Thanksgiving and November Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Ideas and Journal Topics for November

November and Thanksgiving Writing Prompts: Are you looking for a creative list of writing prompts and journal ideas to use during the month of November?

Below, you will find a list of general November writing topics and a list of specific calendar dates for November which contain creative writing ideas related to that particular date in November.

I have created this list of Thanksgiving and November writing prompts and ideas for elementary school teachers and students.

You will find some Thanksgiving and November writing prompts below that contain underlined links. If you click on an underlined link:

• You will be directed to another page on Unique Teaching Resources that contains detailed lesson plan ideas and printable worksheets for those November writing prompts.
• You will be directed to another website that contains useful information related to those particular November writing prompts.

General Thanksgiving and November Writing Prompts:

• Meet my pet turkey
• These turkey shaped creative writing templates can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Turkey Shaped Creative Writing Templates
• Pretend that you are a turkey who has a Twitter account and loves to tweet. Write 5 tweets to your followers about your feelings on Thanksgiving.
• Do you think that a turkey would make a good pet? Why or why not?
• Read the story Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey to your students. Describe how the children helped save the turkeys in the story.
• Click on the link below to view the lesson plans that I have created for Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving.
• Go To: Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving Lesson Plans

• A perfect fall day
• These fall printable worksheets can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Fall Leaves Worksheet and Banner Set
• My favorite part of fall
• I jumped in a pile of leaves and found ...
• In the United States, many local, state, and national elections are held during the month of November. Why do you think it is important to vote in elections?
• If you were at the first Thanksgiving dinner, what would you bring to share with the Indians and Pilgrims?
• These Thanksgiving Pilgrim Dinner printable worksheets can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Thanksgiving Pilgrim Dinner Worksheet and Banner Set
• Create a venn diagram comparing the first Thanksgiving to today's Thanksgiving. Write a paragraph describing the similarities and differences.
• Imagine that you are sailing on the Mayflower. Write a letter home to your friends back in England telling them about your journey.
• These Pilgrims and Mayflower printable worksheets can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Pilgrims and Mayflower Worksheet and Banner Set
• Write a set of directions for the Pilgrims that explain how to play football, which is now a popular sport to watch on Thanksgiving.
• Pretend that you are a turkey and write a letter to convince people to serve other food items instead of turkey for their Thanksgiving dinners this year.
• These Thanksgiving turkey worksheets can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Thanksgiving Turkey Worksheet and Banner Set
• Gobble up my story.
• If scarecrows could talk, what would they say?
• I think brown and orange are fall colors because ...
• The Fall Harvest
• These November Newspaper printable worksheets can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: November Newspaper Worksheet and Banner Set
• Fall in love with writing
• At the football game
• How could you help someone less fortunate on Thanksgiving, or anytime of the year?
• What are the three things that you enjoy the most about the fall season?
• These fall leaves printable worksheets can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Fall Harvest Leaves and Banner Set
• Write a F.A.L.L. acrostic poem
• On Thanksgiving Day I like to ...
• I am thankful for ...
• Write a thank you letter to someone and tell why you appreciate this person.
• These Thank You Letters can be used for many of the November writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: Thank You Letters Worksheet and Banner Set
• I am thankful for my family because ...
• What are you and your family most grateful for?
• Read the story The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. How can you be a more giving person?
• Click on the link below to view the lesson plans that I have created for The Giving Tree.
• Go To: The Giving Tree Lesson Plans
• Write a THANK YOU acrostic poem.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Thanksgiving teaching resources can be found: T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U. Acrostic Poem Worksheet and Banner Set
• How can you show people that you are thankful for them?
• For countries that don't celebrate Thanksgiving, how could they celebrate being grateful?
• If you could invite any guest to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, who would it be and why would you choose this person?

Specific November Writing Prompts:

Celebrations, Events, Holidays, and Dates in History:

Scroll through this page, or click on the links below, to read
about each of these November writing prompts and holidays.

• November 3 - Sandwich Day
• November 10 - First Episode of Sesame Street
• November 11 - Veterans Day
• Third Week of November - Geography Awareness Week
• November 15 - America Recycles Day
• November 18 - Mickey Mouse's Birthday
• November 19 - The Gettysburg Address
• Third Thursday of November - Great American Smokeout

November 3 - Sandwich Day

November 3 is Sandwich Day. English history reports that John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich and the sandwich was named after him.

The 4th Earl of Sandwich enjoyed gambling and often spent many long hours in London's gambling parlors. In 1762, he created the sandwich, by putting meat between two pieces of bread. This allowed him to remain at the gambling table for long periods of time.

• What is your favorite kind of sandwich? Write the directions for making this sandwich. Bring this sandwich to eat to school on November 3.
• Visit Wikipedia's Sandwich Page to learn more information about the history of the sandwich.
• This would be an ideal day to have your students begin a Sandwich Book Report Project.

November 10 - First Episode of Sesame Street

Sesame Street premiered on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations on November 10, 1969 and had positive reviews, as well as high ratings. This series was created around the belief that if you can hold the attention of children, you can educate them.

• The multicultural cast of Sesame Street features children and adults of different backgrounds playing and working together.
  • Explore the differences and similarities among the children in your classroom.
  • Point out how all the differences and similarities make your classroom extraordinary and special.
• Who is your favorite character on Sesame Street? What do you like the most about this character?
• If you were asked to create a new Sesame Street character, what type of character would you create and why? What would this character's name be? Describe what the character looks like and how the character acts.
• Visit Wikipedia's Sesame Street Page to learn more information about the history of this show.
• Students will enjoy visiting Sesame Street's web page where they can play games and watch videos featuring their favorite Sesame Street characters.
• On Sesame Street's Teacher and Parent page you will find lesson plans, teaching resources, and information about the history of the show.
• Your students will love completing Wanted Poster Book Report Projects based on their favorite Sesame Street characters.

November 11 - Veterans Day
(also Armistice Day and Remembrance Day)

Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday and usually observed on November 11. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery .

This day is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world and falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.

• Write a letter to a veteran that thanks him or her for defending our country. On my Thanksgiving English Teaching Resources Page you will find a Thank You Letter set of teaching resources and a T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U. acrostic poem.
• Have students create a postage stamp to honor Veterans Day or a war hero.
• What sacrifices have veterans and their families made for their country?
• How can we honor veterans all year long?
• On the Veterans Day Poster Gallery from The United States Department of Veterans Affairs you can download a free Veterans Day poster. The stunning 2011 poster is shown here on the right.
• Be sure to visit the The United States Department of Veterans Affairs For Teachers and Students and download their Veterans Day Teachers Guide for a free 35 page downloadable resource packet that is full of great lesson plan ideas for this holiday.
  • The link for this free set of Veterans Day teaching resources is found in the top right box on that web page.
• Visit Wikipedia's Veterans Day Page to learn more information about the history of this holiday.
• On History.com Veteran's Hub page you will find a variety of different teaching resources. I recommend downloading their free 16 page Veterans Day Newspaper: Our Veterans, Our Stories Newspapers in Education Supplement.
  • An example page from this Veterans Day newspaper is shown on the right.
• After reading History.com's Veterans Day Newspaper (see the link above and the photograph example on the right), you may want to have your students complete their own newspaper projects. I have two different newspaper creative writing teaching resources on my website.
  • The first is a two page newspaper template and is my November News Newspaper.
  • The second is a four page newspaper template and is my Newspaper Book Report Project.

Third Week of November - Geography Awareness Week

Geography Awareness Week was established in 1987 when U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation that established the third week in November as Geography Awareness Week. The goal of this week is to promote geographic education in schools.

• Where in the world would you most like to visit and/or live? Find this place on a map and measure the approximate distance from this place to where you live. Explain why you would like to visit or live in this place, how far away it is from where you live, and how you would get to this place.
• On Kids Geography Games children can play fun and educational games that will help them to develop and sharpen their geography skills.
• Read The Way to Start a Day by Byrd Baylor to your students. The author integrates many countries and cultures into this beautiful picture book and the themes tie in well with Geography Awareness Week.
• I have created lesson plans and a fun country wheel group project based on The Way to Start A Day. Click on the link below to go to this page on my website.
• Go to: The Way to Start A Day Lesson Plans Page
• National Geography Week is a great time of the year to assign a book report project that focuses on traveling to another country. My Main Character Vacation Suitcase Book Report Project involves students in researching information about a country that students choose to visit with the main characters of their books.

November 15 - America Recycles Day

Started in 1997, America Recycles Day is dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products.

• What do you think is the Earth's most serious environmental problem? What can children do to help?
• Write a speech or letter convincing people about the benefits of one of these "green" activiities: carpooling, recycling, or planting trees.
• Create a poster that promotes the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
• Imagine that you are a tree. Write a persuasive essay about the benefits of recycling.
• On the America Recycles Take the Pledge Page students can sign the form on this page and take the recycling pledge to:
  
  
  • LEARN: About the recycling options in my community. I will find out what materials are collected for recycling in my community.
  • ACT:. Reduce my personal waste by recycling. Within the next month, I will start to recycle one new type of material.
• On my Earth Day lesson plans page you will find a variety of recycling lesson plan ideas and teaching resources.

November 18 - Mickey Mouse's Birthday

November 18 is Mickey Mouse's birthday and he is one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.

Other Disney characters that are associated with Mickey Mouse are his girlfriend Minnie Mouse and his pet dog Pluto. In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Mickey Mouse Club was created by Walt Disney and began in 1955. This television show has featured a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers and has launched the careers of teen stars from Annette Funicello to Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.

The animated cartoon Steamboat Willie was first released on November 18, 1928 in New York. This was the first Mickey cartoon to have a distributor and is considered by The Disney Company as Mickey's debut.

Mickey appeared in color for the first time in 1935 in The Band Concert and this short film was so innovative that critics still consider it to be a masterpiece.

• Pretend that Walt Disney has asked you to create a new cartoon character and a friend for Mickey Mouse. What type of character would you create? Choose an appropriate name for your character and describe what the character looks like and how the character acts.
• Visit Wikipedia's Mickey Mouse Page to learn more information this famous cartoon character.
• Students will enjoy visiting the Mickey Mouse Club page where they can play games, watch videos, and complete color activities.
• Students can celebrate Mickey Mouse's birthday by completing a birthday cake project. An example of this unique project is shown on the right.
  
  
  • This Birthday Cake Book Report Project involves students in planning a birthday party for a character from a book. This would be a fun activity for your students to complete for Mickey Mouse's birthday.
  • For this unique project, students choose a location for the party, the guests that they will invite, the food that they will serve, ideas for gifts, and fun games that they will play at Mickey Mouse's birthday party.
  • Click on the following link to read more information about this set of teaching resources:
    
    Go to Birthday Cake Book Report Project page

November 19 - The Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address is one of the best-known speeches in United States history. It was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19.

In his speech, President Lincoln called on the people to ensure the survival of America's representative democracy.

The Gettysburg Address begins with: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

President Abraham Lincoln ended his speech with this famous line: "The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

• Ask students to imagine that they were alive at the time the Gettysburg Address was delivered. Have your students write a letter to a friend and describe the effect that the speech had on them when heard President Lincoln give it
• You can read the entire Gettysburg Address and find out interesting facts about how Abraham Lincoln wrote this speech on Visit Gettysburg's page.
• Visit Wikipedia's Gettysburg Address Page to learn more information this historical speech.
• Students can complete an individual or group project about Abraham Lincoln using my Character Body Book Report Templates. Your students will enjoy designing a project that looks like Abraham Lincoln using this unique activity.

Third Thursday of November - Great American Smokeout

The American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout every year on the third Thursday of November. This event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps make people aware of the many tools they can use to quit smoking for good.

The first Smokeout was held in 1977 and challenged people to stop smoking cigarettes for 24 hours in hopes that they would then decide to quit smoking forever.

• Write a letter a letter to someone you know to urge them to stop smoking.
• Design a poster targeted for school children that demonstrates the important reasons why they should never start smoking.

End of Thanksgiving and November Writing Prompts

Below are some ideas and examples of teaching resources
that can be used for some of the Thanksgiving and November
writing prompts that are found on this page:

Fall and Thanksgiving Powerpoint Lesson Plans

Click on one of the calendars
below to go to a specific page
of monthly writing prompts: