Category — Thanksgiving Activities

Download the Favorite Food Bar Graph. The bar graph activity will be fun for Thanksgiving or any other time during the month.

Download the Turkey Category Game
Number of Players: 2 or more
Each player needs a Turkey Category Sheet and a pencil.
The object of the game is to get the most words in each column that begin with the letter.
Playing the Game:
1. Decide on one category (fruits, vegetables, names, colors, states, cities, countries, holiday things).
Choose categories that are appropriate to the ages of the players.
2. Set a time period for each column (1-3 minutes depending on the ages of those playing).
3. Each player writes as many words as they can think of that begin with the letter in the column.
4. When time is up, taking turns, each player reads their list. If any other player has the same word all players that have that word cross it off their list.
5. The player with the most words left in their columns is the winner.
6. You can do all the columns at the same time or separate depending on the ages of those playing.

Example: Category – Countries
T – Turkey, U – United States, R – Russia, K – Korea, E – Ethiopia, Y – Yemen

These activities will keep the kids busy while you’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

COUNTING TURKEYS
Cut out nine medium or small paper (or felt) turkeys.
Place them on a table or felt board.
Have your child point to each one as you recite the following poems together.

NINE LITTLE TURKEYS (A Counting Rhyme)
One little, two little, three little turkeys
Four little, five little, six little turkeys
Seven little, eight little, nine little turkeys
Out in the barnyard.
Gobble, gobble, little turkeys
Gobble, gobble, little turkeys,
Gobble, gobble, little turkeys.
Out in the barnyard.
Jean Warren

TURKEY, TURKEY (A Number and Color Rhyme)
Turkey, turkey number one
Strutting under the yellow sun.

Turkey, turkey number two
Strutting under skies of blue.

Turkey, turkey number three
Strutting under a big green tree.
Turkey, turkey number four
Strutting past the red barn door.
Jean Warren

I know there are a lot of ideas for cookie & candy turkey treats. This is one that I have use for at least 30 years.

To assemble:
Put frosting on 1 cookie and add gumdrop. This will be the body.
With frosting to secure, add red candy (wattle) and brown candy (eyes).
On the 2^nd cookie spread frosting and add candy corns.
These will be the feathers.
Attach the two cookies together with frosting as shown in the photograph
As the frosting hardens the turkey will become more secure.

This is a great idea. I used them last Christmas but you could use them for any special occasion. They’re so easy and really add a special touch to a family gathering.
Get Directions

My grandchildren had so much fun making their own pizza. Most of them didn’t look like a turkey when they were done but they enjoyed eating their own creations, whatever they were!
You’ll need:
Rhodes Dinner Rolls or Texas Rolls, thawed to room temperature
pizza sauce
cheese, grated
olives, pepperoni, green & red peppers
Flatten one Texas roll or two dinner rolls into a 5-6 inch circle. Place on a sprayed baking sheet. Prick several times with a fork. Pre-bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and top with pizza sauce, cheese and other items to create your turkey. Bake until cheese melts. Let cool before eating.

You will need a strip of paper about 12 – 18 inches wide and slightly shorter than the length of your table.
You can get butcher paper in various colors at craft stores or school supply stores.
Before you set your Thanksgiving table have children and adults make turkeys on the paper by tracing their hand print. On the feathers (the 4 fingers) they write things they are grateful for. Next, color the thumb to look like the turkey head and neck. It will be fun at dinner to see everyone’s turkey and what they are thankful for.
You can also use the same idea but with individual placemats.

You can make this easy pumpkin turkey centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner kid’s table.
You’ll need
pumpkin
styrofoam ball
yellow & red tissue paper
twist tie or string
straight pins, tape & toothpicks
paper for turkey feathers
Cut enough yellow tissue paper to wrap around the styrofoam ball and still have enough to spread over the top of the pumpkin as shown in the photo. Secure with a twist tie. Use straight pins to secure to the pumpkin. Add a small piece of red tissue for the wattle and secure with straight pin. Make eyes and beak from scrap paper or use a marker. Cut as many feathers as you have grandchildren and write a name on each. Tape a toothpick to the back of the feather so it’s easy to stick into the pumpkin. There are so many variations to this craft so use whatever items you have available and create your own Thanksgiving pumpkin centerpiece.

One last Thanksgiving activity. You can print this and let kids and adults find the hidden pictures.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

PRINT PICTURE

Aren’t these darling. It would be fun to have your kids or grandkids help make these for a Thanksgiving dinner favor.
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