The Best Middle School Thanksgiving ELA Activity You’ve Never Tried
Suppose you're searching for meaningful Middle School Thanksgiving ELA activities that keep students learning and tap into the spirit of the season. In that case, there’s one short story that always delivers: “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” by O. Henry.
It’s a text packed with irony, social-class themes, character motivation, vocabulary, and discussion-worthy moments — making it ideal for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA.
I’ve used this story for nearly 20 years, and every time, students are hooked by the twist ending and the unexpected mix of humor and heart. It’s the perfect bridge between fall content and holiday break — high engagement, real literary depth, and lots of opportunities for writing and speaking.
Why “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” Is the Perfect Thanksgiving Short Story for Middle School
At first glance, it looks like a simple seasonal story: an older gentleman treats a poor man named Stuffy Pete to Thanksgiving dinner every year. But this year, something has changed.
Before meeting the Old Gentleman, Stuffy Pete is unexpectedly invited into a wealthy home for a complete Thanksgiving feast. He eats — a lot — and then must eat a second feast to keep up the yearly tradition. The twist? The Old Gentleman hasn’t eaten in days, but insists on feeding someone else first.
Students immediately notice:
- irony and role reversal
- social commentary on charity and class
- The unexpected ending they didn’t see coming
That’s what makes it such a strong text for discussion-based learning, text evidence, and writing with purpose.
How I Break the Story Into an Accessible, Standards-Aligned 2-Week Unit
To make this text approachable for mixed-level classes, I break the story into four manageable chunks. Each chunk follows a predictable, scaffolded routine:
✅ Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Introduce vocabulary with a foldable or interactive notes page
- Read the text chunk (whole group, partner read, or read-aloud)
- Track understanding on a story events organizer
- Apply skills with activities on:
- character traits
- point of view
- irony
- summarizing
This structure lets all students access the story — from struggling readers to advanced learners — while still hitting grade-level standards.
.png "Hook your middle schoolers before Thanksgiving break with this scaffolded reading activity for “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” by O. Henry! The unit includes chunked text, a vocabulary foldable, and a reading comprehension organizer that makes the story accessible for grades 6–8. Perfect for standards-aligned Thanksgiving ELA activities that still feel fun and seasonal. ➡️ Save this pin to your November lesson plans!")
A Closer Look at the Irony Lesson
Once we finish the whole story, we pause to focus on types of irony.
Students:
- build a foldable to review dramatic, situational, and verbal irony
- play a short practice game
- identify irony examples from the story
This is often where the “lightbulb moments” happen.
They finally understand irony because they see it in context — not isolated on a worksheet.
.png "Teaching irony this November? This ready-to-use Thanksgiving ELA lesson helps students understand situational, verbal, and dramatic irony using “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen.” Includes an irony foldable, practice activity, and writing extension for middle school. Ideal for grades 6–8 and pairs with any version of the story. ➡️ Pin now and teach later!")
Socratic Seminar: Turning Discussion Into Writing
To help students prepare for a final writing task, we end with a Socratic Seminar using higher-level questions like:
- What does O. Henry suggest about charity and generosity?
- Who is truly “rich” in the story?
- Is Thanksgiving shown as a celebration of gratitude, indulgence, or tradition?
Students must:
✅ use text evidence
✅ respond to their peers
✅ write down ideas that stand out
By the time we transition to an academic paragraph or essay, the prewriting is already done through collaboration. No more staring at blank paper.
Why My Students Love This Story Every Year
Not only is it seasonal and relevant, but students enjoy:
- the humor and exaggeration
- the unusual characters
- the twist ending
- the freedom to discuss real-life Thanksgiving perspectives
More than anything, this story lets them feel the season while still learning, which keeps the weeks before break productive without feeling like busywork.
Want to Try This With Your Students?
I’ve already broken the story into chunks and built all the vocabulary, organizers, worksheets, Socratic Seminar questions, and writing supports for you — in both printable and digital formats.
Want a Free Resource?
Try this Free Pre-reading Activity for Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen that you can use even if you’re not teaching the whole story. Click here to get it, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
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