When the kitchen is busy and the table is almost set, it helps to have something easy that brings everyone together for a minute of happy noise. These thanksgiving mad libs free printable pages do exactly that!
All you have to do is print a few copies, hand out pencils, and let the stories come to life at the kids' table.
Table of Contents
What are Ad Lib stories?
Ad Libs are short, fill-in-the-blank stories also known as Mad Libs. Kids pick words first on a separate Word List, then they reveal the story and place each word into the matching blank.
How to Play
- Give everyone the Word List page. It has numbered prompts like adjective, noun, or verb.
- Ask everyone to fill every prompt without looking at the story page. This keeps the surprise.
- Hand out the story page. Each blank has a number.
- Copy the word from number 1 on the word list into blank 1 on the story, number 2 into blank 2, and so on.
- Read the story aloud. Take turns so everyone gets a chance to be the narrator.
Tip
Swap lists or create a fresh set of words and read a second version, since new word choices always make new fun stories.
Why the Separate Word List?
Filling the list first keeps kids from tailoring their answers to the plot, which makes the final read unpredictable and funny.
It also gives gentle parts of speech practice because kids choose a specific type of word before they see the sentence.
Example
- Word List prompts: 1) adjective 2) animal 3) verb ending in ing
- Your words: 1) crunchy 2) llama 3) dancing
- Story line: “On Thanksgiving I wore my crunchy sweater, and our llama would not stop dancing.”
Clear, simple, and it always ends in giggles.😊
Supplies
Print on regular paper and use pencils or markers if everyone gets their own copy.
If you want to reuse the pages for multiple players, slide the printables into sheet protectors and use thin dry erase markers. After each round you can wipe it clean.
What’s included the Free Printable
- You’ll receive one 6-page PDF with three themed stories and three matching Word List pages.
- Each list has a small helper box that reminds kids what a noun or verb looks like.
- The story blanks are numbered to match the Word Lists, so kids focus on choosing words and reading.
The Three Free Printable Ad Lib Stories:
The Great Thanksgiving Feast
This free printable brings a lively thanksgiving dinner scene to life with descriptive words, silly sounds, and a little pie drama.
The Mystery of the Missing Pumpkin Pie
This Mad Libs story plays like a cozy kitchen whodunit with creative word prompts and action verbs.
The Big Thanksgiving Football Game
This silly Ad Libs leans into lighthearted action, simple word choices, and a fun ending.
Top Tip
- Pair younger children with a helper who reads the prompts and offers two or three choices for the harder spots.
- Ask older kids for specific types of words like vivid verbs or precise adjectives, then let them write a short Mad Lib of their own.
- Use them in the classroom as a learning activity before Thanksgiving break.
- Print double sided to place the Word List on one side and the story on the other, which makes the no peeking step easy.
- Or slide pages into both sides of sheet protectors and use fine tip dry erase markers so they can be reused.
- When time is tight, set a two minute timer for the lists and read whatever is done, because the reading is the best part.
Free Printable
Scroll down below to download the free printable Thanksgiving mad libs PDF.
It is a fun way to share silly stories with kids of all ages on Thanksgiving Day, and a perfect activity to tuck into a thanksgiving party or family night.
Thanksgiving Ad Libs Free Printable (Mad-Libs Style)
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