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US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches. Print at 100% for craft pieces; use Fit to page if your printer clips the margins. An adult should help with scissors and fitting wearable crafts.
The letters in THANKSGIVING hide many smaller words. This worksheet turns the holiday word into a flexible spelling challenge for individuals, partners, or a whole table. Players build words using only the available letters, then sort their discoveries by length. There is room for both quick three-letter words and longer finds that take a little experimenting.
What to make
Set the rules before beginning. In this version, a word must have at least three letters, proper names do not count, and a letter may appear only as often as it appears in THANKSGIVING. That means G, I, and N can each be used twice, while the other letters appear once. Agree on a dictionary if players want to check unfamiliar words.
How to use this printable
- Write THANKSGIVING across the top of a scrap sheet and count the repeated letters before trying to make any words.
- Start with three-letter words, then rearrange the same letters to look for a four-letter or five-letter word.
- Record each word in the correct length group, checking that no letter has been used more times than allowed.
- Share discoveries with a partner and explain one new word, using a dictionary when the group is unsure.
Make the activity your own
For younger players, use letter tiles so the available letters can be moved physically. For a competitive round, award one point per valid word and an extra point for words of six letters or more. For a cooperative round, build one shared list and celebrate when the group finds a word nobody had noticed. Do not count spelling variants twice unless the group has agreed to allow them.
Questions before you begin
Can I use the letter I twice?
Yes. THANKSGIVING contains two I letters, two G letters, and two N letters. Other letters in the word appear once.
Is the sample list every possible answer?
No. It is a starter list to demonstrate valid words. A dictionary may reveal additional words under your chosen rules.