5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Preschool
Celebrating Thanksgiving with preschoolers is such a fun time! PreK is often when little ones begin to create memories that they will actually remember, so why not go all in with the excitement and create memories they’ll never forget!
Check out these fun ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in preschool:
- Friendsgiving meal
- Turkey bag craft
- Thanksgiving parade
- Family feather project
- Books & songs
Friendsgiving Meal
Plan a “friendsgiving meal” for your preschoolers. Promote unity among little ones as they share a meal with each other.
Before the big meal, incorporate Thanksgiving food vocabulary by planning the meal with your students. Discuss most and least favorite Thanksgiving foods. Talk about what they hope to eat at their family’s thanksgiving meal.
If your school allows visitors, invite special grownups to the meal too!
Turkey Bag Craft
This craft is an ALL TIME FAVORITE!
Turn your little ones into super cute turkeys using this grocery bag craft. Grab a brown paper grocery bag, cut it into a vest, and then glue on the turkey face pieces. This craft also includes a feather headband (band not included).
Don’t have a grocery bag? Just use a sheet of construction paper, punch holes, and tie yard into it to hang it from their neck.
OH so cute!
Thanksgiving Parade
Plan a Thanksgiving parade!
Parade around your classroom, down your hall, or through the school! Use the turkey bag craft or help your students dress up like different Thanksgiving characters. This interactive activity will become a favorite PreK tradition!
Family Feather Project
- Send home several blank feathers.
- Encourage families to write what they are thankful for on the feathers.
- The family and preschooler should color or decorate the feathers before returning them to school.
- Glue the feathers onto one large class turkey. VOILA!
This project is a great opportunity to build the classroom to home connection by keeping families involved in their child’s learning. See the uniqueness of each family represented in the feathers that are returned to school. While assembling your class turkey, talk about the differences and special qualities of each feather and how it makes the turkey one-of-a-kind.
Books & Songs
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Books
Read Thanksgiving themed books during November. Books are wonderful opportunities to keep little ones engaged while also targeting vocabulary, rhyming, counting, social emotional skills, and so much more!
I Am Thankful: A Thanksgiving Book for Kids by Sheri Wall
This picture book is a great introduction to thankfulness in the preschool classroom.
Dino-Thanksgiving by Lisa Wheeler
In this fun story, little ones learn about traditions and respecting others who do things differently than them.
Find more Thanksgiving books in my Amazon storefront!
Songs
Music keeps learning engaging and enjoyable for little minds. Add silly dance moves and facial expressions to these songs, and you’ll have more giggles and smiles than you know what to do with!
Ten Little Turkeys by The Learning Station
Target numbers and counting while singing along to this repetitive, fun song!
Thanksgiving Dinner by The Kiboomers
Little ones will gladly participate in this easy-to-memorize song. Switch up the words to whatever foods your little ones will be eating at their Thanksgiving feast at home or school.
What’s your favorite way to celebrate Thanksgiving in preschool? DM me on IG and let me know!
Check out more Thanksgiving ideas for your preK classroom here!
You might also be interested in:
The TOP Halloween Books & Crafts for Preschoolers
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