Thanksgiving Nature Journaling Prompts
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to come together and explore the foods, sights, traditions, and seasonal changes in nature. The season is full of details to notice, sketch, and write about, making it the perfect opportunity to record your observations in a nature journal.
To help inspire your journaling this Thanksgiving, here are some prompts to guide your exploration of the season.
The Changing Seasons
Autumn is a time of transition. Plants and animals respond to shorter days and cooler temperatures by migrating, going dormant, or gathering resources. Take a walk and look for signs of these changes. Sketch the plants and animals you observe preparing for winter.Autumn Leaves
Create leaf rubbings by placing a leaf under a page of your nature journal and gently rub a crayon or pencil over it. Capture the patterns and take time to note each leaf's unique features to help with identification.Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys are an important part of North American ecology and a classic symbol of Thanksgiving. Watch for turkeys or use a reference image to sketch one. Note their behaviors, what they eat, and how they interact with other animals. Consider their role in the ecosystem.Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a Thanksgiving staple and a traditional part of the autumn harvest. Draw a pumpkin in your journal, labeling parts like the stem, skin, and seeds.Cranberries
Cranberries grow in special wetlands called bogs. Observe photos or videos of a cranberry bog or, if possible, visit one. Sketch what you see in your journal. Consider how the bog provides a habitat for animals and insects and helps maintain the ecosystem.Tree Nuts
Many Thanksgiving dishes feature nuts, which are also vital food for wildlife. Tree nuts are seeds that can grow into new trees. On your next walk, find a nut like an acorn, walnut, or pecan. Sketch and label the tree’s life cycle beginning with the nut you found.Deer
Deer are especially active in autumn and have long been part of the harvest season and even the First Thanksgiving. As you explore, look for tracks, droppings, or rubs on trees. Draw what you find and label it.Corn
Corn has been a staple of harvest celebrations for centuries. Draw a corn cob and label parts like husk, silk, kernels, and stalk. Consider how corn connects to Thanksgiving history and autumn ecology.Autumn Sunset
Autumn skies often glow with deep reds, oranges, and purples as the sun sets earlier each day. These colors appear because sunlight bends and scatters as it passes through the atmosphere. The sun’s lower angle and cool, dry air create especially vivid sunsets. Observe a sunset and record the colors you see in your journal.
Download a FREE Printable Version of My Thanksgiving Nature Journaling Prompts!
You can download a free version of these prompts in the freebies section of my website.
Becoming a member is free and simple. Sign up to access a rotating library of seasonal nature resources including the expanded journaling pages for all prompts.
For members, there is an expanded set with full-page prompts. Each prompt has a full page to draw and space to write observations, making it easy to dive deeply into the season and capture detailed reflections.
Check out our Thanksgiving Nature Study Collection for even more activities and lessons for the season! You can also explore these Thanksgiving-themed lessons individually if you aren’t interested in purchasing the entire collection.
