The autumn chill is in the air, and Thanksgiving is around the corner! Planning activities to keep your upper elementary students engaged and motivated during November is important. From reading comprehension and Thanksgiving writing activities to hands-on math – let’s dive into what types of engaging challenges are out there that will keep student minds thriving! Here are some fun, creative ideas that can be implemented in any upper elementary classroom this month!

November Morning Message Slides

If you have been around for a little while then you probably already know how much I love these BITMOJI morning greeting slides. They are such a great way to start the day with structure, organization, and a little fun!

Not only do these morning greeting slides provide a consistent routine to start out the day, but they allow you to complete the morning administrative tasks that must be done more quickly and efficiently. The addition of November holidays and themes makes it fun for the students. The students love to guess what your BITMOJI avatar will look like each day!

You can find step by step instructions for editing and personalizing your morning greeting HERE and HERE. It’s super easy and only takes a minute or two! Just add your morning routine, change the picture if you’d like, and post for your students.

Grab these November Morning Greeting Slides and give them a try.

I think you’ll find that you can get more done in the morning, which leaves you with less to do after school! If you are a fan of these BITMOJI Morning Greeting Slides, you can use them all year long! The BUNDLE has everything you need for the entire school year.

November Books Reviews

Spark enthusiasm for book sharing among students with exciting seasonal book reviews. Encourage students to enjoy the same level of passion and discussion about books as they do about songs and movies they love.

One effective method is through November book reviews. Engage students in enjoyable book review activities that prompt them to write compelling reviews and recommend great books.

This writing activity generates excitement among students as they share the books they’ve devoured. Utilizing the guided planning page and checklist, students will easily craft a book review that encompasses a concise summary, personal opinion, thought-provoking examples, and a rating. Once the review is planned, they can swiftly transform it into a polished final version.

These book reviews also serve as an eye-catching bulletin board display! Other students can explore the reviews and, hopefully, discover their next captivating read.

Are you looking for a way students can share their favorite (or not so favorite book) all year? Grab the BUNDLE and enjoy new book reviews each month!

Veterans Day Activities

Teaching your students about Veterans Day is not just about academics. It’s about instilling values like empathy, respect, and gratitude. This comprehensive packet will help you achieve that in an educational and meaningful way. Your students will learn about the significance of Veterans Day and why we honor our veterans.

This resource is ready to use – simply print and go! It can be used leading up to Veterans Day or on the day itself. It’s the perfect way to commemorate and celebrate our veterans. Plus, it effortlessly combines reading and writing with social studies.

In this packet, students will:

• Answer text-dependent questions based on the reading passage.
• Discover fascinating facts about Veterans Day and the United States flag.
• Explore important vocabulary through engaging practice.
• Write a letter to a veteran using the provided template, which can be mailed or hand-delivered.

November Close Reading

Close Reading is one of my favorite reading activities. I love how close reading teaches students intentional steps to dig deeper into the reading passage. By using multiple readings students really comprehend the passage on a deeper level. Find out how to best use close reading passages in your classroom.

These November themed close reading activities will not only make reading fun and relevant to the season, but they will help improve reading comprehension skills, too. Your students will love reading about Veterans Day, the cornucopia, fall foliage, Black Friday, and more.

Each close reading passage is used for multiple days to help students work on a variety of reading skills. The 5 reading passages in this November Close Reading resource will fill the entire month of reading skills practice.

If you’ve never used close reading before, the busy month of November is a great time to try them out. So, use this month to have less prep and teach your students new ways to dig into reading at the same time.

Turkey Tall Tales

What’s more fun than reading tall tales? Writing them! Your students will love working on their own turkey tall tales during November. This is a favorite classroom activity year after year!

Whether you’re incorporating it into a unit on tall tales or using it as a standalone writing exercise, this November guided writing activity is the perfect tool. Your students will receive step-by-step guidance on crafting their tall tale about a turkey, using one of our exciting story starters.

No need to stress about materials – everything you need is included. From planning their ideas to editing their drafts and typing the final product, I’ve got you covered. I even provide clear instructions for formatting the final writing, allowing your students to truly create their very own TALL tale!

This might be one of my absolute favorite November activities. I love reading all the amazing and creative writing. Hang them in the hallway and share the TALL tales!

No Prep Math and Language Arts

Save time during the holiday season with these engaging NO PREP skill-based activities. These worksheets are perfect for independent work, making them an ideal choice for when you need a sick day. Simply add these Thanksgiving NO PREP Reading and Math pages to your substitute folder!

Not only are these printable activities great for math and reading centers, but they can also be used for morning work, homework, small group review, or practice after a whole class lesson.

Here are just a few of the skills your students will practice with these November No Prep activities:

• Inferencing
• Identifying main ideas and supporting details
• Correcting sentence fragments and run-ons
• Understanding synonyms and antonyms
• Rounding whole numbers
• Comparing and understanding place value
• Practicing addition, subtraction, and multiplication

What sets these activities apart is their focus on quality skills practice. So, be confident that your students are developing and reinforcing important skills while enjoying themselves.

Fall Math Mazes

Supercharge your students’ enthusiasm for math with this captivating set of 45 fall-themed math worksheets! Boost their skills while keeping them engaged! Watch as they conquer each problem in the maze and eagerly move on to the next one. Get ready for a flood of requests for more of these worksheets, as they allow for easy differentiation with various skill levels!

These activities are ideal for:

• Small groups
• Independent desk work
• Intervention groups
• Math stations
• Morning work
• Homework
• Early finishers
• Sub plans, and so much more!

And the best part?

Your students will get to practice:

• Place value number forms and number sense
• Multi-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping
• Multi-step word problems

Your students will quickly gain proficiency in solving each problem and navigating through the maze. With this resource, you’ll effortlessly tailor the activities to suit your students’ needs by selecting the specific skill they need to focus on.

No Stress November

Get ready for a stress-free November filled with awesome activities! These November activities will to keep your students engaged and loving every moment. If you’re not quite ready for November yet, just save this to your favorite classroom Pinterest board and come back when you are!