Need a no-prep, simple, engaging, and meaningful way to celebrate Thanksgiving with your students? Have your students complete Thanksgiving gratitude writing activities.
Reflecting on all we have to be thankful for and showing gratitude to others is such a meaningful way to help anyone feel better about themselves. Thanksgiving is always a great time to reflect on how much we have to be thankful for and it’s also a great way to build community in your classroom In my classroom, I like to work on Thanksgiving gratitude writing activities the week before the holiday to think about the people in our lives and meaningful ways to show gratitude.
Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing: Brainstorm
Before we begin writing, I have my students work in groups to brainstorm all of the things that they are thankful for. Each student creates their own list as they discuss. I love listening in to the topics they discuss as my students build connections with each other. They always share their love for gaming, apps, food, family, friends, and more. When they are finished brainstorming, I give my students the opportunity to share some of their favorites with the class.
Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing: I Am Thankful Poem
Using the Gratitude Brainstorm, students write a Thankful Poem. I have created an “I Am Thankful” poem template for students to share their gratitude. Students pick one topic from their brainstorming to complete the sentence stems and write a meaningful poem. I model an example for them using my own brainstorming page to help them get started.
I love how simple and beautiful the poems turn out. Students just need to come up with something or someone they are thankful for and write their ideas around that topic. The most popular topic is FAMILY. I model an example for them using my family to help them get started.
Thanksgiving Writing: Give Thanks Writing
For our gratitude writing, again, my students use their Gratitude Brainstorm to complete a “Give Thanks” Writing Page. I have them write about their family, their friends, and WHY they are thankful for them. I allow students to write and draw about their family and friends and require them to explain why in writing.
Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing: Notes of Gratitude
Finally, students write notes of gratitude to special people in their lives. I ask students to write at least two (but more are encouraged) – one to a family member and one to someone outside their own family – such as a favorite teacher, the principal, a custodian, a bus driver, a babysitter, a coach, or other special people in their life.
Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing: Share with Families & Others
I give my students a Thanksgiving homework assignment and ask them to share their poems, writing pages, and notes of gratitude with their families on Thanksgiving day. I also help them deliver their notes of gratitude to the special people outside of their families. I always get some incredible feedback from my students’ families about this activity. The families love them!
FREE Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing Brainstorming Page
To help you celebrate Thanksgiving with writing in your classroom, I created a Thanksgiving “I Am Thankful For” brainstorming page just for YOU.
If you would like the templates that I’ve created to use with my own students, I have them available on TPT. It includes a Thanksgiving gratitude writing poem template, a Give Thanks writing page, and notes of gratitude which are all available in both color and black & white.
Check it out here, Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing Activities .
I am thankful to YOU for all that you do for students!
With gratitude,
Want to read about more engaging ideas for your classroom?
I used this in my grade 4 classroom and it made a wonderful display for when we had parents visit. They loved reading all their notes. Thank you!
You're welcome!