It’s always crazy how fast Thanksgiving sneaks up on us.
One minute it’s the middle of summer with the blazing sun beating down upon us and the next we’re planning all the details for our Thanksgiving family dinner.
We usually stay home for Thanksgiving which means we have some free time to fill with the kids.
When we aren’t at the library, doing errands or at Grandma’s house, we’re always in search of fun activities for kids.
And these Thanksgiving pattern block mats are a perfect activity for kids at home or in the classroom.
They’re not only fun but also educational too! Read on below for more details and be sure to check out all of our pattern block mats for even more fun printables!
Printable Thanksgiving Pattern Block Mats
Our favorite aspect about this activity is how it’s virtually no prep.
They only require a few supplies and once you’ve printed and laminated them, you’re all set!
Supplies:
- Pattern blocks
- White cardstock
- Printer
- Thanksgiving Pattern Block Mats
- Laminator (optional, but recommended if you plan to reuse them)
- Laminating pouches (optional, but recommended if you plan to reuse them)
Directions
Download the Thanksgiving pattern block mats and print them out on white cardstock.
Laminate each of the pages.
Grab your pattern block mats and let the kids complete the puzzles!
They’re perfect for busy bags or downtime when your kids just don’t know what to do with themselves.
Benefits of Pattern Block Mats
One of the many benefits kids can reap from playing with pattern block mats are fine motor skills.
The kids can hone their skills as they place the blocks within shape outlines and work on the small muscles in their hands.
For kids who may be struggling to put the blocks where they belong, you can add adhesive velcro to the back of some blocks and to the center of the mat. This will help kids get better at placing them where they belong and once kids are ready you can use mats without Velcro and let them do it on their own.
Besides fine motor skills, kids can also learn shapes with these mats by starting with squares, triangles, and diamonds then moving up to more complex shapes.
Kids can also learn about colors with these pattern block mats. You can ask them things like, “What color are the squares?” and questions like that.
Overall, kids will have a blast playing and learning with these pattern block mats.
Thanksgiving Unit For Kids
Keep the Thanksgiving fun and learning going by creating a Thanksgiving unit study for kids! Below are some of our ideas to get you started.
First, we recommend starting by reading aloud to your kids or students. It’s a great way to help them develop a larger vocabulary, focus, and develop a life-long love of reading!
Below are some of the top Thanksgiving books for kids!
Turkey Trouble – If you’ve never read this book, you have to add it to your holiday collection! It’s so cute and fun and kids just love it! Follow the turkey around the farm as he disguises himself as different animals so the farmer doesn’t catch him for Thanksgiving dinner!
How To Catch A Turkey – Kids who love the How To Catch books will want to see all the crazy contraptions kids make to try to catch a turkey loose at the school!
Pete The Cat: The First Thanksgiving -Every Pete the Cat book is fantastic, but this one takes it up a notch with flaps for the kids to open. It’s a great way to get the kids excited about reading and Thanksgiving!
Add in some Thanksgiving crafts for more creativity and fine motor practice. Below are some of our favorites:
Get your kids excited about Thanksgiving by teaching them with these free printable turkey worksheets. This is a great activity to do before the big day and help keep their hands busy as they wait patiently. They’ll also help them get better at recognizing the letter T, scissor skills, and handwriting practice, all while having fun!
Download these Thanksgiving do a dot printables today to help your child get in the spirit of Thanksgiving. These printables will give kids an opportunity to practice letter recognition, counting, visual discrimination, shapes, and beginning sounds! They’re perfect for preschool or kindergarten-aged children!
This Thanksgiving, give your kids a fun activity to do with their friends or fellow students. This roll a turkey game is perfect for the holiday season and helps kids learn how to take turns, count, and work on fine motor skills all at once.