Thanksgiving A to Z
(Supplies: None)
Get everyone into a thankful spirit with this memorable activity. Using the alphabet as a guide, the first person tells
everyone the things he is thankful for that start with the letter “A,” like apples and aunts. The next person uses the letter
“B”. Keep going around until all the letters are used up. If people still have things to add, go a second round.
Count Your Blessings
(Supplies: 1. A blank sheet of paper and something to write with for each person. 2. A timer)
1. On your signal to begin, everyone should write down everything they are thankful for that can be described in two
words or less.
2. Set a timer, for two minutes (or less) and tell them to begin.
3. When the timer goes off each youth must count how many items they have.
4. The person with the most items should read their list and if anyone else has those items on their list also, then
everyone who has the items must cross them off the list. Only unique items remain.
5. The next person continues in the same way, calling out the items that remain on his/ her list. If the item is unique it
remains. If someone else has the same item, then all who have it cross the item off their lists.
6. Continue until everyone has gone, then each person must count up the unique items he or she has on the list.
7. Award a prize for the person with the highest number of unique answers.
Discussion
1. What was the most surprising thing that someone was thankful for?
2. How did creating your list affect you?
3. Did you have more or less items than you thought you would have?
4. How did it make you feel when you discovered that others felt blessed for the same things as you?
5. Of all the things on your list, which is most significant for you?
Mayflower Memory
(Supplies: None)
1. Sit everyone in a circle.
2. The first person says, “I am sailing on the Mayflower, and I am taking…” [The first person then says something that
starts with “A” like apples.]
3. The second person says, “I am sailing on the Mayflower, and I am taking…” [The second person then repeats what the
first person said
and adds something that begins with “B.”]
4. The third person must remember what the first two people said
and then adds a “C” item.
5. Continue through the alphabet. If you complete the alphabet go through a second or third time, adding a new item at
each letter to those previously stated before.
6. If a player can’t remember all the items, that player drops out, until there is one player left. Award the winner!
Tearable Turkey
(Supplies: Sheet of brown construction paper (or any paper that’s handy!) for each person)
Participants must rip a sheet of construction paper into the shape of a turkey — behind their back. They are not allowed
to look at their creation until it is complete. Hang the works of art up for everyone to judge. Give prizes for the bestlooking turkeys.
Thanksgiving Boggle
(Supplies: Paper and pen for each participant and a timer)
Participants are to create as many little words as possible before the timer runs out using only the letters in the word
“Thanksgiving”.
Partial Wordlist: ag, agin, aging, against, agist, ah, aah, ahi, ai, ain, ayin, ait, akin, an, angst, ani, ankh, ant, anti, as, ash,
ask, asking, at, gain, gaining, gainst, gait, gan, gas, gash, gaskin, gast, gat, gating, ghast, ghat, ghi, giant, gin, gink, gist, git,
gnash, gnashing, gnat, ha, hag, haik, haint, hang, hanging, hank, hant, has, hast, hasting, hat, hating, having, hi, hin, hint,
his, hisn, hist, hit, ikat, in, ink, inn, is, it, its, ka, kain, kas, kat, khan, khat, khi, ki, kiang, kin, kina, king, kist, kit, kith, kiva,
knight, knish, knit, kvas, na, nag, nah, nigh, night, nit, nth, sag, sain, saint, saith, saki, sang, sangh, sank, sat, sati, satin,
sating, savin, saving, sh, sha, shag, shaking, shank, shanty, shaving, shin, shining, shiv, shiva, shtik, si, sigh, sight, sighting,
sign, signing, signa, sika, sin, sing, singing, sinh, sink, sinking, sit, sith, ska, skag, skat, skating, ski, skiing, skin, skint, skit,
snag, snath, snit, stag, staging, staig, stain, staining, stang, stank, sting, stinging, stink, stinking, ta, tag, tain, takin, taking,
tan, tang, tank, task, tasking, tav, than, thank, thanking, thin, thing, think, thinking, this, ti, tin, ting, tsk, vagi, vain, van,
vang, vanish, vanishing, vas, vast, vast, vat, via, vig, viga, vina, vis, visa, vista, vita
Top Turkey Artist
(Supplies: 1. Sheet of paper and a tray or hard cover book for each participant. 2. Something to write with for each)
Everyone places a tray or large book on top their head with a piece of blank paper on it. Participants are to draw on the
page resting on the top of their head, without looking, according to the instructions given.
Instructions might be
1. Draw a circle for the body of the Turkey.
2. Draw the turkey’s head and neck on top of the body.
3. Draw two feet for the turkey.
4. Add the turkey’s beak and waddle.
5, Add the Turkey’s Tail feathers
At the end of instructions, everyone removes the pictures from their heads. It can be very funny to see what they have
drawn.
Scoring options:
2 points for every line that crosses
1 point if your turkey’s feet are touching the body
1 point if your turkey’s head is attached to the body
1 point for feather that is ON the turkey
Award the person with the greatest number of points the prize!
Thanksgiving Memory Game
(Supplies: None)
This Thanksgiving Party game can be used with small or large groups. The key objective is to remember a long and
growing list of Thanksgiving related items.
Game Preparation
Choose a phrase for the youth to complete…
“This thanksgiving, I am thankful for….”
While the applications would not apply, you could also use:
“At Thanksgiving Dinner, I ate…”
“My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is…”
Game Play
1. Sit everyone in a circle. (You can also play this as a family around the Thanksgiving Dinner table)
2. Start the game by saying, the chosen phrase (i.e. “This Thanksgiving I am thankful for….”) then add something
you are thankful for… (i.e. “my health”)
3. The next player must repeat what is said and then add something they are thankful for. (This Thanksgiving I am
thankful for my health and my parents.”)
4. Each player in sequence must repeat the previous responses in the exact same order then add one of their own.
5. Players cannot add something that is already mentioned in the list.
6. If a player makes a mistake, he or she is eliminated from the game
7. The game continues around the circle until only 1 person is left.
Variation
When someone makes a mistake, you can choose to start over with a new list of items or continue around the circle
with the same list