Thanksgiving Activities for a Third Grade Classroom
One way to make learning about history interesting for young children is to use holiday-themed activities to engage them so they have fun while learning. Thanksgiving is an American holiday that lends itself to several activities that can be enjoyed by elementary school students, especially third-graders. Students can work on a crafts project together, such as making a class bulletin board. They can compete in a word-search contest or write about what they're thankful for on a Thanksgiving wreath or in an essay.
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Class Bulletin Board
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Distribute art supplies such as crayons, markers, scissors, paint, brushes and construction paper. Each student should make one decoration for a Thanksgiving themed bulletin board. They can make a pilgrim, a turkey, a picture of a colorful fall landscape, pumpkins, a cornucopia or any other Thanksgiving-related image. Once the artwork is complete, work with the third-graders to assemble it into a collage on a bulletin board that's in the classroom or hallway during November. The success of this activity depends upon the students' understanding of the history of Thanksgiving. Cover that in the curriculum before making the bulletin board.
Word Search and Vocabulary
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After covering the history of Thanksgiving, have students participate in a friendly competition of a Thanksgiving word-search game. Give a copy to each student. The contest has two parts. First, students must correctly circle all of the words in the word search. Second, they must write a definition for each word they find. The first person to complete both activities wins the game. Framing something as a competition provides incentive and excitement for the third-graders. The word search feels like a game, but it's followed up with an educational vocabulary activity.
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Thanksgiving Wreath
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A week before this activity, have students collect and bring in different colored leaves. Once they have their leaves and you're ready to begin, distribute a paper plate, glue and a magic marker to every student. Instruct the third-graders to write down what they're grateful for in the center of the plate. Then, arrange the leaves in any way they like and use the glue to affix the leaves to the plate. Students can take their Thanksgiving wreaths home or you can hang all of them around the classroom.
Quill Feather Pen and Essay
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This activity requires time and preparation. You'll need one chicken or turkey feather and a cup of thinned tempera paint for each student. With sharp scissors, cut the tip of each feather at an angle before giving to the students. Once each third-grader has a feather and a small cup of thinned paint, demonstrate how colonial settlers used the quills to write. Describe how the process was time- consuming and, sometimes, very messy. Give the students some time to practice with their own quills. Give them a clean sheet of paper and have them write a short essay--with their quill--about the things for they're grateful for at Thanksgiving.
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