Our new Thanksgiving reading comprehension game turns a short Thanksgiving story into a cozy autumn game. Kids read along with Abby the Funzy, then answer five questions by tapping the right leaf.
You know the moment: you ask “Why did the Pilgrims want to celebrate?” and a hand shoots up with a guess. A good guess, even! But the answer was right there in the story, and nobody looked back to find it.
That’s the habit this game builds. Abby reads every page and question aloud, shows how she finds a clue before the questions start, and when a child picks the wrong leaf, the storybook opens to the paragraph that holds the answer.
- A tap-only Thanksgiving reading comprehension game for 2nd grade (great for 1st grade read-alouds and 3rd grade review).
- Kids read a three-page story about Thanksgiving and the first Thanksgiving while each sentence lights up.
- Five questions: when, who, why, what, and what the whole story is mostly about.
- Made from the Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Worksheet, so you can play it, then print it.
Why kids love this Thanksgiving reading game
Reading comprehension can feel like a test. This game feels like a story time. Every right answer floats down to Abby’s Thankful Table and turns into a harvest goodie, so by the last question the table is ready for a feast.
Abby reads it all
The story, every question and every answer choice are read aloud, a little slower for young readers.
A look-back button
The green storybook button opens the story any time, with the clue paragraph glowing.
Three big leaves
One question at a time and three answer leaves, big enough for small fingers.
A Thankful Table
Corn, a pumpkin, a pie and a basket fill the table with every right answer.
Watch the Thanksgiving reading comprehension game
See the whole game, from the read-along story to the star card. Find more on the Have Fun Teaching YouTube channel.
How to play the Thanksgiving reading comprehension game
Press Play and Abby takes it from there. Each round starts with a short “Watch me!” example, then it’s the child’s turn.
Read the story
Abby reads three storybook pages about Thanksgiving, then and now. Each sentence lights up as she reads, and kids tap the arrow to turn the page.
Tap a leaf
“When does Thanksgiving take place?” Kids tap one of three autumn leaves. A wrong leaf blows away and the story opens to the clue.
Find the main idea
The last question asks what the whole story is mostly about, and the Thankful Table fills up for the feast.
The Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Game is part of the Have Fun Teaching membership. Members can open it full screen on any device. New here? Start your 3 free days and play it today.
What kids learn from the Thanksgiving reading game
The game follows the way teachers teach reading comprehension in 2nd grade: ask and answer who, what, when and why questions about a text, and find its main idea (RI.2.1 and RI.2.2).
Look back in the story
A wrong leaf opens the storybook to the clue paragraph, so kids learn to look back instead of guessing.
Question words
Abby circles WHEN, WHO, WHY and WHAT, and each hint names the kind of clue to look for.
Right there answers
Questions 1 to 4 have answers right there in the story, the first step in Question-Answer Relationships.
The main idea
Question 5 asks what the WHOLE story is mostly about, not one small part.
A think-aloud model
Before the questions, Abby shows how she finds a clue herself: “Watch me! Now it’s your turn.”
Reading along
Each sentence lights up as Abby reads, so kids can follow every word at a calm pace.
Teacher tip: play it, then print it
Play the game on the whiteboard as a class, then hand out the Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Worksheet with the same story and questions. After each answer, ask kids to point to the sentence that proves it. Check off each step as your class finishes it:
More Thanksgiving reading comprehension resources
Keep the practice going with printables for the same reading skills, plus a few Thanksgiving favorites.
Reading · WorksheetThanksgiving Reading Comprehension WorksheetThe worksheet behind the game: the same story and five questions.
Reading · Micro LessonIdentifying Cause and Effect Micro LessonLexy teaches kids to find the cause and the effect, step by step, then a 5-question quiz. Scores go to HFT Classroom.
Reading · WorksheetMain Idea WorksheetRead short passages and pick what each one is mostly about.
Reading · OrganizerMain Idea and Details OrganizerWrite the main idea, then the details that support it.
Reading · ActivityMain Idea and Details ActivitySort the main idea from the small details, hands on.
Thanksgiving · WorksheetThanksgiving True or False WorksheetDecide which Thanksgiving facts are true and which are false.
Thanksgiving · WritingThanksgiving Dinner Writing PaperA festive page for writing what you’re thankful for.
Thanksgiving · WritingThanksgiving Shape Writing BookletA shape booklet for a Thanksgiving story of their own.
Explore more resources
Get every game with a membership
Reading practice, ready for the whole year
Members play the Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Game and every other Have Fun Teaching game, and download the reading printables, songs and videos that go with it.
- Every Have Fun Teaching game, including the Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Game
- Every printable, song and video, Preschool–6th
- Unlimited downloads, new resources added daily
- Use it with your class or your kids at home
Thanksgiving reading comprehension game FAQ
What is the Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Game?
The Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Game is an online reading game for kids from Have Fun Teaching. Abby the Funzy reads a short Thanksgiving story aloud while each sentence lights up. Then kids answer five questions by tapping the right autumn leaf, and every right answer adds a harvest goodie to her Thankful Table.
What grade is the Thanksgiving reading game for?
It is made for 2nd grade and works well for 1st grade read-alongs and 3rd grade review. The story, questions and answer choices are all read aloud and captioned, so kids can play on their own.
How does the game teach reading comprehension?
It teaches kids to look back in the story. Abby models finding a clue before the questions start. When a child picks the wrong leaf, the storybook opens to the paragraph with the clue. The last question asks what the whole story is mostly about, which is the main idea.
Can kids play it on a tablet or phone?
Yes. The game runs in the browser on computers, tablets, phones, Chromebooks and interactive whiteboards. There is nothing to install, and it plays well on a classroom whiteboard.
Is there a printable version?
Yes. The game is built from the Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Worksheet, so kids can play the game and then read the same story and answer the same five questions on paper.
Ready to look back and find the clue with Abby?
Press Play and let your kids read the story, find each clue and fill the Thankful Table themselves.
Works on computers, tablets, phones and interactive whiteboards.
