Every Thanksgiving season, the President of the United States partakes in a quirky yet heartwarming tradition that’s as unique as it is memorable: the annual “pardoning” of a turkey. This tradition has become a lighthearted staple of the holiday, reminding us of gratitude, kindness, and humor. With a grand gesture, the President “saves” one lucky bird from becoming part of the Thanksgiving feast, allowing it to live out its days in peace on a farm instead. This tradition gives the holiday a playful twist and reminds us to appreciate what we have while adding a touch of fun to Thanksgiving festivities.
This year, why not bring a piece of White House history and a bit of this holiday cheer into your classroom? It’s a fantastic way to combine a little bit of tradition, a lot of creativity, and valuable language arts skills in one engaging project. Imagine students crafting heartfelt arguments, sharing laughs, and, of course, working to give their very own classroom turkey a well-deserved “free pass” this Thanksgiving.
A little bit more history
Turkey pardoning may sound unusual, but it’s a beloved American custom that’s become a highlight of the Thanksgiving season. What began as a lighthearted gesture of mercy has grown into an annual event eagerly awaited by families and classrooms across the nation. Although the tradition was officially recognized in 1989 under President George H.W. Bush, presidents had been giving turkeys a “pass” for many years before that. Today, the lucky birds selected for the pardon enjoy the ultimate VIP treatment, complete with a press conference, a formal ceremony, and even some luxurious accommodations before retiring to live out their lives in peace.
The turkey pardon ceremony gives us an opportunity to celebrate mercy, humor, and a little Thanksgiving magic, reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness can bring joy. It’s a tradition that brings smiles, laughter, and just a bit of holiday whimsy—qualities that make it perfect for the classroom. After all, Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and compassion, and what better way to inspire these qualities in students than by inviting them to “pardon” a turkey of their own?
A fun way to work on ELA skills
The turkey pardon tradition is both humorous and thought-provoking, blending just the right amount of whimsy with a touch of meaningful reflection. This unique tradition makes a perfect launchpad for language arts activities, providing an opportunity for students to practice essential skills while connecting with the spirit of the season. By working on persuasive speeches, students learn the art of constructing a compelling argument, appealing to emotion, and crafting language that captures attention—after all, the fate of their “turkey” depends on it!
In addition, storytelling exercises let students imagine and create, stretching their narrative skills as they dream up wild, funny, or heartwarming adventures for their pardoned turkey. And when it comes to critical thinking, tasks like designing a turkey escape plan or brainstorming a turkey’s best arguments for survival encourage students to think outside the box in delightful ways. This blend of activities turns skill-building into a festive experience, giving students a hands-on way to connect with ELA standards.
Best of all, the turkey pardon activities are memorable. They’re bound to spark lively classroom discussions, moments of laughter, and imaginative exchanges as students share their unique takes on the tradition. Thanksgiving is a time for sharing stories and appreciating one another’s ideas, and these activities provide a creative path for students to explore and celebrate that spirit together!
Are you in for more?
Do you want to know the top 6 activities that my students simply love every single Thanksgiving? They are fun, short and intense and they are even excellent for leaving for a substitute teacher if you need it. Ready?! Here we go!
⭐ Thanksgiving Escape Room – Pardoning the Turkey Activity Close Reading Passage:
This engaging escape room challenges students to solve puzzles and answer clues based on a close reading passage about the Thanksgiving turkey pardon tradition. Perfect for strengthening comprehension and analytical skills while bringing a fun twist to Thanksgiving!
⭐ Thanksgiving Digital Escape Room – Save the Turkey Trivia Fact Research Activity:
In this digital escape room, students dive into Thanksgiving trivia and fun facts to “save the turkey.” It’s an interactive way to encourage research skills, reading comprehension, and teamwork as students race to find answers and solve clues.
⭐ Save the Turkey Activity – Thanksgiving Persuasive Speech Writing Opinion Lesson:
Students take on the role of “turkey defenders” in this persuasive writing activity. They’ll craft compelling speeches to argue why their turkey should be pardoned, practicing opinion writing, persuasive techniques, and voice in a creative holiday-themed context.
⭐ Turkey Pardoning Thanksgiving Passage Comprehension Close Reading Text Marking:
This close reading activity invites students to dive deep into a Thanksgiving-themed passage. Through text marking and annotation, students build comprehension and analytical skills, uncovering insights about the turkey pardon tradition and honing their reading abilities.
⭐ Save the Turkey Thanksgiving Word Search Crossword Maze Coloring Page Puzzles:
A bundle of fun puzzles—including a word search, crossword, and maze—adds some lighthearted Thanksgiving-themed practice. These activities support vocabulary building, spelling, and problem-solving, with a festive coloring page for a creative break.
⭐ Save the Turkey Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Bingo Creative Tasks Choice Board:
This choice board offers students a variety of Thanksgiving-themed writing prompts in a bingo format, giving them the freedom to select creative tasks. From short stories to opinion pieces, it’s a great way to inspire creative writing and critical thinking.
If you want to try these activities, you can check today the Save the Turkey bundle! If you are reading this blog post, you can get an exclusive -50% off deal by clicking on the picture below!
So what are the activities that you are doing in your class for Thanksgiving? Share below and tell us more about the things that your students really enjoy doing this month!
