Turkey feathers, golden corn, and a slice of pumpkin pie! I’ve refreshed my Thanksgiving pegboard patterns with 20 pictures for little hands to build, match, and explore.
Children use the picture mats to arrange colored pegs on a board, watching each design come together as they work. You can also bring out pom poms, play dough, buttons, or counters to use the same pictures in different ways.
Here’s a closer look at the activities and a few ideas for adding them to your November fine motor centers.
Picture designs include: Acorn • Autumn tree • Cider • Corn • Cornucopia • Football • Harvest basket • Maple leaf • Mayflower • Pear • Pilgrim boy • Pilgrim girl • Pilgrim hat • Pumpkin • Pumpkin pie • Roast turkey • Scarecrow • Turkey—2 designs • Wishbone
FREE Thanksgiving Pegboard Download
Try the activity with your kiddos using the free Thanksgiving sample below.
Start with one picture and a small selection of matching materials. Spend a few moments looking at the design together before children begin. Which colors can they see? Which part would they like to make first?
A Colorful Turkey to Build
The turkey brings plenty of Thanksgiving color to the activity table! Its red, orange, and yellow feathers surround a brown body, giving children several sections to notice and copy.
I would introduce the picture by choosing one small part to build together. Children might begin with the brown body or find the orange pegs for the feet, then continue with the feathers.
As they work, encourage them to look back at the mat. Matching the colors is one part of the task; finding the correct position for each peg is another.
Corn and Pumpkin Pie Pegboard Pictures
The corn and pumpkin pie pictures make a lovely pair for a Thanksgiving activity tray.
For the corn, children can look for the yellow center and the green leaves around it. Offer the colors shown on the mat, or choose a consistent substitute if your peg collection does not have every shade.
The pumpkin pie has several recognizable parts to build: the brown crust, orange filling, white topping, and blue plate. Children can work through these sections individually, comparing their board with the picture as they go.
There is no need to complete every picture in one sitting. A few carefully copied rows can be a useful starting point.
Preparing the Thanksgiving Pegboard Activity
You will need:
- Printed Thanksgiving picture mats
- A square pegboard with at least 10 rows and 10 columns
- Colored pegs that fit the board
- A shallow tray or container for the pegs
Print the mats on US Letter paper and laminate them if you would like to reuse them. Place a picture beside the pegboard and spread the pegs in a tray where children can see the available colors.
Children copy the large circles onto their boards. The small black dots show spaces to leave empty.
Large black circles need black pegs. Large outlined white circles need white pegs, so these spaces are part of the picture too.
For children who need a little help getting started, gather the required colors together and model a short row. Once they understand the routine, encourage them to choose and place the next few pegs themselves.
Mayflower and Pilgrim Hat Pictures
The Mayflower and Pilgrim hat offer another opportunity to notice how smaller sections combine to make a complete picture.
Children can find the Mayflower’s brown hull and masts, white sails, and blue water. For the Pilgrim hat, they can identify the black crown and brim, then add the white band and yellow detail.
These designs are useful for showing why the large white circles should be filled. An empty space on the board would change the finished picture.
Cornucopia Pom Pom Activity
The cornucopia mat gives children a different way to explore the pattern without using a pegboard.
Set out a bowl of pom poms in colors that match the picture. Children pick up one at a time and place it over a large circle. They can use their fingers or try chunky tweezers for an additional challenge.
The curved basket and colorful food give children several places to begin. Invite them to choose a small section, find its colors, and cover the circles carefully.
Keep the tiny black dots visible so the outline of the picture stays clear.
Pilgrim Hat Play Dough Activity
For this version, set out black, white, and yellow play dough with the Pilgrim hat mat.
Children pinch off small pieces, roll them between their hands, and gently press the balls onto the matching circles. The white band and yellow detail provide a small section to complete before moving on to the larger black areas.
I like that the materials can change while the picture and matching routine stay familiar. A design children have already made with pegs can become a new invitation when you bring out the dough.
Use a laminated mat or reusable pocket so the dough can be removed afterward.
More Ways to Use the Picture Mats
You can adapt the activity using materials you already have:
- Buttons or mini counters: Place a matching piece over each large circle.
- Mini erasers: Cover the picture with small erasers that fit within the circles.
- Round stickers: Peel and stick matching colors onto a paper copy.
- Tissue paper: Scrunch small pieces into balls and glue them onto the design.
Use laminated mats for materials children will remove afterward. Plain paper copies work well for stickers and glued pictures.
The Pegboards and Pegs I Use
The clear mats shown in my photos have a 10-by-10 grid of connected rings. Small connectors join the rings together, leaving open spaces between them. The colored pegs fit into the circular openings.
If you’re looking for this type of activity, the following links are a useful starting point:
- Australia: Reusable Mosaic Set — OSHC Craft Kits
- Canada: Plastic Mosaic Puzzle — Walmart
- United States: Snap Button Peg Board Toy — Curious Minds Busy Bags
The Curious Minds board is a similar snap-peg option. Choose the large board for these patterns. Its listed set includes 10 pegs in each of 10 colors, so you may need extra pegs to complete pictures that use many pieces of one color.
Check the board dimensions, grid, peg colors, and quantities before ordering, as kits and availability can vary.
Does the Printed Picture Need to Fit Under the Board?
When children copy from a picture placed beside the board, the printed grid does not need to match the board’s physical size.
If you would like children to build directly over the picture using a clear board, print one page at 100% first and check that the holes line up with the grid. Adjust the print scale if needed before printing and laminating the remaining pages.
A Simple November Fine Motor Center
Choose a few mats and keep them with the materials in a tray or morning tub. Children can return to a familiar picture, try a new design, or use a different material.
As children build, there are plenty of opportunities for conversation:
- “Which part are you working on?”
- “How many yellow pegs are in that row?”
- “Where does the next white peg belong?”
- “What could you check against the picture?”
Alongside careful finger movements, children practice comparing colors, noticing positions, counting, and checking their work.
Get the Complete Thanksgiving Pegboard Patterns Packet
The complete packet includes 20 Thanksgiving and fall picture mats, including two turkey designs, corn, cornucopia, pumpkin pie, Mayflower, Pilgrim hat, pumpkin, harvest basket, football, and more.
Each mat has a 10 × 10 picture pattern, simple directions, and a word label. Teacher directions explain preparation and alternative materials, and the Boards & Pegs guide helps you choose supplies.
Use the mats for preschool and kindergarten fine motor centers, morning tubs, small groups, or a quiet activity at home.
Happy Teaching! 😊
You Might Also Like
