Super Fun Thanksgiving Mad Libs (Free Printables!)
Enjoy some turkey-tastic fun with two free printable Thanksgiving Mad Libs stories that are perfect for kids, classrooms, or family dinners!
Looking for a fun activity to entertain the whole family during the Thanksgiving holiday? Whether you’re planning engaging lesson plans for the classroom or just want a stress-free activity for Thanksgiving break, these free printable Mad Libs are the perfect way to combine learning and laughter!
One of my favorite ways to use them is to add a touch of Thanksgiving fun — and keep everyone busy — while I cook on Thanksgiving day. Another of my favorites is in my day job. I’m a middle school teacher, and these are a fantastic way to incorporate some great practice on grammar skills. I’ve got some more in-depth suggestions on this below!
What are Mad Libs?
Mad Libs are blank stories where players fill in the missing words by selecting various parts of speech, such as proper nouns, verbs, and adjectives. The outcome? A silly story that’s guaranteed to bring laughter to kids of all ages. This fun game is the perfect way to liven up any gathering, whether it’s a Thanksgiving activity for the entire family or a fun ELA lesson in the classroom. It’s no wonder Mad Libs are known as the world’s greatest language skills game!
How to Play
This fun game has ridiculously simple instructions!
- One player, the “reader,” holds the Mad Libs sheet or printable parts of speech fill-in page and asks the other players to fill in the missing words. They might request a proper noun, verb, or adjective, turning it into a great parts of speech grammar game.
- Players shout out their answers without knowing the full context, making the final silly story even more hilarious when read aloud.
- Once all the blank spaces are filled, the reader shares the complete story, revealing the unexpected and often absurd results.
For younger kids, you can provide curated word banks to help them pick words, offering a great activity that simplifies grammar skills while ensuring lots of fun. Middle school students and upper elementary kids can easily follow the regular rules, but lower elementary or preschoolers might need a bit of guidance as they develop their language skills. This game is the perfect way to combine laughter and learning during the holiday season!
Parts of Speech Refresher
One of my go-to tricks for teaching parts of speech is using Mad Libs—seriously, they make learning so much more fun! As a middle school English teacher, I’ve found them to be a great way to get kids excited about grammar. If you need a quick reminder, here’s a breakdown of the parts of speech you’ll see in these silly Thanksgiving Mad Libs:
- Verb: The action words, like run, jump, think, or write. They tell us what someone or something is doing.
- Example: She runs every morning.
- Adjective: These describe or modify nouns, giving more detail like color, size, or how something feels.
- Example: The blue sky was beautiful.
- Adverb: These tweak verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often explaining how, when, or where something happens. A lot of them end in “-ly.”
- Example: He spoke softly during the presentation.
- Noun: A person, place, thing, or idea. It can be something you can touch (like “pumpkin pie”) or something you can’t (like “freedom”).
- Example: The pumpkin pie smelled delicious.
- Interjection: Those fun little words or phrases that express big emotions—usually followed by an exclamation mark.
- Example: Wow! That was an amazing performance!
Using these Thanksgiving themed mad libs is such a fun way to sneak in some grammar skills practice without it feeling like a chore. Whether you’re working with younger kids, middle schoolers, or even the whole family during Thanksgiving break, these Mad Libs bring the perfect mix of learning and laughs.
How to Use Thanksgiving Mad Libs in the Classroom
Mad Libs can easily be integrated into lesson plans as a fun, interactive way to teach parts of speech. Use them for independent work, group activities, or even as a quick, engaging exercise during the month of November. They’re perfect for second grade students up through high school and can be adapted for different levels of English Language Arts (ELA) instruction. You can also use them as a jumping off point for creative writing instruction, or even for speech practice (you’d be surprised how many kids want to read their Mad Libs out loud!)
