Thanksgiving Directed Drawing Art Activities Thanksgiving Worksheets Art Lessons

These Thanksgiving Directed Drawing Lessons are 10 step-by-step art activities that teach kids how to draw festive, seasonal Thanksgiving subjects. Each drawing is broken into easy, structured steps so every child can succeed, build drawing confidence and feel proud of their art.

They are designed for Grades 1 to 4 and are easy to adapt for Kindergarten or Grade 5. Art teachers, classroom teachers and homeschool families can use them for a Thanksgiving art project that explores symbols of thankfulness, harvest and family traditions.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “We used the turkey with our sixth graders on the day before Thanksgiving break. Even with sixth graders, this was an engaging and funny activity. No turkey was alike and the kids loved comparing their results!” Sharon L

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• 10 Thanksgiving Directed Drawing Lessons with step-by-step visuals: Turkey, Turkey in a Field, Pumpkin, Apple, Turkey with Corn, Owl, Horn of Plenty, Pumpkin Pie, Turkey Dinner and Ham Dinner
• Draw-on pages for individual pages, sketchbooks or workbook assembly
• Title/cover page for a full student workbook

HOW TO USE IT

Hand out individual pages, or photocopy all the pages into a Directed Drawing Workbook using the draw-on pages and title page, which works well for art journals or fall art portfolios. Students can draw directly on the templates, work in their sketchbooks, or draw on blank paper for larger, full-page artwork. Encourage them to outline with black marker or fine liner and color with crayons, markers or watercolor paint.

Each project fits into a 30 to 45 minute art class, and the finished drawings can be displayed for a Thanksgiving or harvest-themed art showcase. Use them for Thanksgiving or fall art lessons, sub plans, early finishers, sketchbook routines, homeschool art, calm creative time or gratitude-themed bulletin boards. Along the way students follow step-by-step drawing guides, strengthen fine motor control, practice line and shape and other Elements of Art, and build focus and perseverance.

FAQ

What grade levels is this best for?

Grades 1 to 4. It can be adapted for Kindergarten or Grade 5 by changing the pacing or simplifying or extending each step.

How long does each lesson take?

Each drawing usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on age, skill level and whether you include coloring or backgrounds.

Can these drawings be combined with other lessons?

Yes. They pair well with writing prompts, Thanksgiving reflections or cross-curricular fall activities.

What art materials work best?

Pencils, erasers and coloring tools such as crayons, markers, colored pencils or watercolor. Outline with a black fine liner or marker for a polished look.

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS (64)

★★★★★ “Great resource for implementing art within the classroom for the Thanksgiving holidays!” Amber S.

★★★★★ “Kids love these directed drawings” Caitlin H.

★★★★★ “I only used the turkey this year but the kids loved it and they turned out great! Thanks!” Christina S.

★★★★★ “Super fun! My students love doing directed drawings. Thank you!” Brittany D.

★★★★★ “I used this with the art classes I teach in the afternoon program my school has. The program has grades K - 7th. I was able to use this resource for all students. It is easy to adapt and easy to follow.” Chandra N.

★★★★★ “I used this with my art classes. I used this resource for all my students. It is easy to adapt and easy to follow.” Janet P.

★★★★★ “These were great! All fifth and sixth grade students chose one to draw. We mounted them on black construction paper and hung them like an art gallery for our Thanksgiving feast at school.” Hannah Y.

★★★★★ “Love a good directed drawing!” Sarah T.

★★★★★ “My kids enjoyed this resource. Thanks!” Cheri O.

★★★★★ “I love using directed draws in my classroom. This has a great variety of draws for Thanksgiving. I love it! Thank you!” Callie D.

★★★★★ “Left for a sub and it was great!” Mandy R.

★★★★★ “My students love directed drawings! These were a great addition to my collection.” Denise Y.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator whose work has been featured on NBC LX News and in OCO Magazine, as the featured educator on the cover of the October 2025 edition. She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this resource for classroom, homeschool or personal educational use, and print and project it for student learning.

YOU MAY NOT: share this with other teachers or post it online. Each educator must purchase their own license.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic