Note: I created this printable Thanksgiving Matching Game way back in 2012. It was certainly time for an update! I left the post mainly as it was written over a decade ago when I had all younger children. The Thanksgiving Memory Game itself, however, has been completely updated, along with the pictures in this post.
Please re-download the newest version and use it again with your young ones!
The original post:
I’ve written before about how much my 3 and 5-year-olds love memory-style match games.
But the truth is I love them too.
It’s education and fun all wrapped into one. Just as learning for the littles should be!
🦃 Click here to see all of the Thanksgiving Worksheets and Printable Activities at Mama’s. You’ll find color by number, writing activities, match games, K & 1st Worksheets, and more!
Thanksgiving Matching Game
This Thanksgiving Matching Game is a fun activity to add to your Thanksgiving School list. You will see below that I have listed a variety of ways that I use this Thanksgiving activity with my own kids, so browse through those ideas while you’re waiting for this to print!
Included in the Thanksgiving Matching Sets:
- red apple
- turkey
- orange pumpkin
- cornucopia
- Native American boy
- Native American girl
- Pilgrim boy
- Pilgrim girl
- corn
- Mayflower
- Pilgrim house
- Wampanoag longhouse
Note that you can print the matches with labels or without labels. Choose what is best for your learning situation!
How We Use Matching Games in Our Homeschool
➡️ Looking for more match games? Browse through the Sorting and Matching category and find several themes from which to choose.
Match games are such a versatile activity, as they can be used for many different ages. Here are just a few ways our family plays with these printable games:
♥♥ I often sit with my almost 2-year-old and we say the names of each picture together.
Sometimes I stack them and she enjoys pulling off the top card. Other times, I lay them out in groups of 4 or 6 and call out the name of an object.
My toddler then points to it or picks up the cards. It’s a great way to increase her vocabulary.
♥♥ My 3 1/2 year old and I play this as a matching game.
I lay out half of the matching pairs one by one. My preschooler finds pairs as I lay down the cards face up so she can see the picture.
If we play with the cards that have the words printed at the bottom, we go over beginning sounds.
I also play this memory-style with my 3 1/2 year old, but I only use 3 pairs of cards at the time. I choose 3 pairs, turn them face down so she can’t see the pictures, and we then play as a memory game.
♥♥ When my 5 1/2 year old and I play match games, we place all of the cards face down and play as a memory game. It’s a great opportunity to practice reading if we play with the set of cards that has the name of the pictures at the bottom of the card.
Sometimes I’ll choose 1 or 2 cards with easier names to copy during her handwriting time.
In the download, I have also listed several ways you can use this printable match game with older kids. Make sure you take a look at those!
How To Assemble Thanksgiving Match Game
First, choose which set of matching cards you would like to print – with labels or without labels.
If you anticipate using this match game more than once (and you will use it more than once!), make sure you print the matching cards on card stock. Laminate it for even longer durability.
➡️ I have used this Scotch laminator for years, and can testify that it is a workhorse!
Then simply cut along the black lines.
Now it’s time to play! One of the joys of match games is that they’re so simple to put together and then play.
All Access Pass members can immediately download this Thanksgiving Matching Game.
After you log in, choose the Thanksgiving and Christmas page and scroll down until you see this particular set. Then just click and your download will start immediately.
Download Thanksgiving Match Game here:
More Thanksgiving Worksheets and Activities:
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Thanksgiving Word Search Packet for Kids
just wanted to say thank you.. I had/have ( very bad shape) some other ones.. anywho I could not get my 3 yr old to get the hang of memory so i just took a set. like there was a airplane, suitcase, bus driver, chef, car, cake.. not sure but i would lay out chef, car and cake and then have him say it a couple of times and then I would have him close his eyes and take one away and he would tell me what one was gone.. 🙂 just a idea. thanks again. Can’t wait to play this with him. 🙂
I appreciate so much the materials you provide. I will use them faithfully in my kindergarten classroom for differentiation, because I have some very young ones that need memory and categorizing skills.
I’m so glad they’re helpful! 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! xo
Thank you so much for this matching game. My boys love them and this will be a great addition to our Thanksgiving unit study.
Oh I’m so glad! We just used them again today. 🙂 So fun!
Thank you for saving my son’s preschool Thanksgiving feast! haha I’m in charge of the party and needed one more activity. This memory game is perfect! Thanks so much!
I’m so glad it worked out!! Hope they loved it!
-Lauren
Hi!! I am a teacher, and I definitely love the content and idea behind the Thanksgiving matching. My only true comment/constructive criticism would be the labeling of the indigenous people (Native American Girl/Boy) (Pilgrim Girl/Boy). Being closely tied to the culture, I could see how this interrupts the ideas of inclusivity between all kiddos when they are referring to pictures as such. Overall I loved these printables though!
Hi Timia! Thank you for your comment. 🙂
xo, Lauren