---
title: Thanksgiving-Themed Reading Resources, K–5
description: Keeping reading activities fun, yet meaningful, can be a daunting task. Today I'm sharing two of my favorite Thanksgiving reading resources.
---

[English Language Arts Blog | Free Language Arts Worksheets | English Lesson Plan Template | Vocabulary Building Activities ](https://www.sadlier.com/school/ela-blog)

# [Thanksgiving-Themed Reading Resources, K–5](https://www.sadlier.com/school/ela-blog/gobble-up-a-good-book-reading-activity-thanksgiving-story-map-grades)

 Written by [Erin Lynch](https://www.sadlier.com/school/ela-blog/author/erin-lynch) | Nov 18, 2014 4:30:00 PM

Keeping reading activities fun, yet meaningful, can be a daunting task. I usually look to the holiday of the current month (provided there is one) for inspiration. Today I'm sharing two of my favorite Thanksgiving reading resources.

<https://go.sadlier.com/thanksgiving-themed-reading-resources>

The Thanksgiving turkey is an image that lends itself to a variety of graphic and visual organizers. One of my students' favorites is the [***Turkey Story Map***](https://go.sadlier.com/thanksgiving-themed-reading-resources). You can use almost any book to model how to use the story map graphic organizer. I like to use [*Turkey Trouble*](http://www.amazon.com/Turkey-Trouble-Wendi-Silvano/dp/0761455299/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0) by Wendi Silvano. I write the book’s title and author’s name on the turkey's body. The feathers are where the students record the main characters, setting, problem, events, and solution. I use this story map two ways. The first way is to distribute a piece of paper with the turkey and feathers already drawn on a piece of paper for the students to fill in.* You can download my template [here](https://go.sadlier.com/thanksgiving-themed-reading-resources)*. The second way is to have the students use a pattern or template to trace the turkey's body and feathers on construction paper. They then fill in the story information using markers.

 Another turkey-inspired idea is my [***Gobble Up A Good Book***](https://go.sadlier.com/thanksgiving-themed-reading-resources) recommendation form. Again, you can use almost any book to model how to use this form with students. One I use often is [*The Candy Corn Contest* ](http://www.amazon.com/Candy-Corn-Contest-Street-School/dp/044041072X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1416425800&sr=1-1)by Patricia Reilly Giff. After my students finish a book that they think their classmates might enjoy, I have them fill out a recommendation form. I keep all the recommendations together in the classroom by our reading library. I'm overcome with joy every time I see a student thank another student after reading one of their recommended books!

 

 

 

[View full post](https://www.sadlier.com/school/ela-blog/gobble-up-a-good-book-reading-activity-thanksgiving-story-map-grades)

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