Want a pre-thanksgiving activity for the kids? Enjoy both an indoor and outdoor Thanksgiving treasure hunt to work up an appetite before a big Thanksgiving feast. This fun Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt printable set includes 20 rhyming riddles for clue cards.
Do you want to add some extra fun to your Thanksgiving celebration this year? Why not try a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt? This is a great activity for kids of all ages and can be adapted to work for any size group. Plus, it makes a really nice family tradition after the Thanksgiving Macy’s parade but before the turkey is placed on the tablescape.
When all the cooking prep is done and before full bellies make an afternoon nap inevitable, break out the Thanksgiving scavenger hunt clues and let the fun begin! Your family and turkey day guests will love searching high and low for all the holiday-themed items on the list. As you go on your Thanksgiving treasure hunt, have small prizes along the way or alternatively, have a big gift with the last clue.
Indoor Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
These clues make the perfect Thanksgiving scavenger hunt for kids or preschoolers, as well as for family members of all ages who are looking for an indoor activity to keep everyone entertained. The whole family (or even guests at a Friendsgiving) will enjoy this fall holiday activity!
Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Decide what kind of scavenger hunt you want to do. Will participants be working in teams or individually?
2. Print out a copy of our Thanksgiving scavenger hunt clues & answer key.
3. Choose the cards that will work best with your home, players, and the length of time you want the activity to last.
4. Hide the clue cards around the house or in plain sight, depending on the difficulty level you’re going for. Older kids can work with younger kids if the clues become challenging. Make sure to keep the first clue to start the game.
5. Explain the rules and read the first clue. Then let them loose to start scavenging!
What sets our Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt apart from the others? This isn’t your ordinary Thanksgiving checklist. It includes 20 rhyming riddles that are clues.
Example rhyming clue cards include:
Thanksgiving is a day of thanks when family and friends gather to meet. Shake your feathers for treasure hunt fun, the first clue is under your dinner seat.
Turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie, find your next clue where the clothes go to dry.
When finding the wishbone, you make a wish! When clearing the dinner table, where do you put a dirty dish?
In this at home scavenger hunt, use all the clues or omit the ones that do not fit your home. It can easily be adapted to every home, apartment and living situation.
Print your Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt PDF now!
Outdoor Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
If getting outside is more your jam, make your own cards for an outdoor Thanksgiving scavenger hunt! If you live somewhere where the November weather is predictable and you want to get your kids outdoors, and scavenger hunt outside may be a great choice for you.
To get started, make a list of 10-15 Thanksgiving-themed items that can be found around your house or back yard. This can be a team scavenger hunt race as teams compete the finish the challenge in the allotted limit. Instead ditch the time limit and keep this Thanksgiving scavenger hunt checklist as an individual task where the goal isn’t to race but only to finish.
Here’s a list of Thanksgiving scavenger hunt items to get you started:
- A pumpkin
- Scarecrow
- An ear of corn
- Leaves
- Acorns
- A pinecone
- Turkey
- Feather
- Something orange
- Something brown
After you have your list of items, write each item on its own slips of paper (or as a checklist like a bingo card.) If you’re doing this scavenger hunt with younger kids, you may want to provide a picture of the item along with the word.
Once you have all the slips of paper ready, hide them around your house or yard. Make sure to put the first slip of paper in an easy-to-find spot so that kids know where to start looking.
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As with the indoor scavenger hunt, explain the rules and then let the kids loose to search for all the Thanksgiving-themed items! This can easily become a neighborhood scavenger hunt as you walk the streets to work up an appetite before the Thanksgiving feast. Just assign the kids an area for where to look. There’s no limit to Thanksgiving scavenger hunt ideas that you can do.
We created a sample free printable Thanksgiving scavenger hunt list get you started. This list is perfect for young kids as it has images for your Thanksgiving items. Find this free Thanksgiving scavenger hunt in the free printable library when you sign up for emails.
This Thanksgiving, ditch the electronics and try a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt! Your family and friends will love this fun holiday activity. No matter where you set up the hunt, you’re sure to have a great time!
Of course, we have more treasure hunts than only in the month of November. Enjoy these Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids for more fun year-round.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Thanksgiving day treasure hunt. Did you do something indoors? Did you take it outdoors? How old was your age group and what did they think? Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!
For more ideas for a fun Thanksgiving activity this November try these:
Thanksgiving Games: From the classroom to the turkey day table, these Thanksgiving games are perfect for friends and family alike.
Thanksgiving Minute to Win it Games: Have 60 seconds? Enjoy some of the best Thanksgiving day games using a stop watch and many common thanksgiving supplies. These Thanksgiving Minute to Win it Games are memorable and oh so fun!
Friendsgiving Ideas: Is family gone? Enjoy a thanksgiving with friends, aka friendsgiving. From hosting tips, to recipes, thanksgiving activities and more. These Friendsgiving Ideas are perfect for your November holiday.
Year Round Scavenger Hunt Ideas: Take a look at these scavenger hunt ideas for the entire year. So much fun to be hand for every season. In aditiona to the thanksgiving holiday, enjoy Halloween, Christmas, a birthday, Easter and more! Get a full set of year-round scavenger hunt ideas in the store.
Free Thanksgiving Printables
we love sharing freebies. Take a look at some of our free Download our free Thanksgiving printables including some of the most adorable Thanksgiving gift tags for teachers, neighbors and friends.
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WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.
Last Updated on September 6, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living