November classroom activities can be engaging and keep your students motivated throughout November. This blog post offers 12 creative and fun classroom activities specifically designed for older students. Bring the spirit of the season into your classroom while keeping students challenged and excited to learn.
Check out these 12 engaging November classroom activities for students in grades 4-9, complete with descriptions and classroom tips:
1. Gratitude Journals
Students can start a daily or weekly gratitude journal where they write about things they are thankful for. Find a print and go Gratitude Journal unit here. 36 prompts are included!
Tip: Encourage students to share one journal entry at the end of the week and try to write at least a few of your own entries in front of the class. Both of these help build relationships and a sense of community.
2. Thanksgiving Story Writing
Have students write short stories or personal narratives about their Thanksgiving traditions or imaginary holiday adventures. Start with pictures (you can find them everywhere, but I like creating a Pinterest board). Pictures provide inspiration and help reduce writing anxiety.
Tip: Use graphic organizers to help students plan their stories before writing.
3. Add Book Clubs to your November classroom activities reading curriculum
November is the PERFECT time of year to introduce book clubs to your students. I love doing this the week before Thanksgiving break to teach students about book clubs and let them know that we’ll be running 4 meetings when they return from break. Building anticipation is key. Have the books you’ve selected for your book club unit on the counter or in front of the students.
Tip: During those last few November school days, discuss each book and why it gets the honor of being selected for your book club. Find a complete book club activities here. It has everything you’ll need for print or digital book clubs. Learn more about book clubs here.
4. Harvest-Themed STEM Challenges
Organize a STEM activity where students design and build a mini-harvest cart or catapult using limited materials. If you teach social studies , it’s the perfect time to discuss food supply and why people settled where they did.
Tip: Provide a variety of materials (popsicle sticks, rubber bands, etc.) and set time limits to encourage creativity and quick thinking. Don’t forget to include clean up time!
5. November Figurative Language Scavenger Hunt
Students search through fall-themed texts or poems for examples of figurative language like similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, etc.
Tip: Provide students with a list of figurative language types and examples to guide their search, and encourage them to create their own examples at the end. Here are Fall Figurative Language Task Cards to get you started.
6. Fall Poetry Writing
Students can write haikus, acrostic, or free verse poems inspired by fall themes like leaves, harvest, or gratitude. Use pictures as inspiration. You can ask students to bring in pictures and you can also search up some on Pinterest. Pictures provide inspiration and reduce writing anxiety.
Tip: Share examples of different types of poems and offer word banks to inspire creativity.
7. Veterans Day Letters
Have students write thank-you letters to veterans, discussing the importance of service and expressing gratitude.
Tip: Arrange for a local veteran to speak to the class or partner with a veterans organization to send the letters.
8. Thankful Tree or Wreath
Create a classroom Thankful Tree where students write things they’re grateful for on leaves, which are then added to the “tree” over time (twisted butcher or package paper works great). Tip: Use different colored paper for each day or week to see how the tree “grows.”
If you choose a wreath option, students can take it home to use as a door decoration or a centerpiece. Families will appreciate the thoughtful gift that can be used year after year. You can always do both! See a wreath centerpiece picture below.
9. Turkey Riddles and Puzzles
Create Thanksgiving-themed riddles, word searches, or crossword puzzles to engage early finishers or for a class-wide activity. Find a November early finishers unit here. It’s got no prep word searches, crossword puzzles, color-by-code pages, etc, and it’s ready to use!
Tip: Let students work in pairs or small groups to promote collaboration.
10. Cornucopia Art Project
Have students create 3D paper or clay cornucopias (horn of plenty). Cornucopias represent prosperity, wealth, and abundance. Ask students to write short descriptions of the items they would fill them with and why they were included. What makes students feel like they are prospering, wealthy, or have abundance? It doesn’t have to be food.
Tip: Display the projects around the classroom to add a festive atmosphere.
11. Thanksgiving Debate: Should We Change the Narrative?
Students write essays or engage in debates about whether the traditional Thanksgiving story should be revised to reflect historical facts more accurately.
Tip: Provide articles and texts with multiple perspectives to inform student writing and ensure a balanced discussion. These ELA-focused activities help strengthen core reading and writing skills while incorporating fun, seasonal themes. By connecting the activities to fall, November, and historical inaccuracies, students stay engaged while practicing critical ELA skills.
12. Point of View Writing: The Turkey’s Perspective
Students rewrite a Thanksgiving story or scene from the perspective of a turkey or other unusual character. Consider using images for inspiration. Allow students to share their stories using Story Circles. Simply create 5-7 listening stations around the classroom where 2-4 students sit around the reader sharing their story. After 5-10 minutes, they can rotate.
Tip: Guide students to focus on how perspective changes the tone and style of writing, and offer mentor texts or examples of point of view shifts. (see “Zoo” by Edward D. Hoch).
I hope these November classroom activities provide inspiration and help reduce your workload.
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