5 Memorable Thanksgiving Activities to Make Your Classroom Feel Extra Festive

Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pumpkin pie—it’s an opportunity to spark creativity, build gratitude, and sneak in some academic fun! Whether you’re looking to add a touch of holiday magic to your math lesson or a creative spin to your writing activities, Thanksgiving offers endless ways to make learning festive. Below are five engaging and educational Thanksgiving activities that will leave your students feeling thankful for the time spent in your classroom this season.

thanksgiving activities

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving in the classroom?

1. Thankful Writing Prompts | Thanksgiving Activities

Get your students thinking about gratitude with Thanksgiving-themed writing prompts. Writing helps students express themselves and develop important language skills, but it can also be a chance for them to reflect on what matters most.

The Thanksgiving Writing Craftivity resource from my TpT store is an engaging way to help your students determine what they are thankful for.

2. Pilgrim STEM Hat Craft

Who said history can’t be hands-on? This Thanksgiving, your students can step into the shoes (or hats) of the Pilgrims with the Pilgrim Hat Craft. They’ll build their own Pilgrim hats while also practicing their writing skills.

 3. Candy Corn Math Activiites

Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you have to skip over math! Add a bit of holiday flair to your math centers with the Candy Corn Fall Math Activities . Teach math, opinion writing, letter id, STEM and so more with this activity pack made around a candy corn theme! Learning made fun for fall time!

4. Classroom Gratitude Tree

Encourage your students to reflect on what they’re thankful for by creating a classroom Gratitude Tree. Cut out a large tree shape from butcher paper, and have students add paper leaves with notes about what they are grateful for This activity can be done daily, with students adding a new leaf each morning, fostering a sense of appreciation all week long.

5. Thanksgiving Story Time | Thanksgiving Activities

To add a little calm to the Thanksgiving chaos, set aside time for a special Thanksgiving story. Reading aloud books like There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey or Turkey Trouble offers a chance for students to relax and enjoy some quiet time while learning about the history or fun aspects of the holiday. Afterward, students can discuss the moral of the story or even act out their favorite scenes.

Extend this activity by having students create their own Thanksgiving-themed story as a class! You could assign characters, plotlines, and let each student contribute a part, practicing collaboration and storytelling.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to mix fun and learning. By incorporating these activities into your lessons, you’ll keep your students engaged while teaching valuable skills across writing, STEM, math, and social-emotional learning. I hope these ideas and activities bring lots of joy and thankfulness to your classroom!

Looking for more Thanksgiving activities? Check out these 7 fun and engaging Thanksgiving activities for kids!  

5 Fun and Simple Halloween Party Ideas for Your Elementary Classroom

Fall is such a magical time in the classroom! The changing leaves, the cool crisp air, and of course, the excitement of Halloween can create the perfect setting for some fun and engaging activities with your students. If you’re looking for Halloween party ideas, you’re in the right place!

Whether you’re planning a classroom Halloween party or just looking for ways to bring the fall festivities into your classroom, these five activities or classroom Halloween party ideas are easy to set up, budget-friendly, and most importantly, fun for your students!

halloween party ideas

How do you throw a fun Halloween party for kids? 

Here are some of my top Halloween activities for kids that you can do for your classroom party or even your fall party in the classroom! These ideas are simple, fun, and you can do them with any elementary classroom!

1. Pumpkin Bowling

Transform your classroom into a mini bowling alley with a fall twist! All you need is a small pumpkin (or a few) and some bowling pins or empty bottles. Students can take turns rolling their pumpkins to knock down the “pins.” You can even have fun prizes for different categories like “Best Strike” or “Most Creative Roll.” It’s a great way to burn off some energy and get students laughing!

2. Scarecrow Dress-Up Relay

This team activity is a crowd favorite! Divide your class into teams, and provide them with old clothes, straw, and other accessories. You can find super inexpensive items at thrift stores or by asking for parent donations. Each team works together to dress one of their members as a scarecrow. Once their “scarecrow” is ready, the team races to a finish line! It’s a hilarious and engaging way to encourage teamwork and creativity. Plus, you’ll get some fantastic photos of your students in their makeshift costumes!

3. Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin

A classic party game with a seasonal twist! Create a large pumpkin poster and cut out orange “noses” for students to pin onto it. Blindfold the students, spin them around, and let them try to stick the nose in the right spot. The sillier, the better! You could even give out small prizes for the closest or funniest placement.

 4. Leaf Art Creations

Fall wouldn’t be complete without a little nature exploration. Take your students on a leaf hunt around the school, and then let them use the leaves they collect to create beautiful fall art. They can glue them to paper, make patterns, or even create leaf rubbings with crayons. It’s a simple way to combine art and nature while celebrating the season.

5. Monster Freeze Dance

Turn on some fun Halloween tunes and have a dance party! Every time the music stops, students have to freeze in their silliest monster poses. It’s an easy way to keep the energy high while adding a Halloween spin to a classic favorite. For an added challenge, you could change the pose theme every round: witches, ghosts, or even scarecrows!

These simple activities are sure to make your fall or Halloween classroom party one your students will remember! And if you’re looking to save time and effort in planning your party, I’ve got the perfect solution. Check out my Halloween Party Digital and Print Activities Bundle! This bundle includes everything you need to make your party stress-free and fun, with both print and digital options. From engaging games to interactive activities, it’s all ready to go—just download and print!

Here’s what’s included: 

Design a Haunted House for Sale Writing Activity

Make a Jack-o-Lantern Writing Activity

Bat Digital Escape Room

Build a Monster.

Get the Halloween Party Bundle Here!

I hope these ideas make your party planning a breeze so that you can enjoy the spooky season with your students!

What are your favorite things to do for your Halloween parties with your students? Let me know in the comments! 

Want more spooky fun?! Check out these five fun Halloween activities for your classroom! 

4 Ways Seasonal Themes Help With Classroom Engagement

How do you engage students in the classroom?

 As teachers, we’re always looking for ways to keep our little learners engaged and excited about what they’re learning. One of the best ways to tap into that enthusiasm and engagement is by incorporating seasonal themes into your lessons. Whether it’s the pumpkins of fall, the snowflakes of winter, or the flowers of spring, these themes can create a sense of excitement and connection to the world outside the classroom.

If you’re looking for tips to get engaged students in the classroom, this post is for you! I’m sharing why seasonal themes are so effective in engaging kindergarten and first-grade students, and I’ll share some ideas for how you can use these themes to create meaningful learning experiences. 

engaged students

Plus, I have a fun fall activity resource that your students will love!

Why Seasonal Themes Work

1. Familiarity and Excitement

Seasonal themes work because they are already part of your students’ lives. They see pumpkins in stores, feel the crisp autumn air, and notice the changing leaves. When you bring these familiar elements into the classroom, it helps make learning feel more connected to the real world. Kids naturally feel excited about things they’re seeing and experiencing outside of school, so when you incorporate those things into your lessons, you’re tapping into their enthusiasm and using it to help them reach those goals!

2. Helps with Retention

You likely already know that when students are excited, they’re more likely to engage with the material and, ultimately, retain it. Seasonal themes provide a memorable context for lessons. For example, using pumpkins to teach counting or patterns makes the learning more vivid. When students think of pumpkins later, they may also recall the skills they learned.

3. Encourages Creativity

Seasonal themes also open the door for creative learning activities. Whether it’s through art, writing, or hands-on STEM projects, the possibilities are endless. With a fall theme, you can do everything from pumpkin painting to creating a class poem about the season. 

4. Multisensory Learning  

Many seasonal activities encourage multisensory learning, which is especially effective for younger learners! Whether it’s feeling the texture of leaves, hearing the crunch of apples, or seeing the vibrant colors of fall, using the senses helps deepen the learning experience. To bring this to life in your classroom, consider using these materials in your lessons as part of math centers or writing crafts! 

A Fun Fall-Themed Resource to Try

One of my favorite seasonal activities for fall is Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate. This timeless poem is not only fun and catchy, but it’s also packed with opportunities for teaching literacy, math, and even science! I’ve created a special resource that pairs this classic poem with engaging STEM activities designed for kindergarten and first-grade students.

fall activity for classroom engagement

With this resource, your students can work on STEM activities while enjoying the playful theme of pumpkins.

You can check out the Five Little Pumpkins resource here and bring some fall magic into your classroom!

By incorporating seasonal themes into your lessons, you’ll not only capture your students’ attention but also help them build meaningful connections to the world around them. Whether it’s pumpkins in the fall or snowflakes in winter, these themes can be the perfect way to make learning more engaging and memorable!

What are your favorite ways to get student engagement? Let me know in the comments! 

For more classroom management tips, check out my post here all about behavior management! 

4 Positive Reinforcement Tips for Behavior Management

Managing behavior in a K-2 classroom can feel like a juggling act, but positive reinforcement is one of the most effective and rewarding strategies you can use! With young students, focusing on what they’re doing right helps create a positive learning environment and builds their confidence.

If you’re looking for classroom management strategies or behavior tips for teachers, you’re in the right place! Let’s dive into some simple, effective ways to encourage good behavior in your classroom using positive reinforcement.

behavior management

1. Verbal Praise

One of the easiest ways to recognize good behavior is through verbal praise. Our younger kiddos love to be acknowledged, and a simple, “I love how you’re sitting so quietly, Sarah!” can go a long way. Make your praise specific, so students know exactly what behavior you appreciate. When you reinforce the behavior you want to see, it motivates other students to follow suit.

 2. Reward Systems

Reward systems can be a powerful tool to help students stay on track. Systems like sticker charts, “Star of the Day,” or even classroom currency encourage students to work towards a goal. The key is to keep the system simple and aligned with your classroom rules. This helps students understand exactly what they’re working towards, whether it’s extra free time, a fun privilege, or a small prize.

 3. Classroom Jobs

Giving students classroom jobs not only helps build responsibility but also offers a sense of ownership. Assigning roles like “line leader” or “door holder” gives them something to strive for, and completing their job well can earn them extra praise or a reward. Students love feeling like they’re helping, and it helps manage behavior when they know a job is on the line! Check out this classroom jobs resource here! 

4. Group Incentives

Another great way to encourage positive behavior is by rewarding the entire class for working together. This promotes teamwork and accountability. One of my favorite ways to do this is with a Marble Jar System. Each time the class displays positive behavior, such as following directions the first time or working quietly, you add a marble to the jar. Once the jar is full, the class earns a reward, like a pajama day or extra recess.

Speaking of marble jars, if you’re looking for an easy, effective way to implement this system, I recommend this Marble Jar Classroom Management Tool. It’s editable, so you can customize it to fit your class needs. Plus, it’s a fun, visual way for students to see their progress! You can check it out here.

behavior management

Using positive reinforcement not only helps maintain good behavior but also creates a classroom environment where students feel motivated and proud of their accomplishments. For more classroom management or behavior ideas, check out my post here!