How do I prepare and use Thanksgiving word games in one pack?

What's in the Thanksgiving word-game pack

The pack has five word games: a word scramble, a word search, an A-to-Z race, a decoding puzzle and hangman. Word cards give you clues and words for the caller. Each game also has its own worksheet with writing spaces and a host key. Teams of two or three work well, or everyone can solve the puzzles together around the table.

Four of the games are ready to play once you print them. The word search is different: the grid is blank, so you have to place the words before you make player copies.

How to print the sheets and get them ready

Use the print button on the page or your browser's Print command to print one proof copy. Plain paper is fine, and card stock is optional. Try half-inch margins, then check the preview.

You need one set of sheets per team, plus two spare sets if they'd be useful. For example, 12 players need four sets if they play in teams of three, or six sets if they play in pairs. Count everyone who will play, including any adults who join in.

Pick team size by how often each player gets a turn and how much space you have, then count sheets. Checking which party games work for your group size also helps if fewer players come and teams need combining.

One possible schedule, if it helps: print a proof set a week ahead, make the final copies three days before, and separate the host keys the day before.

• One pencil per player
• A timer
• A clipboard for the host keys
• Team names written on each sheet
• A finished, marked word-search host copy

How to fill in the word-search grid

Write these 14 words into the blank 12-by-12 grid: TURKEY, STUFFING, GRAVY, CRANBERRY, PUMPKIN, HARVEST, PILGRIM, MAIZE, FEAST, THANKFUL, WISHBONE, ACORN, DRUMSTICK and MAYFLOWER. Put one letter in each square. Words can run across, down or diagonally. For players under eight, use only words that read forwards.

Words can share a letter where they cross. For example, MAYFLOWER and FEAST can share an A. Don't force a crossing if it leaves no room for another word. Fill the empty squares with random letters, then check that the random letters haven't spelled out a bank word a second time.

Circle all 14 words on a separate host copy. If someone else will check the answers, write down each word's start and end square on the key table. Count rows and columns from the top left.

How to play each of the five games

Word scramble: give teams 8 minutes to solve as many of the 24 scrambled words as they can, using the clues on the cards and the letter counts. Each correct answer scores one point. When time is up, go through the unsolved words together.

Word search: give teams 10 minutes to find and circle the bank words.

A-to-Z race: set a 5-minute timer and shuffle the letter cards. Call out a letter and read its hint aloud. The first team to write an accepted answer gets one point, and if two teams finish together, both get a point. Accept any answer that clearly fits Thanksgiving and the called letter. The examples in the host key are suggestions, not the only right answers. Stop when the 5 minutes are up or all the letters have been called, whichever comes first.

A category word game is a different game: teams answer categories rather than racing on each letter, with its own answer and scoring rules. It can be played aloud, which suits hosts who prefer everyone answering to rewarding speed.

Decoding puzzle: each coded letter stands for one real letter. Players find the coded letter in the Code row and write the Plain letter above it. For example, a coded U becomes G. For a harder puzzle, show one key bar at a time instead of both. The decoded message reads GOOD FOOD, GOOD PEOPLE, THANKFUL HEARTS, which also works as a short toast.

Hangman: the caller picks a word secretly and draws one blank for each letter, leaving gaps between words. Players guess one letter at a time. When a guess is right, fill in every blank where that letter appears. Either way, cross the letter off the alphabet strip. Each new letter counts toward a limit of ten guesses, and repeating a letter that's already been guessed doesn't use up a guess. The round ends when the word is solved or ten guesses have been made; then reveal the answer. The team that solves the word can call the next one, choosing from the level below its own. Level 1 teams stay at level 1. If nobody solves the word, pass the caller role to someone else who'd like a turn.

How to include children of different ages

The suggested ages are only a starting point. Players can try a different hangman level if they'd like.

If the race gets too loud for your gathering, you can drop the speed scoring.

A fill-in-the-blank story game replaces racing with a reader collecting words from players. If one table gets too big for everyone to have a turn, split into smaller tables, each with its own reader.

Example plan: 38 minutes of games

This is just one way to split up the time. The times count playing time only. Meals, breaks and handing out sheets come on top.

Checklist before guests arrive

• Proof copy printed and the preview checked
• Word-search grid filled in, checked for repeated words, and a host copy circled
• One set of sheets per team, plus spares if useful
• Host keys kept separate on a clipboard
• Pencils, a timer and team names ready
• Three spare letter cards set aside for the race
• Hangman words chosen to suit the youngest player
• A picture or drawing activity ready if anyone needs something other than word puzzles

For the picture fallback, a Thanksgiving picture-search pack works well, but the scenes need drawing and the answer keys checking well before guests arrive. Prepare it alongside the word sheets.

Sources and further reading

• Thanksgiving word games in one pack

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