November can be a tricky time in the classroom. We’re right in the middle of the holidays, with the excitement of breaks just around the corner. That can make it a challenge to keep our students focused. With the right November activities, we can still make learning fun and engaging. We can keep our students motivated even as they look forward to their time off. I’ve found that adding a little extra creativity and excitement into my lessons during this time helps keep everyone on track and makes the days leading up to the break something to look forward to. So, today, I’m sharing some of my favorite November activities that your students are sure to love!
November Activities for Morning Work
Morning work is one of those key parts of our day that helps set the tone for everything that follows. As soon as our kiddos walk into the classroom and unpack, they know they’ve got a routine waiting for them. This brings them that much-needed structure that creates a calm and consistent start to each day. These November Morning Work resources are a great opportunity to slip in some spiral review or get extra practice on skills we’ve been working on together. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to settle in and start the day feeling confident and focused. Morning work really helps us start on the right foot, and I couldn’t imagine my mornings without it!
Included Morning Work Activities
Each page typically starts with a warm-up pattern activity. This helps them gain ease into math concepts by recognizing and extending number patterns. From there, they move on to fact families, which gives students the chance to reinforce their addition and subtraction skills. It’s a great way for them to refresh what they already know while getting those problem-solving wheels turning.
The sight word practice is another key part of these morning work pages. I love how my students can rainbow write sight words. This makes it fun while building fluency. They also get to practice spelling words and even pick a word to draw and make a connection with it. This hits various learning styles and keeps them engaged with the content.
We also have sections that mix things up a bit, like unscrambling words or picking vowels to tie in some phonics practice. Each page feels like a balanced mix of math, reading, and fun, all bundled into one. My students get a well-rounded start to their day. It’s quick enough to manage but effective in reviewing and reinforcing what we’ve been working on!
November Activities Perfect for Fall
November is a month filled with holidays. But sometimes I just love to enjoy the autumn season without a holiday focus. That’s where these fall themed activities come. With options to help practice and review both language arts and math skills, they can be easily woven into my lesson plans all month long!
Fall Color By Code
My Fall Color by Code for 1st Grade and my Color by Sight Word Fall Worksheets are two fantastic resources I love using in my classroom for both math and literacy practice with a fall theme! Both of these November activities help with fine motor skills, attention to detail, and building fluency in math and literacy.
The Fall Color by Code worksheets are set up with various math activities, like color by number, addition, subtraction, and even word recognition tasks. Our students solve each problem and use the answer to color in sections of a picture, slowly revealing a fun fall-themed image. I typically use these during math centers or as independent practice because they not only reinforce math skills like addition and subtraction but also keep my students engaged as they work towards completing the colorful picture. It’s a perfect mix of creativity and skill-building. My kiddos always look forward to seeing their final masterpiece!
The Color by Sight Word Fall Worksheets work similarly but focus on sight word recognition. Each section of the picture is tied to a sight word. Our students color in the sections based on the word provided. This is such a great way for my students to practice reading and recognizing words like “can,” “see,” “run,” and more. I love using these during literacy centers or for early finishers because they provide hands-on practice with sight words in a way that feels like play. Plus, the fall theme keeps things seasonal and fun, which my students always appreciate!
Fall Writing November Activities For Sight Words
This Fall Sight Word Scoot activity is such a fun and engaging way to get our students moving while practicing their sight words! I set up the scoot cards on each desk or around the room. Then, my students move from card to card, reading the word and solving the picture. They then record their answers on a sheet. The fast-paced nature of the game keeps students on their toes. They absolutely love it when I call out “scoot,” signaling them to move to the next card!
The setup is really simple. Each scoot card features a sight word, and our students need to read and solve the task. The great part is that it’s adaptable for different grade levels, covering sight words from pre-primer to second grade. This activity helps our students improve word recognition, reading fluency, and even fine motor skills as they write down their answers.
I like to use this activity during centers or as a whole-class review because it keeps everyone active and engaged. Plus, the fall theme adds a seasonal twist, making the practice feel more exciting. These November activities are a fantastic way to reinforce sight words in a fun, interactive setting!
Math BOOM Cards
My Ten Frames Fall Apples Boom Cards are a fantastic way to integrate technology into our math November activities while reinforcing counting and number recognition skills. The cards are all digital, so they can be used on any device. I love how simple and engaging they are for my students. The fact that they’re self-grading makes them perfect for independent practice.
Each card presents a ten-frame filled with colorful apples. Our students are asked to count the apples and choose the correct number. This visual representation really helps my students understand counting and the concept of ten frames. This is key for building strong number sense. The cards track their progress, so I can see how they’re doing without having to grade each one individually.
I typically use these Boom Cards during math centers. They’re also great for differentiation because our students can work at their own pace. The fall-themed apples bring a fun seasonal twist, making math practice a bit more exciting for my young learners. Plus, since these are digital, there’s no prep. No printing, no cutting, and no losing pieces! It’s a win for both my students and me.
Holiday Activities for November
When it comes to November we tend to jump right to Thanksgiving. But that’s not the only holiday in the month. These holiday activities are fun to weave into our days. From Sandwich Day to Veteran’s Day and Remembrance Day there’s a lot to celebrate.
Sandwich Day – November 3rd
Did you know that November 3rd is National Sandwich Day? It’s the day set aside to celebrate our favorite lunchtime meal. This Sandwich Day mini-unit is such a fun way to bring learning and creativity into the classroom! It’s the perfect excuse for a little celebration while focusing on reading, writing, and graphing.
The unit is set up with various activities that cover different skills. One of the main activities is a Sandwich Day Graph, where our students ask their classmates if they like a specific type of sandwich and tally up the results. After that, they take those results and create a graph. This activity is perfect for practicing data collection and interpretation. It gets our students up and interacting with one another!
Another part of the unit involves reading and writing activities. After reading The Best Peanut Butter Sandwich in the Whole World, our students get to write their own recipe for the best peanut butter sandwich. They follow procedural writing steps like “First,” “Next,” and “Last.” This is a great way to introduce or reinforce how-to writing while keeping things light and fun.
This resource also includes a reading comprehension activity with the story The Sandwich by Ian Wallace and Angela Wood. Our students answer questions about the main character, Vincenzo. They even reflect on whether they would take the same sandwich to school the next day. It’s a great way to discuss different cultures and food preferences while practicing reading comprehension.
Lastly, the unit wraps up with a sandwich-themed crossword puzzle. It reinforces key vocabulary like “bread,” “lettuce,” and “bacon.” This is such a fun way to review words related to sandwiches. My students always enjoy the challenge of filling in the puzzle.
Veterans Day / Remembrance Day – November 11th
The Veteran’s Day Color by Code and Remembrance Day Activities resources are a wonderful way to engage our students in learning about this important day through meaningful and thoughtful activities. I use these November activities to help my students understand the significance of Remembrance Day and honor the soldiers who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.
November Activities for Veterans Day
The Veterans Day Color by Code is a great introduction to the day. I can start by asking students about the picture and use this to lead into a discussion about Veteran’s Day and why it is important. Plus, it provides an opportunity for students to review sight words too. The sight words included range from common words like “this,” “ran,” and “will” to more challenging ones like “away,” “too,” and “soon.” This makes it flexible for different reading levels.
As our students color, they’re working on reading and matching the sight words to the color code. This strengthens their reading fluency. Plus, the connection to Veterans Day provides an opportunity for us to talk about the significance of the holiday in a way that’s accessible and meaningful for our younger students. It’s a great blend of literacy practice, creativity, and honoring those who have served!
November Activities for Remembrance Day
The Remembrance Day resource is set up with a mix of activities, including comprehension questions, word searches, poetry, and creative writing prompts. For example, our students begin by reading about the history of Remembrance Day. They learn about the symbolism of the red poppy and then answer questions to reinforce their understanding. I love how this allows them to practice reading comprehension while learning about something meaningful.
Another activity asks our students to reflect on what they would send to a soldier at war to help them remember home. This encourages empathy and thoughtful writing, helping our students connect emotionally to the topic. There are also creative tasks like making as many words as possible from “Remembrance Day,” which builds vocabulary and language skills in a fun, engaging way.
The poems, like “Little Poppy,” provide opportunities for our students to read aloud, discuss the poppy’s symbolism, and even recite the poem during classroom ceremonies or assemblies. There’s also a word search featuring key vocabulary related to Remembrance Day, such as “soldier,” “honor,” and “cenotaph,” which reinforces their spelling and word recognition skills.
These activities are a mix of literacy, history, and creative expression, all designed to help students reflect on and honor the importance of Remembrance Day. It’s a great way to integrate learning with reflection. My students always walk away with a deeper understanding of this significant day.
November Activities for Thanksgiving
There’s no doubt that Thanksgiving is a main focus in November. That’s why I always include a variety of Thanksgiving activities during the month. From math to language arts there are lots of options to choose from.
No Prep Math & Literacy
In a busy month, no prep activities are the perfect way to balance your planning and prep time. These NO PREP Thanksgiving-themed morning work pages with provide you with a variety of fun and engaging activities to use all month long. I often use the activities throughout the month in different ways, such as for morning work, as a center activity, or homework during the month. They also make great early finisher activities that will keep kids engaged.
I love that through the activities in this resource, we can easily review a variety of skills. The seasonal themes make a great connection to the students’ excitement. And. . . the game-like activities keep them engaged even on the toughest days.
There is a lot of language arts fun in this packet. Whether it’s ABC order, scrambled words, or Thanksgiving vocabulary, these exercises help my students practice their spelling and sequencing skills while having fun with holiday-related words like “turkey,” “pumpkin,” and “cornucopia.” This makes spelling practice feel less like work and more like a game!
The math activities also provide great opportunities for skills practice. Activities include secret codes, graphing, and even some multiplication practice. I love how the tasks are playful but still hit on core math skills that we’ve been working on. Plus, our students get to color and solve puzzles, which keeps them engaged and gives them a creative outlet.
Thanksgiving Math Activities for November
November is perfect for bringing some Thanksgiving spirit into our math lessons! With all the excitement surrounding the holiday, I love including Thanksgiving-themed activities to keep my students engaged and motivated. Plus, students are always excited to see how math can connect with the things they’re excited about this time of year, such as turkeys, pumpkins, and big Thanksgiving feasts!
Place Value Task Cards
These Thanksgiving-themed task cards are such a great way to reinforce place value while bringing in a little holiday fun! Each card is set up to help our students practice key place value skills in a way that’s both structured and engaging. The focus is on writing numbers in standard form, expanded form, and word form. Students also practice identifying the value of specific digits, whether it’s tens, hundreds, or thousands, helping them build a deeper understanding of number sense.
I love how flexible these task cards are for different setups. In small groups, we work through them together, talking about each card and giving them focused practice. When I have students work in partners, I hand out a set so they can collaborate. They can help each other as they go through the tasks. One of my favorite ways to use them is as a write the room activity. I hang the cards in random order around the classroom and the students have to find all the cards to complete the activity. My kiddos get to move from card to card, practicing their math skills while staying engaged and active. Whether they’re working with me, with a friend, or moving around the room, these Thanksgiving task cards make place value practice fun and interactive!
Numbers to 10 BOOM Cards
These Thanksgiving Boom Cards for Numbers to 10 are a fantastic way to reinforce counting and number recognition when planning for November activities. The cards are set up digitally, so I can use them on devices like tablets, computers, or even my Smartboard. This makes them super easy to integrate into our math centers or independent practice times without the hassle of printing, laminating, or storing physical cards.
One thing I love about these Boom Cards is how they help my students practice counting and recognizing numbers to 10. The tasks are simple yet effective. They ask students to identify numbers or count objects on the screen. The self-grading feature is such a time-saver for me. It gives my students immediate feedback, which keeps them motivated to keep going.
I like to use these cards in a variety of ways. I will often project them as a math warm-up during our whole class lesson. During my small group math lessons, I can use them to re-teach or reinforce the skill with students who need it. And. . . they are a class favorite as students explore them independently during centers. Since the Boom Cards track student progress, I can check in on how each student is doing without needing to monitor them constantly. Plus, they’re perfect for differentiation. Out students can work at their own pace and revisit the cards as needed, which makes them a great tool for reinforcing number concepts in a fun and engaging way.
Thanksgiving Color By Code
‘These Thanksgiving-themed color-by-code activities are such a fun way to reinforce various math skills (and a few literacy skills are included too!) while keeping our students engaged with some holiday spirit! I love how they’re set up to cover different concepts. The best part is that our students get to practice their skills in a hands-on, creative way.
Each page includes a different color by code task. Our students need to solve math problems or match letters, numbers, or shapes to determine what colors to use. The codes range from matching uppercase letters, numbers, or shapes to using dice patterns or dominoes to complete the picture. This gives our students the chance to work on foundational skills like number recognition, addition, and even letter matching.
I use these activities during my math centers or as a fun independent practice task. They’re great for reinforcing key skills like recognizing numbers and shapes or matching uppercase and lowercase letters. These types of activities are always a hit with students because they get to mix learning with a creative outlet. Who doesn’t love some extra coloring time? It’s the perfect way to include learning with the excitement of Thanksgiving in our November activities!
Thanksgiving Jokes
My Area Model and Partial Product Multiplication resource is a fantastic way to practice two-digit by two-digit multiplication using both the area model and partial product method. I love how it’s set up to give students a clear, step-by-step process for breaking down multiplication problems. The area model (aka window method) really helps them visualize what’s happening in each step. The partial product method reinforces how multiplication connects to addition. It’s a great blend of strategy and understanding. This gives our students the confidence to tackle these larger multiplication problems.
The skills covered here go beyond just basic multiplication. Our students are working on breaking numbers down into tens and ones, multiplying in parts, and then putting it all back together. Plus, the fun Thanksgiving theme adds a festive twist that keeps them engaged while they’re working on some pretty challenging math! It’s a great resource for making sure they understand the process of multi-digit multiplication.
Thanksgiving Activities for Language Arts
Sight Word Task Cards
These Dolch Pre-Primer sight word task cards are such a fun and interactive way to help my students practice their sight words. I love how versatile they are! The setup is simple, but it keeps my students engaged and moving while working on these important sight words.
I spread the task cards around the room, and give each student a recording sheet. They move from card to card, reading the sight word on the card and then writing their answer on the sheet. We can use this activity individually during centers or as a whole class activity.
What I really appreciate about these cards is that they help reinforce word recognition, spelling, and handwriting, all in a fun and festive Thanksgiving-themed way. It’s just one example of the many ways I use similar task cards throughout the year to make learning sight words more engaging and active!
In addition to the Pre-Primer words, I have sets available for other Dolch Sight Word lists too!
These Thanksgiving-themed sight word scrambles are also a great way to add a little challenge and fun to sight word practice! Each task card is set up with scrambled letters, and the students’ job is to decode the scrambled word and record it on their answer sheet. It’s a little puzzle that keeps them engaged while they work on spelling and reading those important sight words. Like the task cards above, these can also be used as a whole class Scoot game, as a write the room center, or as an independent center.
Thanksgiving Literacy Jokes
These Thanksgiving joke decoder activities are such a fun and creative way to get our students practicing their literacy skills while laughing! Each card features a Thanksgiving-themed joke that our students decode using the alphabet key provided. It’s set up like a puzzle, where they have to match letters and solve for the words that make up the joke. Once they figure it out, they get a silly punchline that always brings smiles to their faces!
I use these activities during centers, as part of morning work, or as a brain break between lessons. The decoding process helps our students with letter recognition, spelling, and reading comprehension as they work through each joke. They’re actively engaging with language while also practicing the skill of decoding, which is key for building literacy.
What I love most is how excited students get when they reveal the joke. It’s like a little reward for their hard work! This activity makes literacy practice feel like play. These November activities keep students engaged and motivated during the busy holiday season.
If you are looking for a version for Autumn, make sure to check out my Fall Coded Jokes!
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
Next up on my list of November activities are my Thanksgiving-themed coloring pages. These are such a fun and calming way for our students to practice their sight words! Each page features a color-by-code activity where students color different sections of a picture based on the sight words they’ve been practicing. It’s a great way to reinforce word recognition while also giving students a chance to be creative.
I use these pages in my classroom during centers, as early finisher activities, or even as a quiet break during the day. The setup is straightforward. Each section of the picture is labeled with a sight word. Our students match the word with a color from the code provided. This not only reinforces their knowledge of sight words like “can,” “look,” “you,” and “play,” but it also helps with their focus and attention to detail as they color in the picture.
What’s great about these pages is that they hit on multiple skills. Our students are working on word recognition, reading fluency, and even fine motor skills as they color. Plus, they get the bonus of creating a festive Thanksgiving-themed image. This always makes them proud of their work. It’s a simple but effective way to make sight word practice both educational and enjoyable!
Thanksgiving Writing Activity
This Thanksgiving writing activity is a great addition to our November activities because it’s all about spreading gratitude in a fun and meaningful way. My Thankful Cards are set up as a simple, heartfelt activity where my students write what they are thankful for. They focus on the people in their lives. The cards have prompts like “I am thankful for you because…” and students fill in the rest by creating personalized messages for classmates, friends, or family.
I use this resource as part of our Thanksgiving celebration in the classroom. It’s set up in a way that’s easy for my students to understand and participate in, making it perfect for all grade levels. The beauty of this activity is in its simplicity. Our students get to practice their writing skills while reflecting on what they are thankful for. It’s a great way to promote kindness and positive relationships among classmates.
The skills included are not just about writing but also social-emotional learning. Our students practice gratitude, empathy, and the art of giving kind words to others. Plus, they get a chance to work on sentence structure, handwriting, and expressing their thoughts clearly. This activity uplifts everyone, and the cards make lovely keepsakes for students to take home or share with someone special!
Thanksgiving Cootie Catchers
My Thanksgiving-themed cootie catchers are a fantastic way to blend fun and learning in the classroom during November activities! I love how this resource combines classic playground fun with Thanksgiving jokes. It keeps students engaged and entertained while practicing their literacy and social skills.
I have my students cut along the dotted lines, fold their cootie catchers, and pair up to play. One student is the “operator,” working the cootie catcher, while the other is the “selector,” making choices that lead to a joke. The operator spells out the chosen word, counting each letter with the cootie catcher movements. Eventually reveals a Thanksgiving-themed joke like, “Why did the turkey join the band? Because he had drumsticks!”
What I love most about using these cootie catchers is how they help my students practice reading, following directions, and working cooperatively with a partner. They do all of this while having a blast. The jokes keep the mood light and festive, which is perfect for keeping energy levels up during the holiday season. Plus, the activity helps strengthen fine motor skills as our students cut, fold, and manipulate the cootie catchers. It’s a fun, hands-on activity that brings a little holiday magic to the classroom!
If you’re looking for a more general Fall theme, make sure to check out my Fall / Autumn Cootie Catchers.
Additional Resources
These are just a few of the Thanksgiving math activities you can find in my TPT store. To see more options make sure to visit the Stop and Smell the Crayons store.
If you are looking for more seasonal or monthly resources to engage your students, you can also check out these related blog posts.
Save for Later
Remember to save this post to your favorite teacher Pinterest board for quick access to these November activities!
