Thanksgiving Dance Games and National Native American Heritage Month Ideas

November. A chaotic high-energy season for any dance studio, especially for those preparing for winter productions like The Nutcracker.  In the midst of perfecting choreography, it’s also the perfect time to take a moment to focus on gratitude and building community in your studio.

This month is also National Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the traditions and stories that bring movement and culture to life. Dance has always been a powerful way to share stories, and Native American culture beautifully reflects how rhythm and storytelling can come together to express identity, history, and connection. So, while you take a moment to focus on family and friends this season, it's also a great opportunity to take a moment and acknowledge a culture that's rooted in movement and shared storytelling.

This remainder of this blog provides you with many classroom resources, Thanksgiving dance games, themed playlists, and storybook ideas to help freshen up your November lessons with a focus on meaning and creativity.

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

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Thanksgiving/Autumn Dance Activities and Games

Try adding in one of these themed movement-based activities to encourage creativity and collaboration:

1) The Turkey Strut - Invite students to explore how a turkey moves while playing festive music. Ask them to strut, flap, turn, and freeze to the rhythm of upbeat music. Encourage the use of different levels and speeds to explore movement qualities.

*This is a great option for those learning to walk en pointe!*

2) Toss the Turkey - A fun target style activity that can be done in a group or individually. Students toss a rubber chicken (or stuffed turkey) onto a target (or in a bucket or hula hoop) to earn points. For added difficulty have them toss the object at the end of a turn or mid leap!

3) Gratitude Circle Dance - Form a circle and have each dancer express something they’re thankful for through a single movement. The group continues sharing around the circle repeating previous movements before adding on the next. Ultimately this will create a long, flowing gratitude dance.

For additional Thanksgiving-themed dance games, check out our shop:

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Thanksgiving Activities/Games

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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month Through Story

These are some of my favorite storybooks that highlight Native voices and can help young dancers understand rhythm, tradition, and storytelling through motion.

1) Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child – A joyful story about attending a powwow that celebrates community and rhythm.

2) Dancing with the Indians by Angela Shelf Medearis – Highlights gentle versus strong percussive beats, perfect for exploring contrasting dynamics in class.

3) Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith – Follows a young girl preparing for the jingle dance, emphasizing rhythm and cultural pride.

4) POW WOW: Niimiwin – Everyone Dance by Leah Savage – Introduces Ojibwe culture and powwows through colorful illustrations and a sense of belonging.

Looking for more storybooks? Here's the link to our children's dance picture book list.

Music

In need of musical inspiration with a theme of thankfulness and gratitude?

Check out our Thanksgiving playlists on Spotify and YouTube. These lists provide options for all ages and are school-appropriate.

Remember, by blending literature, movement, and gratitude, you create lessons that remind dancers of the beauty of expression and connection through dance. It's a season not only of thankfulness, but of creative reflection, shared rhythm, and community.