Thankful Little Hands: Fun & Easy Thanksgiving Activities for Preschoolers
- Elite Team of Educators
- Nov 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Thanksgiving is more than turkey and pie — it’s a season of gratitude, togetherness, and creative learning opportunities for little ones. While older children and adults may focus on feasts and family, preschoolers can experience this holiday through color, texture, and hands-on play.
This November, bring the spirit of thankfulness to your classroom or childcare center with engaging activities that build fine motor skills, encourage creativity, and spark joyful conversations about gratitude.
Turkey Feather Color & Counting Game
Learning focus: Fine motor skills • Color recognition • Counting • Patterning
Turn learning into laughter with this easy, low-cost activity!
You’ll need:
Small cardboard box (the “turkey”)
Brown paint or paper wrap
Craft feathers (variety of colors)
Markers, tape, and scissors
Steps:
Cover or paint your box brown and cut small holes in the top or sides.
Draw and tape on eyes and a beak to make your “turkey friend.”
Invite children to place colored feathers into the holes as you call out color names or numbers.
For older preschoolers, create color patterns (red-yellow-red-yellow) and have them continue the sequence.
Extension idea: During circle time, ask each child to share something they’re thankful for after they add a feather — building both vocabulary and social-emotional awareness.
Paper Plate Turkey Wreath Craft
Learning focus: Creativity • Hand-eye coordination • Color sequencing • Holiday appreciation
This colorful craft doubles as a take-home decoration that families will love!
You’ll need:
One paper plate
Brown paint or crayon
Construction paper (red, orange, yellow)
Scissors, glue, googly eyes
Steps:
Cut out the center of your paper plate and paint the outer ring brown.
While it dries, cut strips of colored paper for feathers.
Glue the feathers around the plate to form a wreath.
Cut a simple turkey body from brown paper and glue it to the bottom. Add eyes and a beak.
Optional: Write one thing each child is thankful for on a feather before gluing it.
Classroom tip: Display all the wreaths on a “Wall of Gratitude” to brighten your space and celebrate each child’s creativity.
Wrap-Up
Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity to combine fun, art, and learning in your preschool program. Whether you’re strengthening fine motor skills with feathers or fostering gratitude with crafts, these activities create lasting memories — and remind little learners that every day offers something to be thankful for.
Want more seasonal classroom inspiration?👉 Visit Elite Educational Enterprises for professional development, classroom ideas, and early childhood training designed to inform, inspire, and empower you year-round.
Cited Sources
About the Authors:
At Elite Educational Enterprises, our commitment to early childhood educators goes beyond traditional training—we’re dedicated to supporting them in every facet of their professional journey. Through our programs, we:
Inform: We provide relevant, research-based knowledge that educators can trust. Our training covers practical strategies, best practices, and the latest industry standards, ensuring educators have the information they need to excel. By keeping our content current and accessible, we equip them to make well-informed decisions in their classrooms and programs.
Inspire: We believe in fostering a positive mindset that encourages growth and change. Our sessions are designed to spark creativity, instill a passion for teaching, and build a supportive community of educators who uplift each other. Through motivational training and an emphasis on collaboration, we aim to reignite each educator’s love for their work.
Empower: Our mission is to make every educator feel confident in their abilities. We provide actionable tools, coaching, and resources that they can immediately apply in real-world settings. By building their skills and self-assurance, we empower educators to become leaders in their classrooms, inspiring success and transformation within their educational communities.
Our approach supports early childhood educators at every level, helping them not only to thrive but to inspire and elevate the lives of the children they teach.
Comments