7 Thanksgiving Activities for 2nd Grade
In the elementary classroom November and December can be a blur. There are so many special days and activities going on, it can be hard to find time to do it all. In this blogpost, I’m sharing 7 Thanksgiving activities for 2nd grade I know you and your students will gobble up!
1. Create Thanksgiving Placemats Crafts
Creating a Thanksgiving placemat is a craft that I loved as a child. It’s a simple way to give students something they can take home with them for the Thanksgiving holiday. To make a “thankful” Thanksgiving placemat, have students brainstorm what they are thankful for this year and then add it to their placemat. Encourage students to share what they wrote with their family when they take the placemats home.
You can grab all you need to have students create their own Thankful Thanksgiving placemats here.
2. thanksgiving Math and Reading activities
It can be challenging to try and meet the necessary standards while still bringing the fun and the festivities of the holidays into your classroom. When you’re able to do both, meet the standards and celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a win-win. My Holiday Math and Reading No Prep packs were created to do just that!
You can try out a sample of my Thanksgiving Math and Reading No Prep Pack for FREE by clicking here!
3. Read Books About Thanksgiving
Sharing a good, holiday themed book with your students is always a good idea! Here are a few of my favorite read alouds for the month of November and Thanksgiving.
You can check out each book in greater detail by clicking the link to this blogpost!
4. Thanksgiving Color By Number Pages
Using color by number math worksheets are an easy way to incorporate the upcoming holidays into your math block. Color by number sheets work great to have on students desks for morning work and as an early finishers activity.
You will find Thanksgiving Color By Number Pages for 2 Digit and 3 Digit addition and subtraction in my TPT shop!
Simply click on the link below to see each of the Thanksgiving Color by Number sheets.
- Thanksgiving 2 Digit Addition and Subtraction Color By Number
- Thanksgiving 3 Digit Addition and Subtraction Color By Number
- Thanksgiving 2 & 3 Digit Addition and Subtraction Color By Number
5. Have a Thanksgiving meal in Your Classroom
Having students and their families come together for a Thanksgiving feast is a great way to celebrate the holiday. You can do a traditional Thanksgiving meal (depending on allergies and such) or make it a nontraditional Thanksgiving feast. PB&J Thanksgiving anyone?! The main focus is about gathering together and sharing a meal before Thanksgiving break.
6. Complete a Thanksgiving Writing Prompt
If your writing block will allow for it, take students through a mini writing unit with a Thanksgiving theme. I like to have students write about what they are thankful for, their Thanksgiving traditions, or what their perfect Thanksgiving dinner would be.
You can use this Thanksgiving Dinner Writing craft complete with a cute topper for students to color, cut out and glue onto their writing. Easy Thanksgiving themed bulletin board, done!
7. Thanksgiving thankful acrostic poem
Have students complete an acrostic poem using the words Thanksgiving, thankful, or turkey. You can make your own or if you want some done for you, download these free Thanksgiving acrostic poem templates here! Acrostic poems are also an easy way to decorate a holiday bulletin board!
