Use these writing prompts for Thanksgiving inspiration. These prompts encourage upper elementary and middle school students to dive into the themes of gratitude, family, and tradition, while engaging creatively with the spirit of Thanksgiving.

turkey banner

Gratitude and Reflection Prompts

  • Describe your favorite Thanksgiving memory and why it’s special to you.
  • Write a letter of thanks to someone who has had a positive impact on your life.
  • Reflect on the things you are grateful for this year.
  • List five things you’re thankful for that aren’t material possessions.
  • Write about a Thanksgiving where you volunteered to help others.
  • Reflect on how your understanding of gratitude has changed as you’ve grown older. What are you most grateful for now, and how is it different from when you were younger?
  • Think about someone you take for granted. Write a reflection on how you can show more appreciation for them.

Family and Friends

  • Write about a Thanksgiving tradition in your family and its significance.
  • Describe your favorite Thanksgiving memory with your family. What made that particular holiday stand out?
  • Think of a Thanksgiving that didn’t go as planned. How did your family adjust, and what made it memorable?
  • Write about a Thanksgiving where you had to celebrate with friends or strangers instead of family. How was the experience different?
  • Explore the tension that sometimes arises at family gatherings during Thanksgiving. How does your family handle it, or how could they handle it better?
  • Describe a family Thanksgiving from the perspective of a family member who usually doesn’t get much attention, like a young child or a pet.

Historical and Cultural

  • Imagine you are a Pilgrim on the Mayflower. Describe your journey and arrival.
  • Research and write about the history of the first Thanksgiving. How does it differ from the way we celebrate today?
  • Write a letter from a Native American’s perspective about the first Thanksgiving.
  • Invent a character who travels back in time to the first Thanksgiving.
  • Write about how Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. Why was it important at that time?
  • Imagine you are a journalist in the 1800s covering the first national Thanksgiving celebration. What do you write about, and how do people react to the new holiday?
  • Imagine Thanksgiving in the distant future. How might the holiday look hundreds of years from now, and what traditions might have changed?

Thanksgiving Feast

  • Write about a family recipe that is always served on Thanksgiving. What’s the story behind it, and why is it so special?
  • Write a story about a Thanksgiving dinner where the food comes to life.
  • Explore the emotions of a character hosting their first Thanksgiving dinner.
  • Create a Thanksgiving-themed adventure story where a group of friends embarks on a quest to find the perfect ingredients for the ultimate Thanksgiving meal.
  • Write about a Thanksgiving where every dish on the table has a magical effect on the person who eats it. What do the different foods do, and how do the guests react?
  • Write a Thanksgiving story from the perspective of the turkey. How does it feel about the holiday, and what plot twist saves it from the dinner table?

Travel and Adventure

  • Describe a Thanksgiving road trip with unexpected twists and turns.
  • Explore the challenges of celebrating Thanksgiving in space.
  • Write a story about a Thanksgiving adventure in a foreign country.
  • Write about a character who gets stuck in a small town on Thanksgiving and is invited to a stranger’s home for dinner.
  • Write about a time when you spent Thanksgiving away from home. How did it affect your appreciation for the holiday?

Humorous and Light-Hearted Prompts

  • Create a funny Thanksgiving skit or play.
  • Write a humorous poem about Thanksgiving mishaps.
  • Write a story about a turkey that escapes Thanksgiving dinner.
  • Write a funny story about a Thanksgiving dinner that goes horribly wrong but ends up being a cherished family memory.
  • Write about a family member who always brings the strangest dish to Thanksgiving dinner. What are they bringing this year, and how does everyone react?
  • Write a funny story about a competitive family Thanksgiving game that gets way out of hand.

Creative Writing Prompts

  • Write a poem using Thanksgiving-related imagery.
  • Write a poem about the beauty of autumn during Thanksgiving.
  • Write a short story about a Thanksgiving dinner that is interrupted by an unexpected guest.
  • Create a story where a family discovers an old, forgotten tradition while preparing for Thanksgiving, and it changes the way they celebrate the holiday forever.