The Big List Of Thanksgiving Music Activities For Elementary

Check out this BIG list of Thanksgiving music activities for elementary classrooms including turkey, pumpkin, and November songs and games.

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The Playlist

Thanksgiving Books in Music

Here are fun books using Thanksgiving songs and books that are perfect for adding musical activities.

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Thanksgiving Music Activities

Cut the Pie (aka Cut the Cake)

Using the classic Cut the Cake song and game, the words have been rewritten by Mrs. Housholder, music teacher extraordinaire! See how she plays it on TikTok!

“Pumpkin, apple, cherry, pecan, and key lime. So many to choose from, then we cut the pie.”

Or how about, “Pumpkin, apple, cherry. Lots of pies to try. Choc’late, peach, banana, Time to cut the pie.”

Mabel, Mabel (Grades 2-5 Rhythm Game)

Game: Using part of this classic jump rope rhyme, the object of the game is to keep the beat steady and for each student to add a dinner food item with no repeats.

The Story: Mabel loved Thanksgiving more than anyone! Every year, she hosted the biggest, yummiest feast in town. But Mabel had one special rule: at her feast, there could be only one of each dish—no repeats!

How to Play: Teach the rhyme with a pat-clap ostinato. Sitting in a circle, begin the rhyme and the first person has two beats to add one food item. The rhyme begins again and the next person adds a new food item. The class wins if they get all the way around the circle with no pauses in the beat and no repeated food items.

Five Fine Turkeys (Grades K-5 Song & Game)

The Game: The object of the game is for “it” to discover all five feathers hidden in the circle.

“It” is the cook and closes their eyes. Hand out five feathers (or other objects) that students hide in their lap or hands. Then they sing the song and those with the feathers say “gobble gobble” at the end. The cook has to guess who said “gobble gobble.”

The Frightened Pumpkin (PreK-2, 3-5 Song & Game)

Game 1: The object is for the last student in the line to roll the orange basketball (pumpkin) through the legs of their teammates all the way to the other end. Whoever rolls the ball goes to the front of the line so there is a new roller each time.

Formation: front to back rows of students with any number in each row. The video has 4-5 students but 5-7 would be a fun challenge.

Game 2: See which row can get the basketball to the other end the fastest. The teacher or a student will need to be the referee to determine the winner. The roller is not allowed to roll until the very last word, “stay.”

Game 3: (Grades Prek-2) Sing the song and play like London Bridge. Begin with two students as a tree, holding raised hands as the other students go under. On “stay” the arms come down, capture a pumpkin, who when the next person is caught becomes another tree. Keep adding trees until everyone is caught. Once you have two trees capturing pumpkins, the making a tree part gets easier.

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Stuffy Turkey (Grades 3-5 Movement, Rhythm Sticks)

Lots of detailed lesson ideas using the great jazz piece by Thelonious Monk, Stuffy Turkey. Learn about it in November and then bring it back for Jazz Month in April! Win-Win!

Musical Chairs for Turkeys & Spotify Playlist

Turkey Turkey Gobbler Please Run Away (COMING SOON)

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TPT November Resources

Tired of spending hours piecing together single songs, books, and games for multiple grade levels?

My TPT resources (mini units) are your solution. They are designed to give you a couple of weeks worth of complete lesson plans, fully differentiated and highly engaging for your students. You simply drop them into your lesson plans—DONE!

Songs & Instrumental Activities

Give Thanks (Orff, Ukulele, Movement)

Pull out this versatile echo song for primary students that’s about appreciation, thanksgiving, and thankfulness in November or for other celebrations throughout the year.

A simple Orff arrangement, one-chord C ukulele part, scarf activities, and movement will make this a great concert piece or SEL activity in the classroom.

One Piece of Pie

A novelty piece that piggybacks on One Bottle of Pop, this is such fun for Thanksgiving, November, and pumpkin pie season, or any food-themed concert.

Over the River and Through the Wood (Boomwhackers, Bells, & Ukuleles)

This resource of the Thanksgiving classic, Over the River and Through the Wood, includes parts for Boomwhackers, bells, and ukulele. 

Each part has audio and video files to support student learning AND in two different tempos-lento and adagio. Students learn about beats per minute (bpm) as they play their parts.

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Game

Let’s Get This Game Started-November Ice Breaker

How to Play!

• 30 strips to the November Let’s Get This Game Started Game
• Each student gets a strip with instructions on what to say/do when they hear their cue words.
• Students only know what their cue phrase is and what they are supposed to do so there are lots of SURPRISES!!!
• The strip order is random so students have NO IDEA when it’s going to be their turn! They LOVE the suspense!

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Thanksgiving Videos

For Younger Students

For Older Students

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Talkin’ Turkey

What are your favorite Thanksgiving songs, games, activities, and videos? Leave them in the comments below!

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