Thanksgiving Questions for Kids (Trivia, Facts & More)
In this post: Find Thanksgiving questions for kids, along with facts, games, trivia questions, and more!
Thanksgiving Questions for Kids
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Thanksgiving isn’t just about the delicious spread of turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole… alright, it’s a big part of it, BUT there’s much more to the holiday. It’s a holiday where we pause to give thanks for all that we have.
What began as a gesture of gratitude for a good harvest has evolved into a day for getting together with loved ones to celebrate our blessings and all of the things we are thankful for!
Engaging Kids on Thanksgiving
I love the idea of sneaking in fun facts or playing a round of trivia on a holiday. It’s a great way to bring your kids into the Thanksgiving spirit while making it both fun and educational.
For example, you can teach them about Sarah Josepha Hale, “the mother of Thanksgiving.” Her persistence convinced Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She’s also the creator of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Cool, right!?
You can see that incorporating trivia questions and fun facts makes the history of this day come alive a little more.
Thanksgiving Trivia Questions for Kids
Okay. ready to test your Thanksgiving knowledge with some trivia?
These questions range from super easy for the tiny tots to a bit more challenging for the older kids. Let’s get right into it!
What year was the very first Thanksgiving celebration?
Answer: 1621. The Pilgrims and the Native American tribe, the Wampanoag, shared the first Thanksgiving meal in Plymouth. It was a celebration of their first successful harvest in the New World.
Which U.S. president made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln. In 1863, influenced by a letter from Sarah Josepha Hale, Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday as an attempt to foster unity during the Civil War.
What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to North America?
Answer: The Mayflower. This ship carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic from England, landing in what we now know as Massachusetts.
How many days did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?
Three days. Unlike our one-day feast, the first Thanksgiving was a three-day festival filled with food, games, and fan.
Which U.S. president was the first to pardon a turkey?
Answer: John F. Kennedy unofficially, but George H.W. Bush made it an annual tradition. JFK was the first to spare a Thanksgiving turkey in 1963, but it was George H.W. Bush who formalized the turkey pardon as an annual event.
What is the most popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Ham. While turkey is the star, many families choose ham as a delicious alternative for their Thanksgiving table.
Who is believed to have started the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day parade?
Answer: Macy’s department store in New York City. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924, becoming an iconic holiday celebration known for its massive balloons and festive floats.
Thanksgiving Facts for Kids
Now that we have some trivia questions, it’s time to throw in some fun facts.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once changed the date of Thanksgiving. Why, you ask? He moved Thanksgiving up a week in 1939 to extend the holiday shopping season during the Great Depression. This decision was met with mixed reactions and was later changed back by Congress in 1941.
The first TV dinner was inspired by Thanksgiving leftovers. That’s right! In 1953, Swanson had so much leftover turkey that they decided to package it into aluminum trays with sides like sweet potatoes and corn. And so, the TV dinner was born.
There’s a Guinness World Record for the most people dressed as turkeys. I swear! In Dallas, Texas, 661 people gathered dressed as turkeys in 2011, setting a rather quirky world record.
Santa Claus has been a part of the Thanksgiving parade since the beginning. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade concludes with Santa Claus to kick off the holiday season, blending the spirit of Thanksgiving with the anticipation of Christmas.
The first Turkey Trot race was held in Buffalo, New York, in 1896. Turkey Trots have become a Thanksgiving morning tradition for many, combining fun, family, and fitness before the big feast. Is your family the Thanksgiving 5k family or no? Mine is not, but never say never.
Did you know not everyone in North America celebrates Thanksgiving in November? Our neighbors in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, and Norfolk Island observes it on the last Wednesday of November.
The tradition of breaking the wishbone is actually ancient. The practice dates back to the Etruscans of 322 B.C., who believed birds could predict the future. The wishbone, or “furcula,” was considered sacred.
The Turkey was almost the national bird over the Eagle. Yup! Benjamin Franklin had a soft spot for turkey feathers and proposed the turkey as the national bird.
Thanksgiving Jokes for Kids
Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The Outside!
What has feathers and webbed feet?
A turkey wearing scuba gear
Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive?
It had 24 Carrots
What sound does a turkey’s phone make?
Wing Wing!
Why was the turkey the drummer in the band?
Because he had the drumsticks!
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken’s day off.
What key has legs and can’t open doors?
A turkey!
What do you get when you cross a turkey with an octopus?
Drumsticks for everyone!
What do you wear to Thanksgiving dinner?
a Har-vest
Who is not hungry at Thanksgiving?
The turkey, he’s stuffed!
Why do turkeys always go gobble gobble?
Because they never had good table manners.
What’s the best dance to do on Thanksgiving?
The turkey trot
Why do turkeys love rainy days?
They love fowl weather
Why do turkeys gobble?
Because stye never learned table manners
What kind of vegetables would your family like on Thanksgiving?
Beets me!
Where did the first corn come from?
The stalk brought it!
How Do you fix a broken pumpkin pie?
With a pumpkin patch!
Why was the cook late to Thanksgiving dinner?
He lost track of Thyme
Who helped the squash cross the road?
The crossing gourd
If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims
What’s a pumpkin’s favorite game?
Squash
What does Dracula call Thanksgiving?
Fangs-giving!
Thanksgiving Activities and Games
Now that we have some trivia and fun facts out of the way, here are some other fun activities for Thanksgiving.
- Turkey Tag: Perfect for outdoor fun, this game involves running around trying to avoid being tagged by the person designated as “it” or the “turkey.”
- Gratitude Tree: A wonderful craft for both classroom settings and home. Have your kids write what they’re thankful for on paper leaves and attach them to a tree made out of construction paper.
- Turkey Feather Hunt: Hide paper turkey feathers around the house or yard and have the kids find them. Each feather could have a fun fact about the first Thanksgiving or a famous person related to the holiday.
The best part about these activities? They’re not just for kids. All family members of all ages can join in on the fun. It’s a great way to bond, laugh, and create memories. Plus, it makes the holiday more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
So, there you have it – a mix of history, fun, and gratitude to help you make this Thanksgiving meaningful and engaging for your little ones.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
Aside from trivia and games, you can also do crafts with your kiddos.
Especially for our little ones, crafting can be a way to express their creativity, learn about gratitude, and understand the history of Thanksgiving in a fun, tangible way.
Here are a few easy and fun Thanksgiving craft ideas perfect for young children:
- Thankful Turkey Book: This craft is a beautiful way for kids to reflect on what they’re thankful for. Using construction paper, help your child cut out feather shapes, and on each feather, they can write or draw something they’re grateful for. Bind these feathers to a body shaped like a turkey, and you have a Thankful Turkey Book!
- Pilgrim Hat Pencils: A perfect activity for the Thanksgiving school play or just for fun, creating Pilgrim hat pencil toppers is easy and practical. All you need is black construction paper, a bit of yellow paper for the buckle, and glue. It’s a simple way to bring the spirit of the first Thanksgiving into your home.
- Handprint Turkeys: A classic that never gets old! Trace your child’s hand on construction paper, and let them color or paint each finger to resemble the colorful feathers of a turkey. It’s not just a craft; it’s a keepsake that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.
- Pumpkin Pie Slices: Using orange and cream-colored felt, help your kids cut out pieces that look like a slice of pie. They can even add a dollop of white cotton as whipped cream on top. This is a sweet craft that brings the essence of Thanksgiving food to playtime without the mess in the kitchen!
Final Thoughts — Thanksgiving Fun
There you have it — Thanksgiving questions for kids, facts, jokes, craft ideas and more! Whether through a fun game of Thanksgiving trivia or by creating a handcrafted piece of art, each activity offers a unique opportunity to spark conversations about gratitude, history, and the importance of family traditions.
Now, I’d love to hear from you! Did any of the Thanksgiving trivia questions surprise your little ones? Which craft became the centerpiece of your holiday decorations? Share your stories and additional questions you discussed. I would love to hear from you below!
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