Looking for Thanksgiving poems for kids that are short, sweet and easy to remember? Here are 15 original rhyming poems written especially for children. They’re perfect for reciting at the Thanksgiving table, performing at a school assembly, copying into a card for Grandma, or practicing reading fluency in class.
Ages 3–11 · 15 original poems · Includes a printable poem booklet with coloring borders.
The poems are grouped by length and theme, starting with tiny four-line rhymes for preschoolers and moving on to longer poems for older readers.
Printable tip: Want a paper copy? Use your browser’s Print option (Ctrl+P on a computer, or Share → Print on a phone) to print this page for home, class or the dinner table.
Tiny Thanksgiving Poems for Preschoolers
These four-line poems are short enough for little ones to learn by heart in a day.
1. Gobble, Gobble
Gobble, gobble, says the turkey,
Feathers brown and red.
“Thank you for my dinner,”
Is what I’ll say instead!
2. Thank You
Thank you for the sunshine,
Thank you for the rain,
Thank you for my family,
I’ll say it once again!
3. Little Pumpkin
Little pumpkin, round and bright,
Sitting in the autumn light,
Soon you’ll be a pie so sweet,
A yummy Thanksgiving treat!
4. Falling Leaves
Red leaves, gold leaves,
Falling to the ground,
Thanksgiving’s coming,
Hear the crunchy sound!
5. My Hand Turkey
I traced my hand upon the page,
And gave it feet and eyes.
My thumb became a turkey head,
Oh, what a nice surprise!
Short Thanksgiving Poems for Kindergarten and Grade 1
These poems are a little longer, with simple words that new readers can sound out.
6. Around the Table
Around the table, side by side,
Our family gathers, warm inside.
We pass the corn, we pass the bread,
We bow our heads, a thanks is said.
There’s laughing, sharing, stories too,
I’m thankful, family, just for you!
7. What I’m Thankful For
I’m thankful for my teddy bear,
My cozy bed, my comfy chair,
For friends who play and share their toys,
For giggles, hugs and happy noise.
And most of all, I want to say,
I’m thankful for this special day!
8. Grandma’s Pie
Grandma’s pie is in the oven,
I can smell it from the door,
Cinnamon and pumpkin spices,
I could eat a slice or four!
But the best thing about Grandma
Isn’t pie, it’s plain to see:
It’s the way she always hugs me
When she’s baking pie for me.
9. The Turkey’s Plan
The turkey had a clever plan
To hide on Thanksgiving Day.
He dressed up as a scarecrow
And stood among the hay.
The farmer walked right past him,
The kids just laughed with glee,
“That’s the silliest scarecrow
We ever did see!”
Thanksgiving Poems for Older Kids (Grades 2–5)
These poems have longer verses and bigger ideas about gratitude, harvest and history.
10. The Harvest
The fields were full of golden wheat,
Of apples red and corn so sweet.
The farmers worked from dawn till night
To bring the harvest in just right.
So when you eat your bread today,
Remember those who made the way,
And say a thank-you, loud and clear,
For all the food we have this year.
11. Thankful Every Day
Thanksgiving comes just once a year,
With pie and family gathered near.
But being thankful’s not just meant
For one day only, then it’s spent.
It’s in the “please” and “thank you” too,
The kind things that we say and do.
So let’s be thankful every day,
In every single kind of way.
12. Long Ago in Plymouth
Long ago in Plymouth town,
When autumn leaves were turning brown,
The Pilgrims and Wampanoag friends
Shared a feast as summer ends.
They ate of deer and fish and corn,
Gave thanks to see a brand new morn.
And now each year, we do the same,
We gather close and thanks proclaim.
13. The Empty Chair
There’s an empty chair at our table,
We set it every year,
For someone who might need a meal,
A friend, a neighbor near.
Because Thanksgiving isn’t just
For those we always see;
It’s sharing what we’ve been given
With others, gratefully.
14. A Thankful Heart
A thankful heart is like a seed
That grows in sun and rain.
It sees the good in little things,
Like puddles on the lane.
It notices a friendly smile,
A kind word from a friend.
A thankful heart is happy,
And its joy will never end.
15. Thank You, God
Thank You, God, for food to eat,
For socks and shoes upon my feet,
For trees that change from green to gold,
For coats to keep me warm from cold,
For friends and family, near and far,
Thank You, God, for who You are.
How to Use These Thanksgiving Poems
- Recite at dinner: Let each child choose one poem to read aloud before the meal.
- School performances: Poems 6, 10 and 12 work well for groups. Assign one line to each child.
- Reading practice: Short rhyming poems are wonderful for fluency. Read a poem every day in November and watch reading confidence grow.
- Memory challenge: Learn one of the preschool poems by heart and perform it for the family.
- Handwriting practice: Copy a favorite poem neatly into a homemade Thanksgiving card.
- Illustrate it: Print the booklet and draw a picture to go with each poem.
Write Your Own Thanksgiving Poem
Kids love writing their own poems. Try this simple “Thankful Acrostic”:
- Write the word THANKS down the left side of a page.
- For each letter, write a word or line about something you’re thankful for.
- Example: Turkey on the table, Hugs from Grandpa, Apples in the orchard, Nature all around, Kind friends at school, Sunshine in the morning.
You can also try a rhyming couplet. Pick two words that rhyme (pie and sky, corn and morn, leaf and brief) and write two lines that end with them.
More Poems and Thankful Reads
- Enjoy our original Memorial Day poems for kids.
- Get ready for December with The Christmas Mouse and other Christmas poems for kids.
- Read our stories about gratitude for kids.
- Learn short Thanksgiving Bible verses for kids.
FAQ: Thanksgiving Poems for Kids
What is a good short Thanksgiving poem for kids?
“Thank You” (Poem 2) is a great choice. It’s just four lines, easy to remember and perfect for preschoolers to recite at the Thanksgiving table.
Can I use these poems in school?
Yes. These original poems are free to use at home, in classrooms, at church and in school performances. Please credit KIDSgraphy if you share them online.
How can I help my child memorize a poem?
Read it aloud together several times, add hand actions, and practice one line at a time. Short rhyming poems are easiest because the rhymes act as memory clues.
