If you’re planning to incorporate Thanksgiving themes into your instruction this month, I have some reading activities that your students will love! Meanwhile, I will be talking about Thanksgiving reading activities including read alouds that can be easily added to your plans without interruption of your standards instruction!
Stock Up on Thanksgiving Books in Your Classroom
Firstly, books are great ways to bring Thanksgiving into your reading activities. As I have mentioned in previous posts, carrying a theme or topic across your instruction can enhance student engagement and motivation. Each of these 5 read alouds will keep your students engaged and can be used to practice common core skills. For example, cause and effect, problem and solution, and sequence of events are all skills that students will be able to put into practice with these stories!
Each book suggestion leads to an affiliate Amazon link for you.
- There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey by Lucille Colandro
- How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
- The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing
- Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf
- Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
Practice Comprehension from Different Media
Secondly, you can add different forms of media for your themed instruction. When learning about Thanksgiving, have opportunities for students to read texts, listen to audio clips, watch videos, and more! This is a great way for students to learn how to identify important information and practice note-taking.
A simple note-taking activity can be quick and effective! Give each of your students a set number of sticky notes (depending on the length of the media and the content you’d like them to be getting from it). For this BrainPop, Jr. video, students could be given 4 sticky notes. Then, it is their task to record important information from the video on their sticky notes. The sticky note will help students learn to only record the important information because they have limited space.
This activity can be done with any type of media. Try it with texts, audio recordings, videos, even art or illustrations!
Video Link: Brainpop Jr. Thanksgiving Video
Add Thanksgiving Themed Passages into Daily Activities
In addition, you can switch out your comprehension activities for Thanksgiving-themed comprehension passages! Every balanced literacy block has an independent reading or standard skill practice time. During this time, switch out your materials for these Thanksgiving-themed fiction texts. They have comprehension questions and writing activities with each passage! So, your students will be able to continue their typical skill practice, with themed passages that keep them on topic and engaged. These activities come in both printable and digital formats, so they will be no-prep for you, too!
Resource Link: Thanksgiving Fiction Passages
Create a Fun Reading Comprehension Flip Book
For a more hands-on activity, consider including a Thanksgiving-themed reading flip book! This reading “craftivity” will have students reading, writing, sorting, answering, coloring, cutting, and more! Students love these reading flip books because they make learning fun! Plus, the craft can be displayed around the classroom to show students’ learning and growth!
Flip Book Link: Thanksgiving Flip Book
Use Standards-Based Passages to Practice Skills
Finally, if you’re looking for more all-inclusive Thanksgiving reading activities, this Thanksgiving ELA set may be right for you! These themed ELA resources have practice activities for each of the ELA domains, not just reading! You will find passages and practice activities for Reading Informational and Reading Literature. Plus, Partner and Independent Activities for Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language. You will be able to print and go with these fun and functional pages. Carry the theme across your ELA plans without adding anything to your workload, and without having to eliminate anything from your balanced literacy block!
The image shows 1st & 2nd grade, but the 3rd & 4th-grade set (link below) also comes with reading passages.
ELA Link: Thanksgiving 1st & 2nd Grade ELA Activities
Here are a few Thanksgiving Reading Activities you may find useful:
FREE THANKSGIVING FEAST PARTY
This free download will be sent to your email! It’s two free party planning sheets, plus a Bingo-style game with a Thanksgiving theme. Get this fun activity sent directly to your inbox.
