thanksgiving writing prompts grade 2

40 Unique Thanksgiving Creative Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages

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As Thanksgiving approaches, homeschooling becomes an opportunity for more than just education – it’s a canvas for creativity!

In this post, I’m going to help you unlock the magic of Thanksgiving through the art of creative writing in your homeschool. If you’re looking to add some imagination and inspiration to your homeschool lesson plans this month, I’ve crafted a great list of Thanksgiving creative writing prompts and projects your students of ALL ages will love.

At the heart of homeschooling lies the flexibility to explore a wide range of teaching methods, and creative writing is a powerful tool that can ignite young minds (even helping reluctant writers!), foster critical thinking, and nurture self-expression. Whether you have preschoolers or high schoolers, there are writing prompt ideas here for everyone.

Why Creative Writing on Thanksgiving?

You know that Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday filled with favorite food and family gatherings; and it’s a great time of year to weave creative writing into your homeschool lessons!

Why you might ask?

Creative Writing Fosters Self-Expression and Communication Skills

When kids have the opportunity to write creatively, they are empowered to share their thoughts, emotions, and experiences through words. They can be encouraged to find their own unique voice, and communicate effectively!

As homeschool moms, we have the opportunity to create a nurturing environment where our kids can freely express themselves, and holidays like Thanksgiving can be a fun time to do this (when we sometimes stray a bit from our “typical” homeschooling routine).

Creative Writing Encourages Critical Thinking

There are many Thanksgiving creative writing prompts you can use that can encourage critical thinking in your kids: about the world around them, the history and significance of the holiday, cultural aspects of celebrations, or analyzing their own beliefs and experiences

This not only enhances their critical thinking skills but also broadens their understanding of the world.

Creative Writing Can Help Cultivate Gratitude

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and creative writing provides a great platform for children to reflect on the things they are thankful for.

You can use writing prompts to encourage your children to express their appreciation for family, friends, food, and the simple joys of life. In the process, they will develop a deeper sense of gratitude, a valuable life skill that extends far beyond the holiday season!

Creative Writing Enhances…Creativity!

Creative writing unleashes children’s imaginations! They can create stories, poems, and essays that reflect their unique perspectives on Thanksgiving.

This creativity not only makes learning more enjoyable but also reinforces the idea that there’s no one “right” way to approach a topic. It encourages out-of-the-box thinking and opens the door to imaginative storytelling.

…RELATED POST… A Great Way to Get Your Kids Writing: Night Zookeeper Review

Creative writing personalizes learning.

Homeschooling allows for personalized education (that’s why we love it so much, right?). Creative writing can be tailored to each child’s skill level and interests.

You can provide age-appropriate prompts and challenges for each of your kids, ensuring that they’re continually challenged and engaged. It’s a flexible tool that can be adapted to suit your child’s learning needs.

Age-Appropriate Creative Writing Prompts for Thanksgiving

So what do writing prompts look like at different ages and stages? How could you adapt and use them for all learners in your homeschool?

Let’s take a look at how to adjust the complexity and expectations of creative writing prompts to cater to your homeschooling needs.

For Younger Kids (Preschool and Elementary School):

• Simple and Concrete Prompts: Younger children may benefit from straightforward, concrete prompts that are easy to understand. For example, “Write a short thank you note to someone you love.”
• Visual Prompts: Incorporating images or drawings alongside the prompts can help younger kids who are still developing their writing skills. They can describe what they see in the picture or write a story based on it.
• Short Sentences: Prompts should be concise and use simple language, ensuring that younger children can grasp the concept quickly.
• Prompt with Leading Questions: Use leading questions to guide their thinking. For instance, “What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving, and why?”
• Use of Familiar Themes: Leverage familiar themes, such as family, pets, favorite toys, or holiday-related topics like “What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?” These themes resonate with younger children and make writing more relatable.
• Encourage Drawing and Labeling: Allow younger kids to combine drawing with their writing. They can draw a picture and label it or write a short sentence or phrase to describe it.

For Older Kids (Middle School and High School):

• Abstract and Thought-Provoking Prompts: Older kids can handle more abstract and thought-provoking prompts that require deeper reflection. For example, “Describe a time when you had to show gratitude even when it was difficult.”
• Extended Prompts: Provide more detailed prompts that require a longer response, such as, “Write a short story about a Thanksgiving adventure.”
• Prompts with Multiple Parts: Create prompts with multiple parts or questions to encourage critical thinking and comprehensive responses. For instance, “Explain the history of Thanksgiving and how it has evolved over the years.”
• Incorporate Literary Techniques: Challenge older kids to incorporate literary techniques like metaphors, similes, or alliteration in their writing. For example, “Write a poem that expresses your feelings of gratitude, using metaphors to describe what you’re thankful for.”
• Promote Personal Reflection: Encourage older kids to reflect on their experiences and emotions. Prompts may revolve around introspective questions like, “What does gratitude mean to you, and how has it shaped your life?”
• Research-Based Prompts: Introduce prompts that involve research, analysis, and argumentation. For example, “Research the history of Thanksgiving and write an essay explaining the significance of the holiday.”
• Narrative or Persuasive Writing: For high school students, you can offer prompts that involve narrative storytelling or persuasive writing. They can write a short story about a unique Thanksgiving experience or argue a specific point of view related to the holiday.

Tailoring your creative writing prompts to the age and developmental stage of your kids ensures that they provide the right level of challenge and support for their writing abilities.

Fun Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

Here’s a list of 40 total Thanksgiving creative writing prompts, 10 for each grade/age level.

If you’d like to grab this list in printable form (along with some Thanksgiving theme writing pages!), you can do so here .

Preschool and Kindergarten

These prompts are designed to be simple and engaging for preschool and kindergarten-age kiddos, fostering creativity and gratitude while developing essential writing skills!

• Draw and Describe Your Favorite Thanksgiving Food: Have your child draw a picture of their favorite Thanksgiving dish, and then help them describe it using simple words. For example, “I like turkey. It’s yummy!”
• Write a Thank You Note: Help your child write a thank you note to someone they are grateful for. For example, “Thank you, Mom, for the delicious pie!”
• Create a List of Things You’re Thankful For: Encourage your child to make a list of things they are thankful for, such as family, friends, toys, or pets.
• Draw Your Dream Thanksgiving Meal: Ask your child to draw what their dream Thanksgiving meal would look like, and then have them describe it to you.
• Tell a Story About a Thanksgiving Adventure: Prompt your child to tell a simple story about a Thanksgiving adventure, like going on a turkey hunt or having a special meal with a talking turkey.
• Draw a Thanksgiving Picture and Write a Sentence: Have your child draw a Thanksgiving-themed picture and then write a simple sentence about it. For example, “I see a pumpkin.”
• Write a Sentence About What You Wear on Thanksgiving: Ask your child to describe what they wear on Thanksgiving. For example, “I wear a fancy dress.”
• Draw and Describe a Thanksgiving Tradition: Encourage your child to draw a picture of a Thanksgiving tradition your family has, like watching the parade or playing football, and then describe it.
• Write a Thank You Note to Nature: Help your child write a thank you note to nature for the beautiful fall leaves, and ask them to describe their favorite leaf.
• Create a Simple Thanksgiving Poem: Work with your child to create a short, rhyming Thanksgiving poem. For example, “Turkeys on the run, Thanksgiving has begun. Pumpkin pie so sweet, it’s a special treat.”

Elementary Students

Here are ten creative writing prompts suitable for elementary kids. These prompts are designed to inspire elementary-age children to express themselves creatively and reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving.

They can be adapted to different grade levels, allowing for varying levels of complexity in the responses.

• Describe Your Perfect Thanksgiving Day: Have your child write a detailed description of what their perfect Thanksgiving day would look like. Encourage them to use vivid language and sensory details.
• Write a Thanksgiving Letter: Ask your child to write a letter to someone they are thankful for, expressing their gratitude and sharing what they appreciate about that person.
• Create a Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem: Have your child write an acrostic poem using the word “THANKSGIVING,” with each letter representing something they are grateful for.
• Tell a Thanksgiving Tale: Encourage your child to write a short story about a Thanksgiving adventure, whether it’s a journey back in time to the first Thanksgiving or a fictional tale about a turkey’s adventure.
• Design a Thanksgiving Menu: Have your child design their own Thanksgiving menu, including appetizers, main dishes, sides, and desserts. They can describe each dish and explain why they chose it.
• Write a Dialogue Between a Turkey and a Pilgrim: Challenge your child to write a dialogue between a Thanksgiving turkey and a Pilgrim. What would they say to each other?
• Describe Your Thanksgiving Traditions: Ask your child to write about the family traditions they follow on Thanksgiving and why they are important.
• If I Were a Thanksgiving Turkey: Have your child imagine they are a Thanksgiving turkey. Ask them to write from the turkey’s perspective, describing their thoughts and feelings.
• Thanksgiving Interview: Encourage your child to “interview” a family member about their favorite Thanksgiving memories and traditions. Write the interview in a question-and-answer format.
• Create a Thanksgiving Poem or Song: Challenge your child to write a poem or song about Thanksgiving. They can choose the theme, whether it’s gratitude, family, or the Thanksgiving feast.

Middle School Students

Here are ten creative writing prompts suitable for middle schoolers:

• Write a Thanksgiving Journal Entry: Have your kids imagine they are a Pilgrim or Native American at the first Thanksgiving. Write a journal entry from their perspective, describing the experience and their thoughts.
• The Great Thanksgiving Escape: Encourage your kids to write a short story about a Thanksgiving turkey’s daring escape from the dinner table. What adventures does the turkey encounter?
• A Thanksgiving Mystery: Challenge your kids to write a mystery story set on Thanksgiving. There’s a missing item or a mysterious event, and they need to solve the case.
• Thanksgiving Around the World: Ask your kids to research and write about how Thanksgiving or similar gratitude-themed holidays are celebrated in other countries. Compare and contrast these traditions with the American Thanksgiving.
• An Interview with a Historical Figure: Have your kids write an imaginary interview with a historical figure from the first Thanksgiving, such as Squanto or William Bradford. What questions would they ask, and how might the historical figure respond?
• The Thanksgiving Feast of the Future: Encourage your kids to envision a futuristic Thanksgiving feast. What new foods, technology, or new Thanksgiving tradition might be part of a Thanksgiving family celebration in the future?
• If You Could Invite Anyone to Thanksgiving: Have your kids write about whom they would invite to their Thanksgiving dinner if they could choose anyone, living or historical. Why did they make these choices?
• A Thanksgiving Poem of Gratitude: Challenge your kids to write a heartfelt poem expressing gratitude for the people, experiences, or things they are thankful for in their life.
• Thanksgiving Traditions Essay: Ask your kids to write an essay discussing their family’s Thanksgiving traditions and how these traditions have evolved over the years.
• The Thanksgiving Debate: Assign a Thanksgiving-related debate topic. For example, “Should Black Friday shopping start on Thanksgiving evening?” Have your kids research and present their arguments in writing.

These prompts are designed to engage middle school students in creative and reflective writing while encouraging them to explore different aspects of the Thanksgiving holiday. They can be adapted to different skill levels and serve as opportunities for critical thinking and self-expression.

High School

Here are ten creative writing prompts suitable for high school-age students, designed to engage them in critical thinking, creativity, and self-expression while encouraging them to explore deeper themes related to Thanksgiving and gratitude. They provide a bit more opportunity for in-depth writing and reflection.

• The Modern Pilgrim: Have students write a first-person narrative from the perspective of a modern-day Pilgrim who time-traveled to experience the first Thanksgiving. What differences and similarities would they observe?
• Thanksgiving Through the Eyes of an Immigrant: Ask students to write a story or reflection from the viewpoint of an immigrant experiencing Thanksgiving in the United States for the first time. What surprises or challenges might they encounter?
• A Thankful Letter to the Future: Encourage students to write a letter to their future selves, expressing gratitude for the people, experiences, and opportunities they hope to have in the years to come.
• The True Meaning of Giving Thanks: Challenge students to write an essay exploring the true essence of giving thanks. What does gratitude mean to them, and how does it relate to the holiday of Thanksgiving?
• The Thanksgiving Experiment: Have students envision a unique Thanksgiving experiment. What happens when people try to celebrate the holiday without food or in complete silence? Write a narrative about the outcomes.
• An Alternative Thanksgiving History: Prompt students to rewrite the history of Thanksgiving from a different perspective. For instance, what would the history be if it were told by Native Americans or African Americans?
• The Thanksgiving Feast of the Future: Encourage students to create a detailed vision of a Thanksgiving feast in the distant future. Describe the cuisine, customs, and technology of this futuristic celebration.
• Thanksgiving Reflection Poem: Ask students to write a reflective poem about the people and things they are thankful for, but with a focus on personal growth and self-discovery.
• The Politics of Thanksgiving: Have students write an essay or op-ed piece discussing the political, cultural, or environmental aspects of Thanksgiving. Explore topics like food sustainability, the representation of Native Americans, or the holiday’s commercialization.
• A Thanksgiving Mystery: Challenge students to write a mystery story set during Thanksgiving. What mysterious event or crime occurs, and how is it solved?

Incorporating Creative Writing into Your Thanksgiving Curriculum

Now that you know why it’s a great idea to get your kids writing creatively during Thanksgiving (and have some great prompts to help you out!), let’s talk about ho w you can actually fit this into your homeschool curriculum.

Creative writing isn’t just an extra activity; it can become a valuable tool for teaching various subjects and skills.

Here are some thoughts on how you can incorporate creative writing into your homeschool curriculum during the holidays:

Set Clear Learning Objectives

In other words…what is your “why” for your activities? What skills or knowledge do you want your children to gain through these creative writing exercises?

Whether it’s improving vocabulary, enhancing descriptive writing, or exploring historical themes, defining objectives will guide your approach and activities.

Theme Integration

Integrate Thanksgiving themes into other subjects! For example, in history, your kids can explore and write about the historical context of Thanksgiving, the Mayflower voyage, and the interactions between the Pilgrims and Native Americans. In science, they might write about topics like the life cycle of a turkey or the fall season.

Creative writing can easily become a cross-disciplinary exercise that enriches your curriculum.

Multimodal Learning

Incorporate various learning styles by combining writing with other forms of communication.

For example, you might have your children create visual representations alongside their creative writing, such as drawings, diagrams, or collages. These multimodal approaches enhance comprehension and memory.

Field Trips and Experiential Learning

Take advantage of the Thanksgiving season by organizing field trips or experiential learning activities. If you can, visit a historical site related to the Pilgrims (or even take a “virtual” field trip if you can’t go in person). Encourage your kids to document these experiences through writing and reflection.

Interactive Storytelling

Foster interactive storytelling by having your children create and perform Thanksgiving-themed plays or share their stories during a Thanksgiving gathering. This not only promotes public speaking skills but also builds a sense of community through shared narratives.

Fun Thanksgiving Writing Activities

Finally, Thanksgiving provides a fantastic opportunity for students to take on creative writing projects that go beyond a daily writing prompt.

The following fun writing activities not only encourage imagination and self-expression, but also allow kids to dive deeper into the spirit of the holiday. Here are some inspiring Thanksgiving creative writing projects for your homeschool:

Thanksgiving Journals

Thanksgiving journals are a great way for your kids to document their thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout the holiday season.

These journals can include daily reflections on gratitude, descriptions of Thanksgiving traditions, and even illustrations. This project will encourage consistent writing and self-expression.

Short Stories or Essays on Gratitude

Challenge your kids to craft short stories or essays centered on the theme of gratitude.

They can write fictional tales that revolve around characters learning the value of thankfulness, or they can write personal essays discussing the people, moments, or experiences for which they are most thankful.

Letters of Thanks

Involve your kids in writing letters of gratitude to family members, friends, or even community helpers like firefighters, teachers, or healthcare workers.

This project not only hones their writing skills but also nurtures empathy and thankfulness.

Creating Thanksgiving-Themed Poetry

Encourage your kids to explore the world of poetry by composing Thanksgiving-themed poems!

They can experiment with different forms like haikus, sonnets, or free verse to express their feelings of gratitude, the beauty of autumn, or the essence of the holiday.

Historical Narratives

Delve into the history of Thanksgiving by challenging your children to write historical narratives.

These narratives can explore the events surrounding the first Thanksgiving, the Mayflower voyage, or the interactions between the Pilgrims and Native Americans.

Research, storytelling, and writing converge in this educational project.

Thanksgiving Recipe Book

Combine creativity with practicality by creating a family Thanksgiving recipe book!

Have your children write short descriptions of their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, along with the recipes. Illustrations or photographs can accompany the descriptions, turning this project into a cherished keepsake.

Diary of a Thanksgiving Turkey

In a humorous twist, encourage your children to write a diary from the perspective of a Thanksgiving turkey. What would the turkey think and experience in the days leading up to the holiday? This imaginative exercise encourages creative storytelling.

Comparative Thanksgiving Analysis

For older students, have them research and write an analytical essay comparing Thanksgiving traditions and celebrations in different parts of the country or even in different countries. This project promotes research skills, critical thinking, and cultural understanding.

Thanksgiving Play or Skit

For a hands-on project that combines creative writing with performance, encourage your students to write a Thanksgiving play or skit.

They can perform it for family members during the Thanksgiving celebration, bringing their writing to life in a fun and interactive way.

These Thanksgiving creative writing projects offer a wide range of opportunities for your kids to explore their creativity, strengthen their writing skills, and deepen their understanding of the holiday’s significance. Choose the project that resonates most with your family and watch the magic of Thanksgiving come to life through the written word!

Homeschool Creative Writing Resources

I hope this post was helpful to you in giving some ideas for incorporating creative writing into your Thanksgiving homeschooling plans!

Make sure to grab my Thanksgiving Creative Writing Prompts printable to get a copy of all 40 prompts listed in this post, along with some cute Thanksgiving writing papers for your kids to use with their writing!

You might also like these FREE Creative Writing Graphic Organizers to help your kids organize their ideas as they write throughout the year.

Happy writing, and Happy Thanksgiving!

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• Inspire a Love for Writing With These Holiday Writing Prompts for Kids
• The Best Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle Recipe

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Thanksgiving Writing Prompts: 20 Creative Prompts to Practice Gratitude

by Abigail Perry | 0 comments

It's Thanksgiving week! During this holiday, are you hoping to find some extra practice time for writing? Or maybe you're looking for some great Thanksgiving writing prompts that can help you express your gratitude?

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year for you to take a breath and slow down. You have a lot to do, I'm sure! However, sometimes taking a few minutes—even just fifteen minutes—in your day to show your gratitude can rejuvenate your holiday spirit.

In this article, you can have some quick and quiet writing time to reflect on what you're thankful for—by using one fo these twenty creative writing prompts and exercises.

Writing is Something to Be Grateful For

I have long admired writers and the stories they gift to the world. While writing can be hard and tedious work, it also offers endless ways to creatively express ourselves. In many cases, writing has therapeutic value. (It's not just for elementary students—although a fun writing prompt like the ones in this article do practice essential writing skills for elementary-aged students or homeschool students!)

For instance, taking the time to write can slow a person's mind down. When this happens, they are more likely to consider what is important to them, especially when they take the time to reflect on what is special in their life.

That's why, for today, I would like to invite you to try out one of the following writing prompts. Although there are undeniable hardships in the world, it's important to also remember the good things.

Use a daily writing prompt like the ones in this article to help express your gratitude . Perhaps they'll even put you into the spirit of giving!

20 Thanksgiving Writing Prompts to Spark Your Gratitude

Short story thanksgiving writing prompts.

If you're hoping to write a short story over the holiday break, these five prompt ideas are a wonderful place to start. Short story writer and author Sarah Gribble recommends writing a short story in one sitting. Take one of these ideas and set your clock, then run with your own narrative!

• Every year on Thanksgiving morning, Sandy Johnson's family visits her grandmother's grave. This year, there's a myserteous letter from an anonymous sender waiting for them.
• Tim has trained for years to dance with his team in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Minutes before the parade begins, something terrible happens to Tim that could crush his dream forever.
• Two best friends separated by life's unexpected events have made a vow to meet up once every year on Thanksgiving. They've done this faithfully for twenty years, which makes it all the more concerning when one of them doesn't show up as promised.
• Kelly Johnson finally did it. He's invented a time machine that will allow him to go back in time to this exact date on Thanksgiving. The only question is, where will he go and what year will he choose? Each decision is paramount if Kelly wants to win back the love of his life.
• Puppy's best friend is a pet Turkey. They do everything together on the farm, from chasing sheep to trudging through the forest. One day, Puppy overhears the farmer talking about eating Turkey for Thanksgiving supper. With only a week left, Puppy will stop at nothing to change the farmer's mind.

Poem Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

You don't need to write a short story or novel to practice writing. Try one of these five Thanksgiving writing prompts to inspire a poem.

• Write a haiku about your favorite Thanksgiving tradition.
• Write an acrostic poem with one of these words: THANKFUL, GRATEFUL, FAMLY, TRADITION, FEAST.
• Write a poem about the ten steps to a happy Thanksgiving day.
• Write a sonnet to your favorite Thanksgiving food or favorite fall desserts.
• Write a limerick for a small child about the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Journal Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

Journaling is an incredible way to reflect on what we are thankful for—and boost out happiness in the process. Try journaling about one of these five Thanksgiving writing prompts to elevate your mood.

• Describe how five people helped you get you through some rough patches this year.
• Journal about five things that you appreciate each day, each one triggering a different sense: sight, smell, touch, sound, taste.
• Write about the one thing that you are most grateful for today.
• Journal about something that you really enjoyed doing during your spare time in the month of November.
• Write about something new you learned to do this year—and liked. Describe how this made you feel.

Card Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

There's no better time of the year to take some time to write cards to those we are thankful for! Grab a blank card, piece of white paper, or thank you card to write a special note . You might be surprised, but sometimes a thoughtful note is an unexpected and perfect gift.

• Write a thank you card to a teacher about something that made you feel encouraged this year.
• Write a special note to a child about how they make your life special.
• Write a card to a parent or grandparent about what they mean to you in your life.
• Write a note to a sibling about how you enjoy THIS about them.
• Write a card to a friend, thanking them for doing THIS.

Take Time to Write, and Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is a busy time of year, but even taking a few minutes in your day to write can make a difference for your mental health—or in the life of someone you love, and to whom you wrote a special note.

Whether you write stories or poems, or prefer journaling or writing a quick card, touching people with our words is a great way to express ourselves creatively. It also is a wonderful way to build relationships and put joy and love back into the world.

I hope you take a few minutes to try out one of these writing prompts! And Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you most thankful for this year? Let us know in the comments .

Happy Thanksgiving! For today's writing practice, pick one of the twenty writing prompts from the article. Start by choosing the type of writing you want to explore, and then pull your favorite prompt from the list.

Spend fifteen minutes to work on this. When you're done, we'd love to see what you picked and why! Share your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop , and leave feedback for a few other writers.

Not a member? Join us .

Abigail Perry

Abigail Perry is a Certified Story Grid Editor with professional teaching, literary agency, and film production experience. In addition to writing Story Grid masterwork guides, she works as a freelance editor and is the Content Editor for The Write Practice. Abigail loves stories that put women and diverse groups at the center of the story—and others that include superpowers and magic. Her favorite genres include: Smart Book Club Fiction, Women's Fiction, YA Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and unique memoirs. She also has a B.S. in TV, Radio, and Film and loves working on screenplays that are emotionally driven and/or full of action. You can learn more about Abigail on her website.

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50 Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

November 5, 2023 by Richard 1 Comment

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, gratitude, and gathering with loved ones. It’s a traditional holiday, from watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade to enjoying Grandma’s famous pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving celebrations create lasting memories as families reconnect over nostalgic sights, smells, and flavors.

Here are 50 Thanksgiving Writing Prompts to get you in the mood to be with family and feast. Sometimes, it’s nice to write something that brings out nostalgia, or these prompts will inspire longer pieces. Either way, we hope you enjoy them. 

We love reading holiday pieces so that you can post your results below, or if they turn out well, submit them for publication . Also, if you have suggestions for this list, please post those down as well. Happy Thanksgiving and happy writing from Every Writer. 

• Write about your earliest childhood memory of Thanksgiving.
• What are you most thankful for this year?
• Describe your ideal Thanksgiving meal.
• If you could have Thanksgiving dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
• What is your family’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
• Describe the sights, sounds, and smells of your family’s Thanksgiving gatherings.
• Tell the story of a particularly memorable Thanksgiving you experienced.
• What food do you most look forward to eating on Thanksgiving?
• Which family member’s cooking do you enjoy the most on Thanksgiving?
• What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert? Write about a memorable experience with it.
• If you could add or change one food item on the traditional Thanksgiving menu, what would it be?
• Do you have any funny Thanksgiving stories? What happened?
• What are you thankful for about autumn?
• Write about a time you felt especially grateful.
• What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
• What is your family’s Thanksgiving history?
• Describe the perfect Thanksgiving weather.
• What TV specials do you enjoy watching on Thanksgiving?
• Do you volunteer or donate around Thanksgiving time? What organizations or causes are important to you?
• Tell about a Thanksgiving tradition you’d like to start.
• If you could travel anywhere for Thanksgiving, where would you go?
• What is your favorite Thanksgiving activity?
• Write a poem about Thanksgiving.
• What is your favorite childhood Thanksgiving memory?
• What are the three words that come to mind when you think of Thanksgiving?
• Describe your ideal Thanksgiving table setting.
• Tell about a memorable Thanksgiving mishap or disaster.
• Write a story from the perspective of a Thanksgiving turkey.
• If you could be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, what would your float look like?
• Imagine you could go back in time to the First Thanksgiving. Write a story.
• Do you enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers? What is your favorite?
• Make a list of things to be grateful for.
• Write a blessing or prayer for Thanksgiving.
• What are you looking forward to most this Thanksgiving?
• What is your favorite place to celebrate Thanksgiving?
• Describe the worst Thanksgiving meal you’ve had.
• Do you have a funny or favorite Thanksgiving memory?
• Imagine you wake up on Thanksgiving as a pumpkin pie. Describe your experience.
• If you could speak to a turkey on Thanksgiving Day, what would you say?
• Write ten things that make you feel cozy on Thanksgiving.
• Describe your worst experience cooking Thanksgiving dinner.
• What are three non-food related things that remind you of Thanksgiving?
• Make up your own origin story for one of the traditional Thanksgiving foods.
• Imagine aliens came to experience Thanksgiving. Describe it from their perspective.
• Write a Facebook status update capturing your Thanksgiving celebrations.
• If you could add a new activity to your family’s Thanksgiving traditions, what would you add?
• Describe the clothes you like to wear on Thanksgiving and why.
• What is the most unusual or creative dish you’ve had for Thanksgiving dinner?
• Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving movie? What is it and why?
• What are you thankful for about writing?

If you liked our list, or if it was helpful, let us know below, and remember if you liked the results of these prompts, send them to us !

Related Posts:

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

Reader Interactions

Angelyn Gumbs says

November 6, 2023 at 8:19 am

From that very moment that door rings, and hearing cheerful ring tone. As the door then opens and greeted with that warm hug and a sweet kisses on my kiddo’s cheeks. Because this has come a traditions when upon arriving the smell of pies and cakes most fill the hallway.. As all eyes are guided to the side dishes that laid on the buffet table the sweet potato stuffing , potatoes salad, bake macaroni and cheese ,whole grain brown rice and white with black eye peas too. And the homemade mashed potatoes, with lumps made with grandma love. Butter dinner rolls hot and ready;to be place on the side of plates. Vegetable ! not many besides corn on the cob and broccoli with melted cheese always make me smile. And now on to the main event a butterball 14 lbs Turkey ,and of course stovetop stuffing on the side and gravy from scratch slowly poured out . Over the sounds of joy and laughter .When our family get together on Thanksgiving.

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30 Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

Thinking about another slice of pie and what you’re going to watch on TV, whether it’s football, the parade, or Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, makes it easy for everyone to forget what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about and why it’s such an important holiday to celebrate for Americans.

In particular, for children it’s difficult to ever understand the holiday properly unless they’re given the opportunity.

That’s why having them work on writing prompts about Thanksgiving is a great way to give them a moment to be thoughtful and really appreciate Thanksgiving fully.

How To Use These Prompts

These prompts are best to be used throughout the month of November, leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.

In doing so, they should give students a better understanding of both the history of Thanksgiving, as well as why and how we celebrate it.

These prompts can be worked on as solo assignments, but it’s always good to also discuss them as a group, because this will open up students to a deeper and more well-rounded understanding of the question or topic at hand.

The Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

• Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
• What do you have to be thankful for?
• How do you show that you’re thankful for something?
• Why is it important to show thanks to those who deserve it in your life?
• What role do Native Americans play in the Thanksgiving story?
• How should we celebrate Native Americans today?
• What foods does your family have at Thanksgiving? Which is your favorite?
• What traditions are specific to your family on Thanksgiving?
• Do you watch football on Thanksgiving? Why is this seen as an important tradition?
• Does your family like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Why?
• Can you think of any movies or books that use Thanksgiving Day as an important plot point? How do they use it?
• Why is spending time with family important?
• Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a holiday during the Civil War. Why would it be important to be thankful during a violent conflict?
• What is the weather usually like on Thanksgiving? How does it make you feel?
• Every year the president pardons a turkey, meaning that he sets it free. Why do you think this tradition started?
• How do you think the foods eaten on Thanksgiving change depending on where in the country you live?
• Following Thanksgiving is generally seen as the start of the Christmas season. Why do you think there is no break between the two?
• Do you like Black Friday, or try to ignore it? Why?
• If you could go to Thanksgiving dinner with any historical figure, who would you choose? What would you talk about?
• Who cooks Thanksgiving dinner in your family? Is this how your family normally cooks?
• Do you like Thanksgiving? Why or why not?
• Has your opinion changed on Thanksgiving over time? Why?
• What does it mean to be grateful?
• During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier to allow more time for buying and selling products before Christmas. Why would he put consumerism ahead of tradition? Can this be felt today?
• Why do people tend to give more food, clothes, and toys to charity during Thanksgiving and the holiday season?
• Can you think of any songs about Thanksgiving, the way there are songs about Christmas? Why do you think there are fewer songs about Thanksgiving?
• A lot of people want to travel around thanksgiving. Because of this, travel prices go up. Is it fair that it costs more to travel to see family and friends around the holidays? Why or why not?
• How does the story of the first Thanksgiving contrast with how Native Americans were treated by settlers in the years that followed?
• What do you know about the Pilgrims, and why were they so important to American history?
• Are you familiar with the poem, “Over the river and through the wood?” What does it mean to you?

Looking For More Information?

Teachers looking for more resources and writing prompts can find them throughout this website.

You might also find our gratitude journal prompts for kids helpful, or maybe you’re wanting to inspire some thoughtful writing about kindness .

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If there is anything missing that you would like to see here, please reach out to us. 🙂

15 Fun Thanksgiving Writing Activities and Prompts for Kids

Holiday , Language , Learning | 1 comment

Are you looking for fun Thanksgiving writing activities to do with the kids this fall? Here are 15 different writing activities and prompts that are all about Thanksgiving! 

Writing can be a challenge for kids- of any age!

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Young kids often lack the small muscles- and the confidence- needed to write. 

Older kids can have trouble organizing information and putting their thoughts down on paper. 

But as with anything, practice makes perfect!

One of the best ways to practice writing is to give a variety of assignments and writing types- and a lot of different topics!

Here are 15 Thanksgiving writing activities and prompts for kids- that will help them practice and enjoy writing!

15 Thanksgiving Writing Activities for Kids

Thankful flip book.

Flip books are fun writing activities for kids of all ages. It’s also simple to put together and allows kids to also personalize and use their artistic imagination in the design. 

To make a flip book you will need several sheets of paper, each of just a couple inches shorter than the other. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to put a flip book together: Flip Book Tutorial.  

To make this a Thanksgiving Writing Activity, use colored paper in browns, oranges, and yellows. And then have use a Thanksgiving theme for each of the flaps/ 

Here are a couple of ideas of writing prompts for each tab:

• Historical – with each tab focusing on one piece of the history of Thanksgiving (traditions, symbols, meaning of, etc)
• I am Thankful – each tab covers family, friends, school, self, etc. 
• The Meal – each tab can discuss a different course or aspect of the Thanksgiving meal

Movie Extension Writing Prompt

There are a lot of great movies out there covering Thanksgiving. 

You can choose a cartoon or other fun kids movie or even choose a documentary or other non-fiction film. 

Have the kids watch the movie and then have them write on the movie. Such as:

• Compare and contrast what was depicted in the movie to their own life
• Discuss historical accurateness
• Favorite part and why

Turkey Pardon Persuasive Writing Activity

Take a moment to read or watch about the tradition of pardoning a turkey each year in the US. 

Then have the kids write a persuasive letter or paper from a turkey’s point of view asking to be pardoned. 

In this Thanksgiving writing activity, make sure the students decide on who the audience is (a farmer, a family getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner, etc) and that they speak as the turkey for the duration of the writing assignment. 

Thank You Letters

This is a great Thanksgiving writing activity for kids of all ages. And it’s a great life skill to develop!

Have students choose a person in their life- a family member or friend- to write a thank you letter to. 

This doesn’t have to be a thank you for anything specific, but a general  Thanks for all you do for me  letter that helps kids to feel gratitude for other people in their life. 

You can download a free Thanksgiving Thank You Letter Template here: Thanksgiving Thank You Letter

How to Cook a Turkey Research Project

This Thanksgiving writing activity helps teach kids both now to research and how to organize information in logical, sequential order. 

Have them do a little research- online or in books, depending on the age- and take notes on the steps to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. 

Then have them write the steps in paragraph form. 

Don’t forget to help them use transition words such as first, then, and next!

Thanksgiving Acrostic Poems

Acrostic poems are a fun writing activity that doesn’t have as much pressure as other poetry! An acrostic poem simply takes a word and then you have to write a line or word starting with each letter in that word. 

Here are some words to use for Thanksgiving Acrostic poems:

• Thanksgiving

Or you can download my Free Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem templates for an easy activity! 

Thanksgiving Traditions

This easy Thanksgiving writing prompt idea is a great way to give kids writing practice with no pressure. 

Simply give them a sheet of paper, or their writing journal, and the topic: Thanksgiving Traditions .

Then let them free write for 10-20 minutes on that topic. 

The First Thanksgiving

Spend some time reading all about The First Thanksgiving. Read various books on the topic that cover both the history leading up to the First Thanksgiving and what the First Thanksgiving looked like. 

Then have the students write an paper on the First Thanksgiving. 

Depending on age this could be a 4 paragraph essay, a paragraph or simply a couple of sentences. 

Use Thanksgiving Words

Give your students a bank of Thanksgiving words and ask them to write a story using as many of the words as they can. 

Bonus points for using ALL of the words at least once!

Thanksgiving ABCs

This Thanksgiving writing activity is similar to an acrostic poem, except instead of using a word at it’s base, it uses the ABCs. 

Have the students write a Thanksgiving phrase or sentence for each letter of the alphabet. 

The Great Turkey Escape

Now let’s get creative! Have the kids write a create writing story about what would happen if the the Thanksgiving turkey got away and escaped butchering. 

How did he escape? Where will he go? Does he get caught?

Then and Now Venn Diagram

After reading and researching the first Thanksgiving have kids fill in a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the first Thanksgiving to today’s Thanksgiving.

Depending on their age they can fill in with words or complete sentences. 

You can also have them use their diagram to turn it  into a few paragraphs.

You can download the free Thanksgiving Venn Diagram Template here: Thanksgiving Venn Diagram

Thanksgiving Story Book Report

Have the students choose a favorite Thanksgiving story book or chapter book (or assign a specific one!) and have them to a book report. 

Include everything you would normally ask for in a book report- characters, setting, plot, etc. And ask some Thanksgiving specific questions as well!

Thanksgiving Journal

Have the kids start a Thanksgiving journal. 

This is a great Thanksgiving writing activity for the whole month of November. You can use different prompts for each day or choose a central theme- such as gratitude or thankfulness.

Have the kids take time each day to write in their journal as a way to practice writing and brainstorming. 

Futuristic Thanksgiving

This fun Thanksgiving writing activity allows the kids to imagine what they think Thanksgiving will look like in the future. 

Set a time- such as 100 years from now- and ask them to imagine what Thanksgiving will look like then. 

What will be different? What will be the same?

Need some Thanksgiving writing paper to use for these activities? Just click here to download some Thanksgiving Writing Paper

Tips for Altering Writing Activities for All Ages

Almost all writing activities can be altered to work for kids of all ages- from kindergarten to high school level. 

Here are some tips for altering lessons:

• Take age and ability into account. A kindergartner can write one word answers for acrostic poems or copy work for other assignments. An older child is capable of full and complete sentences. 
• Vary length. Elementary age kids can be required to write a short paragraph, while middle and high schoolers may be required to write 3-5 paragraph essays. Creative writing assignments will also have differing length requirements. 
• Use appropriate expectations. This includes things neatness and handwriting or if the assignment should be typed. Correct grammar and spelling. The older the child, the higher the expectations should be. 
• Use appropriate resources. Older kids can do their own research and find their own sources. Younger kids might need to be given the resources to choose from. You can also choose to read aloud from resources for elementary aged kids, while middle and high schoolers will likely have assigned readings. 

You may also like: Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

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The Best Thanksgiving Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

Don’t you wish you could teach fun Thanksgiving writing prompts and activities that both celebrate the holiday and academically challenge students?

These fun turkey crafts, writing prompts and graphic organizers are your answer.

Get everything you need for your Thanksgiving lesson plans while pairing it with fun books and stories about Thanksgiving.

Don’t Eat Turkey! (opinion)

Need a fun opinion writing prompt for Thanksgiving? Try, Don’t Eat Turkey, Eat …..

Let students practice the art of persuasion by having them persuade you to eat their favorite food on Thanksgiving instead.

Let’s save the turkeys and bring the joy of the holiday into the classroom.

Pair this Save the Turkey! activity with the read aloud Turkey Trouble .

The funny story and easy to use graphic organizers and templates are sure to get pencils moving in your classroom!

Thanksgiving Gone Wrong (narrative)

Have you ever had a day where it just felt like EVERYTHING was going wrong?

What about a holiday?

Let students imagine up the most creative, funny holiday with this fun Thanksgiving Gone Wrong writing prompt and craft .

Students will use graphic organizers to go through the writing process and will top it off with a fun craft and bulletin board.

How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner (procedural)

Do YOU need a laugh this holiday season?

Nothing is funnier than listening students describe how they think that Thanksgiving dinner should be made.

Allow students to plan their family’s Thanksgiving dinner with this exciting writing project and flip book .

Students will use different worksheets to plan their pieces, then publish a fun flip book and craft to take home to their families.

My Turkey in Disguise

Disguising a turkey is a fan favorite Thanksgiving project in the classroom.

Bump up the academics by having students not only disguise their turkey, but DESCRIBE their turkey.

They can describe the turkey’s disguise, as well as come up with different interests, likes and dislikes that their turkey has.

This fun project will have students giggling and pencils moving in no time.

How to Catch a Turkey (procedural)

What happens when a turkey gets on the loose?

Well of COURSE students need to catch it!

Students will love reading the book How to Catch a Turkey and then coming up with how they would catch a turkey at their own house.

This fun writing prompt, project and flip book makes a great project to do during the week or month of Thanksgiving.

Macy’s Day Parade (informative writing project – digital)

Do you want to add some fun but educational writing into your November lesson plans?

Have students read Balloons Over Broadway , learning about the history of the Macy’s Day Parade.

Then, give students time to compile notes on how the floats have changed over time.

Finally, have students compile their knowledge into an informative piece about the parade .

You can top off this fun project by allowing students to create a float of their own and share it with the class.

November Writing Journal

Looking for a quick and easy daily routine?

Get students writing (or typing) every single day with this fun November Writing Journal .

Students will spiral through writing informative, narrative and opinion pieces all centered around fun fall and Thanksgiving topics.

This makes a great warm up, early finisher activity, bell work, or daily morning work.

Final Thoughts

What are your favorite Thanksgiving writing prompts or activities in your classroom?

Drop your ideas in the comments below for us to check out!

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

Emily - The Mountain Teacher

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Thanksgiving Writing Paper Plus 15 Gratitude Writing Prompts

Nurture a spirit of gratitude in your students.

Will you be doing some Thanksgiving writing this season? Then you need our free Thanksgiving writing paper! Plus, check out our list of 15 gratitude writing prompts below.

Just submit your email to get your free Thanksgiving writing paper, featuring leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, and a beautiful design featuring the word grateful . Print it on white paper or use pretty fall colors to add to the festive feel.

  Yes! I Want My Thanksgiving Writing Paper

Thanksgiving writing prompts to inspire gratitude and reflection:

• What about your family or friends are you most grateful for? Why?
• What book are you most grateful for having read?
• What are three of your very favorite things to do? Why do you like to do them?
• What is your favorite holiday and why?
• What is your favorite season and why?
• What is something special about you that others might not know?
• What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen outdoors?
• What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen indoors?
• Share something another person currently does or once did for you for which you are grateful. It could be something they do every day, once in a while, or did only once.
• What are some ways that your body or mind is strong?
• What from the school year so far are you most proud of?
• What is your favorite food to eat during Thanksgiving or another family celebration?
• What is something you hope to remember about your life right now when you are a grown-up?
• What is something from your past that you are thankful for?
• What are you grateful for about your school?

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38 Meaningful Gratitude Activities for Kids 

From gratitude stones to handwritten letters. Continue Reading

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Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

This packet contains 15+ different Thanksgiving writing prompts great to be used in kindergarten, first or second grade.  As you know, kindergarten students do not really write much during the first weeks of school. Each writing prompts has 4 different pages you can use – one that has a picture with something to write, one they can write a full page prompt, one that you can cut the pag in half and write a half page prompt and then one that the student can just draw.  The drawing prompt allows the student to think about what they would write and put their thoughts into pictures.  A picture is worth a thousand words!  Pre-writing, writing prompts!    Here are a few pictures of a few of the Thanksgiving writing prompts.  The entire packet is 60+ pages long.

If you would like a free sample of a Thanksgiving writing prompt,  enter in your email address into the form below.  You will be added to our mailing list where you will find out about other fun things, like freebies.  You can unsubscribe yourself, if you wish, from any newsletter that arrives or by following the directions if your freebie.  If you have any trouble, please email me at [email protected]

If you like this post, you will also like Kindergarten Writing Prompts

Madreen Karle is a master first grade reading teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience. She taught reading in a special needs and English as a Second Language classroom. After retiring she wrote a reading program to help others learn how to teach reading. She is a trusted educator and author of  5 books to help teach children  to read and write. In addition to her books, she is a mentor for 3 websites that give reading teacher tips ( Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading ,  Mrs. Karle’s Reading Patch , and  Mrs. Karle’s Handwriting Patch ). Through her teaching she learned that confidence was the key to learning to read. A child who is not confident at reading does not like to read and struggles to read. Mrs. Karle created “sunshine moments” to help teach children how to grow their confidence and learn to read. Meeghan Karle Mousaw (Madreen’s daughter) has her Master’s in Special Education. She has 8 years experience teaching children to read online. In addition, she developed a curriculum to teach children handwriting called  The Handwriting Patch . With the Handwriting Patch learning is fun because children learn to draw and learn handwriting at the same time. In 2019 The  Handwriting Patch curriculum became an amazon best seller  the first year it was released, helping thousands of kids learn handwriting with a unique, fun method. She is mom to 6 kids, each with differently learning abilities and struggles. The  Reading Patch  was established by the creators of  Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading . Together they have been featured on the NBC media outlets and Parents Magazine online. Over the last 8 years in their online platform, Madreen and Meeghan have worked tirelessly with teachers, homeschoolers and parents looking to help children learn to read to become a trusted authority in teaching children to read and advocating early literacy skills. They often partner with other educational experts to deliver the most current information to the Reading Patch community.

23 Comments

These are so cute…they’re bringing me back to my Kindergarten teaching days! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Share The Wealth Sunday! xoxo Lisa

Thanks! It is fun to be back in kindergarten again 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

These look great! Thanks for linking up with #justanotherlinky xx

These are great! Thanks for sharing them with us at #justanotherlinky

Thanks for stopping by!

I love writing prompts especially when it revolves around holidays! These sheets are so much fun & perfect for young ones. As a mom of 3 loved having prompts around when during the holidays when I needed to create some family time & a little writing practice. Great post & thank you for linking up with our Small Victories Sunday Linkup!

Thank you!…and thanks for stopping by!

I was just looking for something like these for my students, Thank you!

You are so welcome! Enjoy!

Love this prompt! Can’t wait to use it! Thanks

You are welcome!

These are great for getting the kiddos to write!

I have to keep signing up every time, even though I am getting the email because I already signed up?? I am confused.

Yes, you do have to enter your email each time to trigger the automatic email/download. The system is smart enough to know you are already on the list so it doe snot add you more than once….but -to get the freebie, yes, you enter your email each time. (There are actually 2 servers…1 server sends the download, the other sends the newsletter…and so that is how it works. ) Anyway, sorry for any confusion! Enjoy the freebie 🙂

You packets look wonderful. I am currently a first grade teacher and my goal this year is to do a better job with teaching writing, and not using a four square. I would like to try some of your writing prompts. Thank you for your generosity. Linda

You are so welcome…enjoy! :0)

Thank you so much for sharing the Thanksgiving writing prompts. I cannot wait to use them with my kindergarteners.

You are so welcome. 🙂 Enjoy!

Hi thanks for all these great resources. I went to purchase the premium membership and when I clicked add to cart it had a price of $34, but in the cart it shows $49? Can you help me with this?

Hi there, Thanks for your interest in our premium membership. I just sent you the link for the sale of our premium membership 🙂

I really love your materials but each time I want to download something I have to registe myself in order to get something? sorry but I ‘m a little confused.

Maria Joâo César

Hi there, Sorry for your confusion. Yes, you always have to re-enter your email address… it is the only way I can reach the high number of people we reach. The system is smart enough to know that you are already on the list/it does not re-add you. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] (or, you can always leave a comment, I get those too!)

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Thanksgiving Writing Prompts #2

221. Have you ever helped your family cook the Thanksgiving dinner? If so, what kind of jobs did you have to help prepare the feast? If not, imagine how you would help create the various tasty dishes that line your Thanksgiving table.

222. Thanksgiving is renowned for its famous side dishes like mashed potatoes and broccoli casserole. What is the strangest side dish you've ever had at Thanksgiving? What made it so strange and how did it taste?

223. Imagine that you have been given the honor of offering up a toast or prayer at the beginning of the Thanksgiving meal. What will you say and how will your family react?

224. Write a conversation between a side dish and a main course at the table during turkey day. What do the two delicious plates have to discuss with one another?

225. The turkey carver of the house has given you and a friend a chance to break the wishbone in half. You successfully pull off the bigger pieces and get one wish that is bound to come true. What do you decide to wish for? Why?

226. After a light-hearted argument, one of your family members grabs a handful of food from his plate and tosses it across the table. Before long, it's a full-on family food fight! Describe the entire battle from beginning to end. Why did it begin and how does it end?

227. Describe all of the smells and sights of the Thanksgiving table. What do certain smells and sights make you think of as you're writing about them?

228. After a dream about Thanksgiving, you've woken up to discover that you've grown a layer of feathers like a turkey. What do you tell your parents? How will you deal with your bird-like situation?

229. Imagine that you and your family have decided to help out at a homeless shelter's soup kitchen on Thanksgiving morning. How do you feel about being able to give back to people who might have otherwise gone hungry? Does it make you appreciate your full Thanksgiving plate? Why or why not?

230. Why is the holiday of Thanksgiving special to you? Do you look forward to it every year? Why or why not?

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Simple Yet Meaningful Thanksgiving Writing Activities

Looking for a way to engage your secondary ELA students this holiday season? Try using simple yet meaningful Thanksgiving writing activities to keep your classes focused and interested during those final days before fall break.

It can be challenging to think of ways to keep middle and high school students engaged around the holidays. Through trial and error, I’ve found that the best approach is to channel their energy about the upcoming season in lessons instead of plowing through our units as usual. But how? It’s also important to maintain the integrity and rigor of our curriculums. I have a few ideas.

THANKSGIVING WRITING ACTIVITIES

1. thank you emails.

Asking students to practice writing thank you emails (or letters!) blesses others and also helps students to hone their real-world writing skills. This year, especially, people can use a few kind words to lift their spirits. Here’s a free lesson you can download to get started. Spread positivity and encouragement around the world.

2. Turkey Pardon Plea

Get creative. Read  this article   and Watch  this video clip   about the United States’ Thanksgiving tradition of pardoning turkeys. Then, have students participate in a creative writing assignment. Ask them to take on the persona of a turkey who is vying for that coveted spot of being pardoned to a life of luxurious retirement. In their piece, students should work on developing a specific voice. How would a turkey in this situation share his or her plea? Would it be most effective to be humorous, desperate, cunning, argumentative, defensive, or despondent? Write along with your teens, and have fun laughing as you share your responses.

3. Write about Theme

As a class, watch this video clip . Have students respond to the narrator’s message and the symbolism of the images. What is the central idea or theme of this inspirational, nonfiction clip? How do the film creator and narrator develop it?

Or, watch this short film . Use this video as an opportunity to write about theme. Ask students to brainstorm possible lessons viewers should take away from this story, and then begin identifying text evidence that supports the development of the theme. This video clip would also work well for making personal connections with the theme. If students need ideas of where to start, you may want to host a brief discussion about how Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for us to express empathy and compassion for others who may be hurting.

4. Figurative Language

Memes can be an engaging way to incorporate informal Thanksgiving writing activities into the classroom. Pictures often communicate an idea far better than a paragraph of words. As a class, study some examples of irony, comedy, or allusion in Thanksgiving memes. Then, encourage students to create one of their own to share! You will find plenty of examples if you search Google for “Thanksgiving memes.”

Another way we can incorporate figurative language into our holiday lessons is by studying holiday idioms and expressions. What types of phrases do English speakers use this time of year that have both a literal and figurative meaning? This lesson is important when studying formal versus informal language as well as with ELL students who are not familiar with the figurative meanings.

5. Picture Book Patterns

Try reading picture books about thankfulness. A few of my favorites are How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace, Dav Pilkey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving , Room for Everyone , and A Little Thanksgiving SPOT by Diane Albers. Ask students to get together in small groups and discuss behaviors, attitudes, and dialogue that convey an attitude of gratitude. Do the characters in each book do similar things…or different? Then, ask students to reflect on how they personally show thankful hearts. In the midst of daily stressors, how can setting our minds on what we have to be thankful for keep us healthy?

6. Documentary Analysis

Watch the high-interest and unique documentary My Life as a Turkey .  As students watch the film, they can practice a variety of reading strategies. For example, have them keep a t-chart with a running list of questions the movie make them think of and possible answers. Students can also include interesting facts and thoughts about them on the t-chart. With this documentary, students can make a variety of inferences and predictions, summarize and sequence, and even analyze the theme of an informational text.

7. Gratitude Mindfulness Journaling

Have students complete some gratitude journaling . These low stakes writing assignments teach students about a specific social emotional element of thankfulness. For example, exercising can increase our mental health and help us to feel more grateful! As students write, they can also color and doodle, making this journaling activity perfect for a bell ringer. Students can participate in a rhythmic, calm writing session to regulate themselves for the class period that lies ahead.

8. Top 10 List

Families appreciate when students bring home information to share at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Ask students to write a Top 10 list of what they are most thankful for. BUT! Don’t make this just any old list. If you want to add a twist of fun, watch Kid President’s 25 Things to be Thankful For video and then generate an equally light-hearted list.

For an added level of difficulty or to differentiate, you could also have them research Thanksgiving and write down the Top 10 most interesting facts about the holiday or the Top 10 Thanksgiving myths everyone believes. Students could then turn their research into a 3 Truths and a Lie game to share their findings. To further tie this activity into your writing standards, have students work on properly citing their facts in MLA format.

9. Research Then and Now

People too often celebrate holidays without asking important questions about why they are significant, what they mean, and how they’ve evolved. Ask students to research the origin of Thanksgiving. How did it begin? What was it like? How do their findings compare with the cultural norms surrounding their Thanksgiving today? Allow students to explore differences in Thanksgiving traditions, and give them time to talk about how each of their experiences is unique.  

Learning during the holiday season can be fun, even in the secondary classroom! Try one (or more) of these ideas this Thanksgiving writing activities to engage your students and share some laughter.

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Thanksgiving Writing Prompt Ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

Need some low prep activities before Thanksgiving Break?  Providing your students with some engaging Thanksgiving writing prompts is a great way to keep students learning while minimizing your prep.

Thanksgiving covers a variety of topics - from turkeys, to thankfulness, to the relationship between Native Americans and the first European settlers.  No matter what your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students need, one of the 7 Thanksgiving writing prompt ideas below is bound to work for your classroom.

7 Thanksgiving Writing Prompt Ideas

1. thanksgiving from the turkey's point of view.

This is a classic - I remember doing this activity when I was in 3rd grade, and loving it!

Have students write a narrative that considers how a turkey might be feeling on Thanksgiving Day.  Have students consider:

• How might a turkey feel about humans?
• How might a turkey describe what humans do on Thanksgiving?
• What might a turkey think about a kitchen, the oven, and knives?

Let your students' creative juices flow!

Find more point of view ideas here.  

2. A Persuasive Paper From the Turkey's Perspective Convincing Humans to Eat Something Else for Thanksgiving

Have students practice their persuasive writing skills!  Why do we need to eat turkey for Thanksgiving dinner?  Why can't we eat chicken, or beef, or sushi?

Teacher Meaghan Freiburger uses this fun writing prompt with her 2nd graders.  Students get to pretend to be turkeys convincing humans NOT to eat a turkey, but instead to eat something else for Thanksgiving!

3. Disguise a Turkey

One last turkey-themed thanksgiving writing prompt.  Tell 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students that they have a turkey that needs to be well-disguised so it won't get eaten for Thanksgiving dinner.

Have students draw a picture of their turkey in disguise.  Then, have students explain their disguise and why it would be effective.

You can find a free turkey template and writing pages for this activity here.  

4. Thank You Letters

Thanksgiving is a great time to celebrate people we are thankful for.  Encourage your upper elementary students to think about someone in their life that they are thankful for, and then write a Thank You Note to them.

You can simply give students some writing paper and have them write whatever comes to mind, or use this as an opportunity to practice different writing skills.

This Scaffolded Thank You Letter Writing Template Resource helps walk students through all of the steps of writing a quality Thank You Note.

Teacher Ivy Schmeltzer has her students write thank you notes to past teachers, while teacher Julia Curry has students write thank you letters to their parents as a gift.  There are so many different people in students' lives that they can be thankful for!

The end of year is a great time to introduce and review probability - the hands on activities are fun and engaging for students. This Low Prep Probability Resource makes it easy on you. It includes:

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5. Compare and Contrast Thanksgivings

Practice comparing and contrasting with a Thanksgiving theme.  Have students think about the similarities and differences between Thanksgiving and another holiday like Christmas, and then write a short paper to compare and contrast the two.

Or, pair upper elementary students up and have partners discuss with each other what they will do on Thanksgiving Day.   Students should discover both similarities and differences, and then write about them.

Check out these tips for scaffolding compare and contrast writing so your students can be successful with this activity.  

Your students might also be interested in learning the differences between how people in Canada and the U.S. celebrate Thanksgiving differently.  We don't even celebrate on the same day!  This resource has a reading comprehension passage comparing how the two countries celebrate, as well as a fun scavenger hunt comprehension activity!  

6. Make a Thankful ABC Book

Taking time to consider things we are thankful for is beneficial for the mental health of both students and teachers alike.

Make this activity a little more rigorous by having students come up with things they are thankful for for each letter of the alphabet, and make an ABC book!

7. A Native American / Indigenous People Writing Research Project

Have 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students learn more about the people that were here before the "First" Thanksgiving.

You could stick with the Thanksgiving theme and have students research the Wampanoag, or have students research groups that were / are native to your area.  Then, have students write a report about what they have learned.

BONUS Idea: Make an Edible Turkey How - To Writing

Food makes everything more fun!  As a class, make an edible turkey together.  Then, have students write a how to paper that gives instructions on how to make that turkey.

This edible turkey is made from Oreos and candy corn, while this one uses pretzels and Reese's.  

Get a head start on your holiday lesson plans with these fun Christmas / holiday writing prompt ideas.  

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100 Fun Writing Prompts for 2nd Grade: Journal Prompts

• Prompts for Writing a Narrative Essay
• Prompts for Writing Informative Essays
• Prompts for Research Writing
• Prompts for 2nd Graders for Humorous Writing
• Prompts for Second Graders for Poetry Writing
• Prompts for 2nd Grade Fiction Writing
• Prompts for Animals for Second Graders
• Prompts for Second Grade for Emotional Writing
• Prompts for Journals for Second Graders
• Prompts for Descriptive Writing for Second Graders

Are your little ones ready to embark on a thrilling writing adventure? We have an exciting opportunity for 2nd graders to showcase their creativity through our 100 creative 2nd Grade Writing Prompts . With these prompts, your child can write about anything their heart desires, from their favorite pet to their dream holiday spot. They can even create their own magical kingdom, travel to space, or invent their own superhero.

“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” – E.L. Doctorow

Incorporating writing prompts into the curriculum has been shown to improve writing fluency, quality, and overall performance, as well as motivation, according to an article published by IJCER . These prompts are a fun and engaging way to help develop their writing skills and spark their imagination. So, let’s encourage our young writers to explore their creative sides and unleash their inner author. Use them for school writing assignments or fun at home. 2nd grade writing prompts offer endless creative possibilities. Let’s look at narrative, informative, research, funny, poetry, fiction, animal, emotion-based, journal, and descriptive writing prompts. So prepare to write your creative ideas.

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More educational resources and worksheets for 2nd graders !

10 Prompts for Writing a Narrative Essay

Here are ten 2nd grade narrative writing prompts that are perfect for 2nd graders:

• Make up a story about a magical adventure you went on with your pet.
• Assume you have a time machine. When and where would you travel? Create a narrative about your experience.
• Write a story about a superhero’s day in life.
• What would your superpower be, and why would you want it? Create a story in which you use your power to save the day.
• Consider yourself a pirate on a treasure hunt. Write a story about your treasure hunt.
• Write a story about a robot’s day in life.
• What animal would you be if you could be any animal, and why? Create a story about your experiences as that animal.
• Write a story about a magical garden you come across.
• Consider the possibility of speaking with anyone in history. Who would you approach, and what would you ask them? Create a story based on your conversation.
• Write a story about an astronaut’s day in life.

10 Prompts for Writing Informative Essays

Opinion writing prompts 2nd grade students to help them express their personal views on various topics. Here are ten Informative essay Writing prompts to try:

• Which animal would you be for a day? Why? Tell your animal adventures.
• Imagine you can fly one morning. Where do you go? See what? Journal about your exciting day.
• What is your favorite summer activity as a kid ? Write a paragraph about your favorite summer activity and why.
• What superpower would you want? Write about rescuing someone with your new power.
• Your favorite educational game . Why is it special? Explain your love in a paragraph.
• Favorite book? Write a book review describing the book and why you liked it.
• Imagine time travel to any historical event. Where do you go? See what? Tell your time-travel story.
• Which celebrity would you like to meet and why? Write to that person about why you admire them and what you would ask if you met them.
• Dream holiday. Where do you go? Do what? Describe your perfect holiday.
• Favorite food? Include ingredients and steps in a recipe.

10 Prompts for Research Writing

Writing topics for 2nd graders can cover a broad range of subjects, from animals and nature to personal learning experiences and cultural traditions. Here are ten research writing prompts that are perfect for 2nd graders:

• Choose an animal you’re interested in and research some facts about it. What does it eat? Where does it live? What are some interesting things about this animal?
• Pick your favorite season and learn about it. What kind of weather happens during this season? What activities can you do during this season?
• Choose a country you’re curious about and discover some facts. What language do they speak? What kind of food do they eat? What are some famous landmarks in that country?
• Learn about different types of plants. What are some common plants in your area? What do plants need to grow?
• Research different types of insects. What do they eat? Where do they live? What is their life cycle like?
• Study the planets in our solar system. What are their names? Which planet is closest to the sun? Which world is the largest?
• Investigate different modes of transportation. What types of vehicles can you think of? How do they move? What is your favorite mode of transportation?
• Learn about a joke that you enjoy. What are the rules? How is the game played? Who are some famous athletes in this sport?
• Choose a historical figure or someone you admire. What did they do that was important? What were their accomplishments?
• Research different types of food. What are some of your favorite foods? Where do they come from? How are they made?

10 Prompts for 2nd Graders for Humorous Writing

Here are ten fun writing prompts for 2nd grade that will get your imagination going!

• Imagine waking up with animal-talking abilities. Write about your new pets’ adventures.
• Write about a silly superhero who turns everything they touch into pizza.
• What pet would you choose and why? Describe life with your new pet.
• If you could have any animal as a pet, What pet would you choose and why? Describe life with your new pet.
• Imagine you woke up in a world made entirely of candy. Write about the adventures you have and the creatures you meet in this sweet new world.
• Write a story about a robot who is terrible at its job but saves the day.
• What would you use it for if you could have any superpower?
• Imagine you were a pirate sailing the seven seas. What adventures would you have, and what treasure would you be searching for?
• Write a story about a talking tree that is always getting into trouble.
• If you could be any character from your favorite book, who would it be and why?

10 Prompts for Second Graders for Poetry Writing

Here are some poetry writing prompts for 2nd grade that will help spark their imagination and creativity:

• Write a haiku about your favorite part of nature. Remember, haikus have three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.
• Pick your favorite color and write a poem about it. Use descriptive words to explain how the color makes you feel.
• Choose an animal and write an acrostic poem using the letters of the animal’s name. Each line should start with a letter from the title.
• Write a cinquain poem about someone in your family. A cinquain has five lines with a specific number of syllables in each line (2, 4, 6, 8, and 2).
• Write a limerick about your favorite food. A limerick has five lines with a specific rhyming pattern (AABBA).
• Write a free verse poem about a friend. A free verse poem doesn’t have to rhyme, but it should have a clear message or feeling.
• Write a diamante poem about your school. A diamante poem has seven lines that create a diamond shape with specific numbers of syllables in each line.
• Write a poem about the weather. Use descriptive words to compare the temperature to something else.
• Write a quatrain poem about your favorite holiday. A quatrain has four lines with a specific rhyming pattern (ABAB).
• Write a narrative poem about a dream you had. A narrative poem for kids tells a story and has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

10 Prompts for 2nd Grade Fiction Writing

Creative writing prompts 2nd grade students to encourage imaginative storytelling and self-expression. Here are 10 prompts to get their imaginations flowing:

• Your pet dog/cat/rabbit suddenly starts talking! What do they say, and how do you react?
• You discover a magical backyard door leading to a secret world. Describe what you see and do in this new world.
• You wake up one day with 1 Core money. Where do you go, and what do you do?
• Write a story about a lost toy that comes to life and goes on an adventure to find its way back home.
• You find a genie lamp on the beach. What do you wish for, and what happens next?
• Imagine you are a superhero with a special power. Describe your superhero name, costume, and the villain you are fighting against.
• You are the Pirate ship captain. Describe your crew, your treasure, and a daring adventure you go on.
• Write a story about a group of animals that work together to solve a problem.
• Imagine you are the main character in your favorite fairy tale. Rewrite the story with a different ending.
• One day, you can speak to plants. Talk to your favorite plant.

10 Prompts for Animals for Second Graders

Here are some creative animal writing prompts for 2nd grade that they will enjoy:

• Which animal would you be for a day? Why?
• Write about a lost puppy returning home.
• Imagine you are a squirrel gathering food for the winter. Write a diary entry about your day.
• Which wild animal would you pet and why?
• Write a story about a group of animals who work together to build a treehouse.
• Imagine being a bird flying high. Write to your best friend about what you saw.
• If you could talk to any bird, Which bird would you converse with, and what would you say?
• Write a story about a cat who has magical powers.
• Imagine being a dolphin in the ocean. Poemize your life.
• Which zoo animal would you be and why? Write an essay persuading the zookeeper to let you be that animal for a day.

10 Prompts for Second Grade for Emotional Writing

Here are 10 creative 2nd grade writing prompts about emotions for 2nd graders:

• Describe a happy moment. Your activity? With whom? Has it affected you?
• Write a letter to someone you love expressing your love.
• Write about an angry character. What happened? Their anger management?- 
• Imagine going back to a happy memory. Explain why you like that memory.
• Write a poem about peace. It could be a place, person, or activity.
• Recall a scary moment. Describe what happened and how you overcome your fear.
• Write about a sad character. Why? How do they handle emotions?
• Imagine having any emotion for a day. Which feeling and why? Write about it.
• Write about an excited character. What’s exciting? How do they show excitement?
• Think of a time you were proud. Explain how you felt and why?

10 Prompts for Journals for Second Graders

2nd grade journal prompts can encourage students to express their thoughts and emotions through writing.

“Writing prompts are the highway to the creative subconscious.” – Karen Salmansohn

Here are ten 2nd grade journal prompts to inspire your creative Writing:

• Imagine a magic pencil that brings your drawings to life. Why?
• Favorite outdoor activity for kids ? Discuss your favorite exercise and why?
• If you could have any pet worldwide, what would it be and why?
• Write about a proud moment. What made you proud?
• Imagine you are a superhero. How would you help others with your superpower?
• Describe your favorite holiday and why. Family and friend traditions?
• If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
• Recall a problem-solving experience. Describe the issue and your solution.
• Write a story about a talking fish. What kind of fish is it, and what adventures does it go on?
• Imagine you are a chef. Write about your favorite recipe and how you make it.

Second grade journal prompts can inspire young writers to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. By providing a variety of 2nd grade journal topics, parents and teachers can encourage their students to explore different writing styles and develop their own unique voices.

10 Prompts for Descriptive Writing for Second Graders

Writing ideas for 2nd grade can range from descriptive writing to narrative writing, providing opportunities for skill-building and growth. Here are 10 descriptive writing prompts for second graders to inspire their creativity and imagination:

• Describe your favorite toy in detail. What color is it? What does it feel like? What sounds does it make?
• Imagine you are on a trip to the beach. Describe the sand, the waves, and the sun. How do they make you feel?
• Describe your favorite animal. What does it look like? What does it eat? Where does it live?
• Write a description of your bedroom. What color are the walls? What kind of furniture do you have? What’s on your bed?
• Envision a magical forest. Describe your surroundings. Animals? Any special plants or trees?
• Describe your favorite food. What does it smell like? What does it taste like? What ingredients are in it?
• Imagine you are in a haunted house. Describe the creaky floors, the cobwebs, and the spooky sounds. What do you see?
• Describe your best friend. What do they look like? What do they like to do? What’s their favorite thing to eat?
• Imagine you are in outer space. Describe the planets, stars, and galaxies. What do they look like? What colors do you see?
• Describe your dream vacation. Where would you go? What would you do? What would you see?

How to Assist Second-Grade Students in Developing Writing Skills?

The research paper “The Effect of Creative Writing Prompts on Students’ Written Expression in a Second Grade Classroom” suggests that incorporating writing prompts in the classroom and at home can be an effective strategy to help second-grade students develop their writing skills and foster a love for writing. It is an opportunity to encourage them to express their thoughts and ideas creatively and build their confidence as writers. As parents and teachers, we can utilize this to help our second-graders develop their writing skills and build a passion for writing. 

“Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.” – E.B. White

Here are a few actionable tips to help your child become an excellent writer using 2nd grade writing prompts.

• Start by teaching the basics of sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation.
• Set realistic goals and gradually increase the difficulty of writing prompts or journal entries to challenge your child’s writing skills.
• Provide constructive feedback to help your child improve their writing skills and boost their confidence.
• Incorporate 2nd grade journal prompts regularly in classroom activities and at home to improve your child’s writing fluency and confidence.

Using these tips and incorporating writing prompts into your child’s learning journey can have a significant impact on their writing performance and motivation. 

Celebrating the Journey of 100 Fun Writing Prompts for 2nd-Grade

As parents and teachers, we can play an essential role in nurturing the writing skills of our 2nd graders. By using 2nd grade writing prompts we can encourage our young writers to express themselves in a creative and thoughtful manner. It’s important to note that writing prompts are not just limited to creative writing, they can also be used to explore various topics and encourage critical thinking. In a recent article published by The New York Times , the benefits of using writing prompts have been highlighted as a tool to motivate and engage students. By incorporating prompts into classroom activities such as a mock debate assignment, teachers can help students develop their writing skills, critical thinking abilities, and overall academic performance. 

“Writing prompts are a great way to stimulate your mind and push your writing to new heights.” – Steve Alcorn

So let’s make writing fun and exciting for our 2nd graders by providing them with a variety of writing prompts, and let’s encourage them to write with passion, curiosity, and creativity. Together, we can help our young writers unlock their full potential and become confident and effective communicators.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can these prompts help 2nd grade students.

These 2nd grade writing prompts can help students in several ways. They can help students develop their writing skills by giving them a specific topic to write about and encouraging them to use their imagination. They can also help students learn about different topics and express their thoughts and feelings.

How can teachers or parents use these prompts with their students/children?

Teachers or parents can use these prompts as writing assignments for their students/children. They can give the students/children a prompt and ask them to write a story or a paragraph about it. Teachers or parents can also use the prompts as conversation starters to encourage students/children to talk about different topics and practice their speaking skills.

Are there any resources available to accompany these prompts?

Yes, there are many resources available online that can accompany these prompts. For example, teachers or parents can find graphic organizers, writing templates, and other resources that can help students organize their thoughts and ideas.

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