Free Printable Left Right Thanksgiving Game Guide – A free printable left right Thanksgiving game is one of the easiest ways to get kids, grandparents, and Friendsgiving guests laughing at the same table. You print a short story, sit in a circle, and pass a prize every time you hear “left” or “right.” Whoever is holding the item when the story ends wins.
This page explains how the game works, what to print, and where to find legitimate free printables in the United States. No paid listings are presented as free.
What Is the Left Right Thanksgiving Game?
The left right Thanksgiving game is a pass-the-prize story game. A narrator reads a Thanksgiving-themed tale packed with the words “left” and “right.” Players pass a gift, treat, or small pumpkin in that direction. Mix-ups are part of the fun.
Families use it as a Thanksgiving icebreaker, a classroom party activity before break, or a low-prep Friendsgiving game after dinner. It works around a dining table or in a living-room circle and usually lasts only a few minutes.
You may also see it called a right left Thanksgiving game, a pass-the-prize Thanksgiving game, or a Thanksgiving passing game.
How to Play?
- Print the story on standard U.S. Letter paper (8.5″ x 11″).
- Seat four or more people in a circle. Split a large group into two circles.
- Hand one prize to one player in each circle. For a gift-exchange version, give every player a wrapped item.
- Read the story aloud. Stress every “left” and “right.”
- Pass left when you hear “left.” Pass right when you hear “right.”
- The person holding the prize at the last word keeps it.
Host tip: Read a little slower than normal. Fast clusters of “left, right, left” are what make the game funny.
What You Need?
- A free printable left right Thanksgiving story
- A circle of players (kids and adults can play together)
- One easy-to-hold prize per circle, or one small wrapped gift per person
- A narrator with a clear voice
You do not need a board, dice, or special supplies. A dollar-store treat works as well as a wrapped gift.
Easy prize ideas
- Mini pumpkin or chocolate turkey
- Candy corn, caramel corn, or a Thanksgiving cookie
- Turkey headband, silly glasses, or festive socks
- $1–$5 gift card, lottery scratch-off, or a few dollar bills
- Classroom option: stickers, pencils, or extra recess “coupons”
For a White Elephant-style round, ask guests to bring a wrapped item under $10.
Free Printable Left Right Thanksgiving Game Guide
Where to Get a Free Printable?
These pages currently offer a free Thanksgiving left-right story or a free downloadable file. Some ask for an email so they can send the PDF. Others let you save an image or download from Teachers Pay Teachers at $0.00. Check each page’s personal-use terms before you print extra classroom copies.
1. “A Turkey Tale” printable (updated for recent holiday seasons)
Healthy Happy Impactful’s free Thanksgiving Left Right game includes a festive story plus play instructions. Scroll to the download section at the bottom of the post. You may need to enter an email to receive the PDF link. The page is aimed at family gatherings, classrooms, and Friendsgiving.
2. Original story you can save from the page
My Party Games’ free printable Thanksgiving Left Right Game is an original funny story. On a phone or tablet, tap the thumbnail to open a larger image you can save and print. No email is required on the page as written. It works well when every guest brings a small packed treat.
3. Full story on the page, plus a printable copy
Diva Girl Parties and Stuff’s Right Left Thanksgiving Game posts the story on the page, so you can play immediately if the printer is busy. A form on the same page offers a printable copy for personal use. The publisher asks that you do not republish the story.
4. Free classroom-style PDF on Teachers Pay Teachers
Little HaloJ’s “Turkey Escape” Left Right game on Teachers Pay Teachers is listed at $0.00 as an instant PDF download. Teachers often use it the day before Thanksgiving break. A free TPT account is typically required to download.
Print on regular copy paper. Card stock holds up better if several classes will reuse the same sheet.
Tips for Family Dinner, Friendsgiving, and Class
At the Thanksgiving table. Start after pie, or play while the turkey rests. Use one prize so conversation can continue. If toddlers are in the circle, let an adult help them pass.
Friendsgiving. Run two prizes at once so more people “win.” Keep stories short so the game stays an icebreaker, not the whole evening.
Classroom or church group. Preview the story for age and tone. Some versions are silly kitchen chaos; others lean faith-based. For a large class, use several small prizes instead of one big gift.
Accessibility. Face players inward so everyone can hear. Highlight LEFT and RIGHT on the printout for a substitute reader. If passing is hard, tap the next person on that side instead of handing an object.
Common mix-up. Players sometimes pass from their own left/right instead of the holder’s left/right. Agree before you start: “Pass to your left when you hear left.”
Brief FAQ
Is the left right Thanksgiving game only for kids?
No. Adults enjoy the scramble, especially when the story stacks several “lefts” in a row. Mixed-age groups work well.
How many people do I need?
Four is a comfortable minimum. Eight to twelve is ideal. Bigger groups should split into two circles.
Can I play without a prize?
Yes. Pass a dinner roll, a napkin ring, or a wooden spoon. The last person holding it can choose the first slice of pie, the wishbone, or who does not have to help with dishes.
Do I have to print in color?
No. Black-and-white reads fine. Color is only for decoration.
Are these printables free to resell?
No. The sources above are for personal or single-classroom use unless the seller says otherwise. Do not upload someone else’s story to your own site.
Quick recap
Print a Thanksgiving left-right story, sit in a circle, and pass on every “left” and “right.” Start with the current free download at Healthy Happy Impactful if you want a ready PDF, or use the on-page story at Diva Girl Parties and Stuff if you need to play right now. Keep prizes small, read slowly, and let the last person holding the item keep it.
That is the whole game: one printed page, a few minutes, and a room that is actually talking to each other before the football game starts.