Thanksgiving symbols on paper and color them in. Then have your children cut them out and create simple Thanksgiving crafts with them, such as wreath earrings or Thanksgiving placemats.

2. Make a cornucopia or thanksgiving basket out of materials you have on hand, such as cloth, paper, and pipe cleaners.

3. Make a Thanksgiving wreath! You can use any seasonal flowers or leaves you have on hand, and then attach them to a sturdy wire frame with floral wire.

4. Paint or draw a Thanksgiving landscape on paper. Then have your children add autumn leaves, pumpkins, and other Thanksgiving decorations to it.

5. Let your preschooler draw a Thanksgiving food item on a placemat or a piece of paper, and then have them color in the food and decorate it with stickers, markers, or crayons.

6. Craft a Thanksgiving pie or other Thanksgiving dessert with clay or mud. Have your child shape the dough into a pie crust, then color it with pumpkin or other Thanksgiving colors.

7. Artistically decorate Thanksgiving plates with dry erase markers, crayons, or stickers. Have your child write down the names of the family members who are dining at the Thanksgiving feast, or other Thanksgiving-themed words or phrases.

Fun thanksgiving activities for preschoolers

These are a few Thanksgiving preschool activities for fun:

1. Give thanks in song! Sing holiday songs together, or have your children write and perform their own Thanksgiving-themed songs.

2. Have a Thanksgiving playdate where children can dress up as their favorite Thanksgiving characters and share a Thanksgiving meal.

3. Make a Thanksgiving pie or cake together, and decorate it to your child’s favorite theme.

4. Make a Thanksgiving quilt or blanket together, and spend the afternoon snuggled up in front of the fire with a good book.

5. Allow your children to pick vegetables and fruits to carve into Thanksgiving pies or salads, or let them help you make a Thanksgiving ham or turkey.

6. Let your preschoolers feed the Turkey in the yard with their favorite grains and allow your kids to pet them and say thank you before dinner.

7. Play Thanksgiving games together, like “Turkey Time” or “Cupcake Quiz”.

8. Have a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt, where your children have to find different Thanksgiving-themed items around the house.

9. Make a Thanksgiving diorama together, and display it in your home to celebrate the holiday.

10. Have a Thanksgiving parade, where your children can march in costume carrying a Thanksgiving flag or a Thanksgiving pumpkin.

Also read: 100+ Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers for all ages (ultimate game edition for family)

Literacy preschool thanksgiving activities

Here are some Literacy Preschool thanksgiving activities free:

1. Have your preschooler look at a picture book and tell you what he or she sees.

2. Ask your preschooler to write a story about what he or she sees in the picture book.

3. Have your preschooler draw a Thanksgiving table with a turkey on it.

4. Have your preschooler write a Thanksgiving thank-you letter to the God.

5. Create a sensory play area with different types of leaves, branches, and flowers.

6. Give your children a special Thanksgiving gift – a turkey puppet, a Thanksgiving cookbook, or a set of Thanksgiving-themed play doughs to learn them on their own.

7. Give your child a leaf to feel, a branch to touch, and a flower to smell.

8. Encourage your child to explore the area and ask them what they notice.

9. Play games like “I Spy” where your child has to find specific objects in the area.

10. Talk about the different types of leaves, branches, and flowers and what they can do.

11. Make a nature chart and have your child identify different plants throughout the week.

Also read: 350 Things to do on thanksgiving day or weekend (2022 fun thanksgiving activities)

Thanksgiving cooking activities for preschool

The following are a few cooking Preschool activities for thanksgiving:

1. Roasting a pumpkin or sweet potato.

2. Carving a turkey or ham.

3. Making stuffing or dressing.

4. Baking pies or cookies.

5. Decorating a cake or tree.

6. Making a gingerbread house.

7.  Crafting a toy food.

8. Catching snowflakes in a jar.

9. Making a magic potion.

10. Store-bought Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings!

Thanksgiving outdoor activities for preschoolers

Here is a list of thanksgiving outdoor activities for preschoolers:

1. Make a Thanksgiving-themed play area. This can be a simple sandbox with hay and leaves for the kids to play in, or a more complex set of activities like a Thanksgiving haunted house.

2. Hunt for Thanksgiving treats! This can be as simple as hiding some small treats around the yard, or it can be a more complicated game of hide-and-seek with hidden treats inside containers or around the house.

3. Let the kids decorate a Thanksgiving tree. This can be as simple as picking out some Thanksgiving-themed ornaments, or it can be a more involved project where they use a variety of paints and supplies to create a festive tree.

4. Drive around and collect all of the Thanksgiving candy that’s fallen off of store shelves! This can be a fun activity for the whole family, and it’s also a great way to get the kids to help clean up afterwards.

5. Visit a local pumpkin patch and find all of the fall-themed decorations. This can be a great way to spend an afternoon together, and the kids will love looking for the different decorations and trying out the different activities.

6. Go out for Thanksgiving dinner at a famous restaurant. This can be a fun and nostalgic experience for the whole family, and the kids will love getting to try all of the different Thanksgiving dishes on the menu.

7.  Encourage the kids to make their own Thanksgiving decorations. This can be as simple as painting some pumpkins or creating simple Thanksgiving wreaths using leaves and berries.

Thanksgiving gross motor activities for preschoolers (movement activities)

Here is a list of gross motor and Thanksgiving movement activities for preschoolers:

1. Play musical chairs.

2. Participate in flying kites

3. Walk in nature with pets

4. Pick up small objects and put them in your pocket.

5. Chase after a toy or person.

6. Climb up and down stairs.

7. Throw a ball.

8. Ride a bike.

9. Play tag.

10. Build a tower out of blocks.

11. Sort objects into different containers.

12. Sort objects into different colors.

13. Make a cake.

14. Paint with a brush.

15. Play doctor.

Learning thanksgiving preschool activities

These are some more learning Thanksgiving day activities for preschoolers:

1. Make a nature chart and have your child identify different plants throughout the week.

2. Have your child draw a nature scene with leaves, branches, and flowers.

3. Fill a small bowl with pumpkin seeds and color them according to the colors of the rainbow.

4. Dip them in different colors of paint and have your child create abstract designs with them.

5. Let your child put the seeds in different foods to see how they taste.

6. Have your child write about the different colors they saw while playing.

7. Have your child decorate a small pumpkin with leaves, branches, and flowers using edible craft materials like icing and candy.

Thanksgiving bible activities for preschoolers

Here are some easy thanksgiving bible activities for preschoolers:

1. Teach them to pray: Ask children to close their eyes and say a simple prayer, thanking God for all the blessings in their lives.

2. Make a Thanksgiving storybook: Write and illustrate your own Thanksgiving storybook, featuring characters from the Bible.

3. Make a Thanksgiving flag with Jesus picture on it: Create a Thanksgiving flag out of colorful tissue paper by drawing the picture of Jesus on it and attach it to a flagpole in your yard.

4. Visit the Christian museum: Take your preschooler to a Christian museum and let them explore the exhibits about the Bible and Christianity.

5. Bible story time: Every day during Thanksgiving week, have a Bible story time. Have a variety of Bible stories prepared, and ask children to bring their favorite Bible stories to share.

6. Make a Thanksgiving feast: Throw a Thanksgiving feast for your family and friends, complete with all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

7. Give thanks: Spend Thanksgiving day thanking God for all the blessings in your life. This can be done through prayer, writing thank-you cards, or simply being thankful for what you have.

Thanksgiving writing activities for preschoolers

Here are a few thanksgiving writing activities for preschoolers:

1. Have the kids write down what they are thankful for on pieces of paper and place them in a jar or bowl.

2. Let the children write a Thanksgiving story together.

3. Have the kids create a Thanksgiving coloring page.

4. Write a Thanksgiving poem or song.

5. Allow your children to write and send a thanksgiving message to your relatives.

6. Allow them to Write a Thanksgiving grocery list.

7. Ask your children to write what they are thankful for on small pieces of paper and place them in a basket.

Thanksgiving craft activities for preschoolers

The following are some Thanksgiving cutting and craft activities for preschoolers:

1. Draw a Thanksgiving turkey on a whiteboard and have your preschoolers guess what kind of stuffing it will have.

2. Make a haunted Thanksgiving house out of sheets and pillows!

3. Make a Thanksgiving parade with small marshmallows or eggs.

4. Thanksgiving finger painting: have your preschoolers paint a Thanksgiving table with different colors of paint.

5. Thanksgiving storytime: read a Thanksgiving story together, including some of your favorite Thanksgiving jokes.

6.  Make a Thanksgiving pinwheel: cut two circles out of cardboard, and then have your preschoolers trace the designs onto the circles with a pencil. Cut out the circles and use a razor blade to cut out the designs.

Place the circles on a piece of posterboard, and then use a glue gun to attach them together in a wheel.

Thanksgiving small group activities for preschoolers

These are some thanksgiving small group activities for preschoolers:

1. Let a group of neighboring kids decorate a Thanksgiving dinner plate together using edible paint.

2. Have the kids make a Thanksgiving proclamation banner to hang in their classroom or playroom.

3. Have the kids make a Thanksgiving feast together from scratch using simple ingredients.

4. Have the kids make a Thanksgiving storybook together, following the traditional Thanksgiving story.

5. Have the kids decorate a Thanksgiving tree together using mini pumpkins, candy canes, and other holiday decorations.

Best group thanksgiving activities for preschool

6. Have the kids make a Thanksgiving quilt together.

7. Have the kids make a Thanksgiving basket together filled with goodies they’ve gathered from around the house.

8. Encourage the kids to think of other Thanksgiving-themed activities they could do together as a small group.

9. Thank the kids for their hard work by giving them a nice reward, like a piece of candy or a small toy.

10. Have a Thanksgiving party and invite some of the neighborhood kids over!