Last-Minute, Easy to Implement Thanksgiving Fun

With only a week and one day until Thanksgiving, who has time left to organize Thanksgiving fun?  I do!  I am passing on a few of my favorite Thanksgiving ideas so that you don’t have to scramble.

If you are a homeschooler, I challenge you to enjoy a Thanksgiving-themed day.  Our homeschool holiday celebrations are some of our favorite days.  There is something about a change of pace that really motivates!  If you aren’t a homeschooler, hopefully you can find something to keep your kids occupied while they are going “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house” or enjoy an evening of thanksgiving together.  

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 NIV

Last-Minute, Easy to Implement Thanksgiving Fun:

Music & Art

• Check out the Seeds of Prasie CD from Seeds Family Worship. You can download it and be listening within minutes.  A thankful heart is a praising heart!  It is perfect for long car trips, or a great excuse to practice quiet listening.  If you are using it at home, it’s a great excuse to have everyone sit or lay quietly.  For your fidgety or artistic children, they can draw or sculpt with play dough as they listen.  After the music is over they can share their thankful drawings or sculptures.
• On quite the other end of the spectrum, when you are ready to liven things back up, watch the video “Don’t Be a Turkey, Just Say Thanks” by Yancey.  

Writing

• Challenge students to come up with a list of things they are thankful for.  My 8 year old son came up with a list of 40 things.  A couple days later I challenged him to come up with a list of 20 more, not using any of the same things.   When he was stumped, I had him walk from room to room and just take a look around.  
• Have your children write a letter to someone telling them why they are thankful for them.
• Use old photos and make a simple book.  Have children write a brief description on each page of what they are thankful for.  We modeled ours after the book The Thankful Book by Todd Parr.  
• Take some time to scrapbook together and let your kids help come up with the captions.  The photos will remind them of things to be thankful for.  When you look back on the pages in years to come, you will be thankful you included their perspective on the events.  

Reading

• I won’t list a bunch of specific books because I am sure your local library and book stores have  a million various Thanksgiving books.  (History!)
• Many may be checked out at this point.  Fear not, however.  Try searching for books about “thanks” and you will be surprised how many of those are left on the shelf.  To make this time even more special, consider cuddling under quilts and drinking hot cocoa as you read.  As always, let the books lead your discussion.  Take some a leisurely approach and just foster the love of reading–and cuddling with mom!

Math

• Math is a bit more difficult to make appropriate for multi-ages and levels, but in less than 5 minutes on Pinterest or at Teachers Pay Teachers, you can get an age-appropriate math lesson with a Thanksgiving theme.  It’s worth 5 minutes to watch kids enjoy math!

Just for Fun/Recess

Check out these 5 Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Activities.

Bible and Prayer

• Print out these pumpkin memory verses and practice reading and memorizing them. You could print out 2 sets and play a matching game.  Or do some more art and let kids use their pumpkins to design their own Thanksgiving pumpkin patch.  
• If you want to incorporate some handwriting and more memorization, check out this Thankfulness Scripture Copywork.   
• Don’t forget to spend some time praying and praising God for all the things you are thankful for, including His goodness to you!  For a something festive, I like this 5 Kernels of Corn model.

There are tons of other ideas on my Thanksgiving Pinterest Board.  Whatever you choose to do, may your heart, and the hearts of your children, be full of thanksgiving this season!