Fall Leaf Wreath

Instead of paper leaves, go on a leaf hunt and collect real fall leaves. This is a great one to do Thanksgiving Day while the food is being cooked, as the leaves will only last a day or two.

Sponge Paint Turkey

Grab a sponge and slice it into 1″ or smaller spears. Dip into different fall colors and make splotches on a half paper plate. Add a paper body, beak, and gullet to complete your turkey.

Pinecone Turkey

Gather pinecones and paint different fall colors. Glue a paper turkey head to the end.

Thankful Pie

Cut orange paper to a circle the size of the inside of a paper plate. Cut out a triangle and attach to the paper plate in the center with a brad fastener. Have children write things they are thankful for on each section of the plate that can be seen when rotated. Add cotton balls to the rim for whipped cream.

Cut strips of orange paper 5-6″ long and 1″ thick. Hole punch each end.

Cut leaves from green paper.

Cut green pipe cleaner in half.

Have children write “I’m thankful for…” on the leaf and write things they’re thankful for on the orange papers.

Use brad fasteners to attach the bottoms and tops of the orange papers. Add the leaf and pipe cleaner to the top. Use a pencil to curl the pipe cleaner.

STEAM Challenge: Cage the Turkey!

Provide students with a toy turkey, marshmallows (and other candy if desired), and toothpicks.

Build a cage from which the turkey cannot escape.

Thanksgiving Party Treat

Give children sandwich cream cookies, icing, candy corn, and candy eyes to create their own edible turkeys.

Start planning ahead when and where you’ll be buying each of your ingredients.

Don’t forget to plan what you’ll be eating in the days before and after Thanksgiving. You may have an overstuffed fridge that won’t allow any non-Thanksgiving groceries to fit for a day or two before. You might easily find yourself skipping a meal while cooking if you don’t plan what you’ll eat. And make sure you have all your leftover containers ready to go.

Want to save yourself some time (and last-minute grocery runs) on your Thanksgiving? Prep all your spices a couple days ahead of time and label them so they are good to go.

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Check out these tips for flying, driving, hotels, packing, kids, and more!