Thanksgiving Unit Study for Preschool and Kindergarten

It’s time to visit Grandma and carve up the turkey! To get you in the holiday spirit, I have a list of ten Thanksgiving books that are perfect as the start for a Thanksgiving unit study for preschool and kindergarten children. For more fun and to help you put together the unit study, I have crafts, food, printables and more also included!

Thanksgiving Unit Study for Preschool and Kindergarten

1. Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George

My boys love any story of Curious George, and the short poems contained here really capture their attention. Best for ages baby through preschool.

Get your Thanksgiving crafts started with some turkey mosaic crafts – these are great for building scissor and fine motor skills.

2. Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Feast

If you’ve got girls in your home, they’re sure to be Fancy Nancy fans. This tale about Nancy’s Thanksgiving dinner will keep your children entertained.

Looking for dessert ideas? What about turkey cookies and more?

Need to keep children occupied at the ‘little table’? Try on this turkey color bingo for size. You could also try the Thanksgiving Activity Page/Placemat free printable.

3. Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks

Encourage thankfulness among even the youngest members of your family with this sweet book. Bright, colorful illustrations and simple verse will delight babies through preschoolers.

For a Thanksgiving unit study for preschool and kindergarten children, you could try this felt leaves craft (with help from parents)

4. The Littlest Pilgrim

Mini is the smallest Pilgrim in her village — too small to bake, too small to sew or fish. Remind your wee ones that we’re never too small to make a friend with this delightful story.

Ready to print out a Thanksgiving pack? This set could be used for toddlers, preschoolers or kindergarten students. Add to the fun with your own Pilgrim playset!

5. The Night Before Thanksgiving

If you’ve read The Night Before Christmas to your children, they will quickly recognize the syntax in this adorable book. Taking a creative spin on the Christmas classic, this is sure to become a family favorite.

You can decorate your table for your Thanksgiving feast with these kid friendly printables.

Little ones can practice their fine motor skills and cutting skills with this cornucopia mosaic. Simply cut tissue paper into small squares, give your child some glue, and let him express his creativity!

6. The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving

This classic has been recently updated with new illustrations, and is filled with details with which children can relate. Best for ages 4-8.

Have fun with Thanksgiving fingerplays, songs and more from Oopsy Daisy.

7. I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie!

Get ready for gobs of giggles! I can’t pull this book off my shelf without my kids dissolving into fits of laughter!

See what all the fun is about, with this story of an old lady whose eyes are certainly bigger than her stomach!

You can make a fun paper bag puppet activity to go along with this story, thanks to Almost Unschoolers.

8. Ten Fat Turkeys

You can work on counting skills with this book designed for preschoolers.

Don’t miss 2 Teaching Mommies Thanksgiving pack for more math practice.

The kids can use this free printable 3D turkey cut out craft to put together their very own fat turkey. These would also make a super cute centerpiece or decoration for your Thanksgiving table.

9. Thanks for Thanksgiving

Help teach your children to be thankful for all things, big and small, with this delightful book. It even includes an area for you to write things for which you are thankful.

Check out this Thanksgiving pack with letter practice, sizing, numbers, dot to dot and more!

10. Thanksgiving Rules

For grown ups, Thanksgiving and other holiday celebrations are old hat. Children may not know what to expect – this tale gives a tongue-in-cheek look at the preparation for Thanksgiving, all the way from cleaning the house to dessert.

You can keep little hands busy with fall playdough.

Looking for even MORE Thanksgiving resources? You’ll find more books here, and check out my Pinterest Thanksgiving board for other ideas.

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