Looking for Thanksgiving writing prompts your kindergartner or first grader will be excited to answer? You're in the right place! Fall is full of fun things for little writers to explore, from colorful leaves and silly turkey stories to family traditions and all the things they're thankful for.
I’ve rounded up 40 fall and Thanksgiving writing prompts for kindergarten and first grade, plus easy sentence starters and activities to try at home. And your child doesn't need to know how to write a whole paragraph to get started. A picture or a simple sentence can be a great first step!
If you’re new here, hi! I’m Miss Beth, an early literacy specialist, founder of Big City Readers, and host of the Play on Words podcast. I’m passionate about helping kids build strong reading and writing skills through playful, effective strategies rooted in the Science of Reading.
Grab Your Free Fall & Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Printable!
Want to make writing time a little easier and even more fun? We've put all 40 fall and Thanksgiving writing prompts into one handy, printable PDF! You'll also get simple sentence starters and fun gratitude activities to help your little writer get their creative ideas flowing.
Fun Fall Writing Prompts for Kids
From pumpkins and apples to colorful leaves and cooler weather, fall gives kids plenty of fun things to write about. These fall writing prompts for kindergarten and first grade are designed to get your child thinking and practicing their early writing skills.
All About Fall
What is your favorite thing about fall? Draw a picture and write why you like it.
What do you see outside in the fall? Draw and write about it.
What do you like to wear when the weather gets chilly?
Would you rather jump in a pile of leaves or go on a hayride? Why?
What is your favorite thing to do outside in the fall?
What would you do on a perfect fall day?
Pumpkins & Apples
If you could carve a face on a pumpkin, what would it look like? Silly or spooky?
What is your favorite fall treat? Draw it and write about why you like it.
Do you like red, green, or yellow apples best? Why?
Pretend you're a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch. What happens next?
What kind of pumpkin would you pick at a pumpkin patch?
What does an apple look, feel, and taste like? Write a sentence to describe it.
Leaves, Weather & Animals
Pretend you're a leaf falling from a tree. Where do you land?
What is your favorite color of fall leaves?
A squirrel is hiding acorns. Where should it put them?
What do you like to do on a windy day?
Imagine a scarecrow comes to life! What does it do?
Would you rather be an owl, a squirrel, or a bear? Why?
What would you do with a giant pile of leaves?
If your child gets stuck, let them choose a prompt and tell you their answer out loud first. You can ask a follow-up question to help them add detail, or let them draw their idea before writing.
Thanksgiving Writing Prompts for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Thanksgiving is a great time to practice writing about the people, places, and little things that make us happy. These Thanksgiving writing prompts include gratitude activities, traditions, and a few silly stories to get those creative juices flowing!
I Am Thankful For...
Finish the sentence: "I am thankful for _____ because _____."
Who is someone you are thankful for? Why?
What is something at school you're thankful for?
Write a thank-you note to someone who helps you.
What is one kind thing you can do for someone in your family?
What is your favorite toy? Why are you thankful for it?
Name three things that make you happy.
Family & Thanksgiving Traditions
Who do you like spending Thanksgiving with? Draw a picture and write about them.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Why do you like it?
What is something fun your family does for Thanksgiving?
How can you help get ready for Thanksgiving dinner?
If you could cook anything for Thanksgiving, what would you make?
If you could make a giant balloon for a Thanksgiving parade, what would it look like?
Would you rather eat pumpkin pie or apple pie? Why?
Silly Turkey Stories
A turkey needs a place to hide! Where should it go?
If you could dress up a turkey, what would it wear?
What if a turkey came to your school? What would it do?
Imagine a turkey could fly. Where would it go?
If you were a turkey, what would you be thankful for?
Your pumpkin pie grows as big as a house! What happens next?
Make up a silly Thanksgiving food. What would you call it?
For an extra fun writing activity, have your child illustrate their favorite turkey story and read it aloud at Thanksgiving dinner. You could even staple a few of their stories together to make a little Thanksgiving book!
Easy Fall Sentence Starters for Kindergarten
Sometimes coming up with an idea is the hardest part of writing, especially for little learners who are still figuring out how to put sentences together. That's why I love sentence starters!
These simple fall and Thanksgiving sentence starters give early writers a place to start while leaving plenty of room for creativity:
In the fall, I like to _____.
I am thankful for _____.
My pumpkin is _____.
A turkey can _____.
Leaves are _____.
At Thanksgiving, we _____.
For kindergarteners, try choosing one sentence starter and having your child finish it out loud before writing. They can draw a picture to match their sentence, too! For first graders, encourage them to add another sentence that tells you more. For example:
Kindergarten → I am thankful for my dog.
First grade → I am thankful for my dog. He likes to cuddle with me.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our Writing Prompts for Kindergarteners and 1st Grade Writing Prompts for activities you can use all year long.
Easy Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities for Kids
Want to take these prompts a step further? Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to turn writing practice into something meaningful for the whole family. Here are a few simple gratitude activities that give kids a reason to write beyond completing an assignment.
Make a Thankful Tree: Cut out paper leaves and have your child write or draw one thing they're thankful for on each leaf. Add a new leaf every day leading up to Thanksgiving, then display them on a paper tree or branches in a vase!
Start a Family Gratitude Jar: Throughout November, have everyone write or draw something they're thankful for on slips of paper and add them to a jar. At Thanksgiving dinner, take turns reading them aloud for a sweet family tradition!
Write Thank-You Cards: Have your child draw a picture and write a short thank-you note to a teacher or someone special. Younger writers can use a sentence starter like "Thank you for helping me _____" or dictate their message while you write it down.
Want to keep these writing prompts handy? Download our free Fall & Thanksgiving Writing Prompts printable! You'll get all 40 prompts, easy sentence starters, and fun gratitude activities in one place, ready to use at home.
How to Use These Writing Prompts With 5- to 7-Year-Olds
Writing looks a little different in kindergarten than it does in first grade, and that's exactly how it should be! At this age, we're helping kids learn how to take an idea from their imagination and put it on paper.
For kindergarteners, start with a drawing and one simple sentence. For first graders, encourage two or three sentences with a little more detail, depending on their writing skills.
Here are a few ways to make writing time easier (and more fun!):
Let them draw first. Drawing helps kids organize their ideas before they have to think about writing words.
Talk it out together. Ask your child to tell you what they want to write before picking up a pencil. Saying a sentence aloud often makes it easier to put on paper.
Offer a sentence starter. A simple phrase like "I am thankful for..." takes away the pressure of figuring out how to start.
Encourage sound-it-out spelling. Instead of spelling every word for your child, help them listen for the sounds they hear and write the letters that match.
And remember, we’re not worrying about perfect handwriting or spelling. This practice is all about helping your child discover that their ideas are worth writing down!
FAQs About Thanksgiving Writing Prompts for Kids
What Are Good Thanksgiving Writing Prompts for Kindergarten?
Good Thanksgiving writing prompts for kindergarten are short, simple, and easy to illustrate. Try "I am thankful for...", "What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?" or "Where would a turkey hide?" Let your child draw their answer before writing!
How Much Should a Kindergartner Write?
A picture and one simple sentence is a great starting point for kindergarteners. Some may need sentence starters or help sounding out words, while first graders can typically work toward two or three connected sentences.
How Do I Make Thanksgiving Writing Fun?
Make Thanksgiving writing fun with silly turkey stories, drawing activities, and "Would you rather?" questions. Let your child choose their favorite prompts, then turn their finished pages into a homemade Thanksgiving book!
What's an Easy Gratitude Activity for Young Kids?
A thankful tree is an easy gratitude activity for young kids. Have your child write or draw something they're thankful for on a paper leaf each day, then add the leaves to a tree to create a Thanksgiving keepsake.
Keep Encouraging Your Little Writer!
Writing is a skill that grows with practice, and simple activities like these are a great way to help kids get comfortable putting their ideas on paper. Whether your child writes one sentence or a whole silly turkey story, every little bit of practice helps!
For more support building those early writing skills, check out our Ready to Write course. It’s filled with engaging lessons and playful activities designed to help little learners grow their confidence and become more independent writers.
Have questions about helping your child learn to write? Send a DM at @bigcityreaders or leave a comment below. And be sure to explore our other blog posts for more reading and writing activities to try at home:
