Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, friendship, and community – and there’s no better way to celebrate those things with your students than by hosting a Friendsgiving in the classroom! This special day is simple to organize, full of connection, and a wonderful way to help students practice kindness and gratitude before heading off for the holiday break.

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What Is Friendsgiving in the Classroom?

Friendsgiving is a classroom-friendly version of Thanksgiving that focuses on friendship and gratitude. It’s a time to gather, share, and celebrate each other. The goal is to build community and remind students that school is a safe, loving space where they belong.

Your classroom Friendsgiving might include:

• A read-aloud about gratitude and kindness
• A craft or writing activity
• A sharing circle where students express what they’re thankful for
• A fun themed snack or mini classroom meal

Set the Scene

Transform your classroom into a cozy fall celebration space!

• Add simple decorations like paper leaves and pumpkins.
• Play soft instrumental music in the background to create a warm atmosphere.
• Create Thanksgiving Placemats. Grab your FREE Thanksgiving Placemat from Simply Kinder + HERE!
• Decorate a “Happy Friendsgiving!” banner as a class.

Thankful Read Aloud

Begin your Friendsgiving celebration with a read-aloud that sets the tone for gratitude and friendship. A few classroom favorites:

• Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
• Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
• I am Thankful by Sheri Wall
• Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf
• The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell

After reading, have a short discussion:

• “What are some things you’re thankful for at school?”
• “How can we be good friends to one another every day?”

Snack or Potluck Meal

What’s a celebration without a shared meal? Hosting a simple Friendsgiving potluck in the classroom is a beautiful way to bring your community together.

How to Make It Work:

1. Send home a note or digital sign-up so families can volunteer to bring a small, easy-to-share item (like apple slices, pretzels, or muffins).
2. Keep it allergy-safe and simple. Ask for store-bought, prepackaged, or sealed items if needed to follow school policies.
3. Set Tables. Add festive tablecloths, Thanksgiving placemats, and seating assignments. Editable Thanksgiving Name Tags from Simply Kinder + are perfect for seating assignments. Grab them HERE!
4. Assign “table jobs.” Some students can serve, others can pass out napkins or drinks, and everyone can help clean up!
5. Enjoy your Friendsgiving Meal

If your school doesn’t allow food sharing, you can still host a “pretend potluck.” Have each student draw or write about what they would bring to share, then present it to the class. Students can create a Thanksgiving Dinner Writing Craft from Simply Kinder + HERE!

Craft Activities

Tie your Friendsgiving celebration into your learning time with these festive craft activities.

• Editable Turkey Name Craft – Create turkeys using the letters in students’ names. Grab the craft at Simply Kinder + HERE.
• Turkey Handprint Poem – Paint students’ hands to create a turkey handprint on a small canvas or paper plate. Attach Simply Kinder’s Turkey Handprint Poem to the masterpieces. Snag the FREE poem HERE!
• Paper Bag Turkey Craft – Use brown paper bags, googly eyes, and construction paper to create this cute turkey craft. Students can write what they are thankful for on the feathers.
• Interactive Thanksgiving Book – Learn more about Thanksgiving through an Interactive Thanksgiving Book. Grab your book HERE!

Gratitude Circle

Gather your students together and take turns sharing something they’re thankful for. You can pass around a small plush turkey or pumpkin to signal whose turn it is to speak.

This calm, reflective activity helps students practice listening, speaking, and gratitude all at once – the perfect ending to your Friendsgiving celebration.

Hosting a Friendsgiving in the classroom is more than just a party – it’s a way to build community and encourage kindness. So set the table, print a few activities from Simply Kinder + here, and get ready for a celebration your students will remember long after Thanksgiving break