Free Thanksgiving Word Search Printable for Kids

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to add a little themed fun to your homeschool or classroom! This free Thanksgiving Word Search Printable Packet for kids is a simple, low-prep activity to help your 1st through 4th grader practice Thanksgiving vocabulary words in a fun way. With three different puzzles featuring Thanksgiving-themed words, your children can enjoy practicing spelling and vocabulary while also coloring Thanksgiving pictures included on each page.

Several years ago, I created a multitude of word search puzzles. You can find word search pages for each month of the year, a variety of holiday themes, and phonics themes as well.

Go take a peek! ➡️ Word Search Worksheet Packets

As you get your Thanksgiving Unit Studies ready, make sure you add in this packet of free printable Thanksgiving Word Search Puzzles!

This post was originally published in 2016. While the original post remains mostly intact, the word searches have been revised a few times throughout the years. Please download the newest version and enjoy all over again!

🦃 Click here to see all of the Thanksgiving Worksheets and Printable Activities at Mama’s.  You’ll find color by number, writing activities, match games, K & 1st Worksheets, and more!

Free Thanksgiving Word Search Printable Packet

These Thanksgiving Word Search worksheets include 3 word search puzzles, each with 12 Thanksgiving-themed words on each page.  

Words can be found vertically, horizontally, and diagonally from left to right.

Thanksgiving Word Searches – At a Glance

• Ages: Elementary children who can read the word lists, ideally 1st-4th grades
• Pages: 3 word search activity pages, each with 12 words and a picture to color
• Skills: Recognizing written words, spelling review, and Thanksgiving vocabulary
• Prep: Print your chosen pages and set out pencils and crayons
• Use for: Thanksgiving School, morning work, family activities, or a Thanksgiving road trip
• Download: Free with email signup; also available to All Access Pass members

How to Use These Thanksgiving Word Searches

Words in this word search packet are found up, down, and diagonally.

Several words in this puzzle packet are considered noun phrases, which contain more than one word. Examples in this packet are sweet potatoes or Native Americans. In those cases, one of the words in the phrase is underlined, and that is the one your child should find in the puzzle.

I first created these when my youngest girl was 6. She was, and still is, an avid coloring fan. I included a nice, large black and white picture on each page for her to color when she finished with the puzzle. I hope your coloring fans will enjoy the pictures as well!

This packet includes 3 fun word search puzzles, each with a different Thanksgiving theme.

• Family Thanksgiving – Words included have to do with a traditional Thanksgiving family celebration. Example words: feast, turkey, cornucopia, and pumpkin pie
• First Thanksgiving Day – Words included focus on the first Thanksgiving celebration with the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Example words: harvest, corn, Squanto, and Plymouth
• The Pilgrims – Words included focus on the Pilgrims. Example words: Mayflower, New World, sickness, colony
  Note that I did include the word ‘Indian’ in this packet since that is how the Pilgrims referred the the Native Americans.

🦃 For more vocabulary practice, download the Free Thanksgiving Vocabulary Words PDF. There are many ideas for using the Thanksgiving words, so don’t miss those!

Ideas for Using Thanksgiving Word Searches with Your Children

Ideas for Using Thanksgiving Word Searches

There are a multitude of ways you can use these Thanksgiving Word Searches at home, in your homeschool, or in the classroom. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Use these pages as vocabulary practice. Ensure your children know each of the Thanksgiving vocabulary words included on the page. Cornucopia is a word we do not typically use every day! Voyage is also a word that might need introduction or review.
  
  Have your child look up those words in the dictionary. He could even copy one or two definitions on the back of the page.
• Use these pages as spelling and phonics practice. I take every opportunity to review spelling and phonics rules. Choose one or two vocabulary words on the page and review how and why they are spelled as they are.
  
  For example: You could review the vowel team EA in feast or the vowel team IE in pie. Point out that football is a compound word. Or review the plural form of potato in mashed potatoes and remind your student that you must add -es to make a word plural that ends in a vowel other than e.
• Tuck these in the car for a Thanksgiving road trip. Print these pages out, find some colorful gel pens (or some other fun writing utensil!), and you will be all set for a Thanksgiving drive!
• Add these to your Bible +1 time or Morning Time during your week of Thanksgiving School. So fun and a nice change of pace!
• Stuff in bookbags for the Thanksgiving break. These are a great way to add in a little academics during the Thanksgiving break from school.

Download Your Free Thanksgiving Word Search Printable Packet

Ready to work on a Thanksgiving word search with your children? This free packet includes three puzzles—Family Thanksgiving, First Thanksgiving Day, and The Pilgrims—with 12 words to find and a picture to color on each page.

Enter your first name and email address in the form below to request the packet. Follow the instructions in your email to access your download.

You’ll also receive my weekly emails with printable activities, homeschool ideas, and occasional offers from Mama’s Learning Corner. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Already an All Access Pass member? Log in to the member library and look for this packet in the Thanksgiving category. You can download it there without filling out the email form.

More Thanksgiving Worksheets for Your Young Ones:

Make sure you browse through the variety of Thanksgiving worksheets and activities in the Thanksgiving Hub! You might also be interested in the following printable packets:

Lauren Hill

Lauren Hill is a Christian mom to 5, ages 21 to 9. She homeschools her children in the classical education tradition - with 2 graduates so far! - and is currently in her 17th year of homeschool. She creates engaging worksheets and hands-on printable activities for Preschool and Elementary age children to supplement their daily studies.

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