Thanksgiving Minute To Win It Games

Minute to Win It Essentials

There are many ways to play these Thanksgiving Minute to Win It games:
1. Single Player (One player tries to complete the task in 60 seconds.)
2. Challenge (Two or more players play against each other at the same time; fastest player wins.)
3. Beat the Record (Players take turns to play and try to beat the best timing.)
4. Team Challenge (Divide into two or more teams; each team sends one representative for each game.)
5. Stations (Set up one game at each station. Players freely move around to play whichever games they like. You may like to prepare a score card for each player and award prizes at the end.)

Whether you are playing after your Thanksgiving meal or planning a Thanksgiving gathering, Sunday School lesson or church event, have a fun and memorable Thanksgiving with these Minute to Win It games!

1 Turkey Shoot

Shoot rubber bands to knock a stack of 6 Turkey Cups completely off a table 8 feet away.

Supplies and Set-up:
Download and print the Turkey Shoot printable, cut out the turkeys, and paste them on overturned disposable cups.

On a table, arrange 6 Turkey Cups in a triangular stack (3 at the bottom, 2 in the middle and 1 on top).
Place another table about 8 feet away. Place some rubber bands on this table.
Players will stand behind this table to shoot the rubber bands.

For Younger Players:
Reduce the distance between the 2 tables.
Change the objective to simply toppling all 6 Turkey Cups.
(No need to knock them completely off the table.)

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Rapid Fire.

2 Blowing in the Wind

Blow up a balloon and release the air to blow 3 feathers* from one end of the table to the other. If any feather falls off the table, pick it up and place it back behind the starting line.

Supplies and Set-up:
Use chalk or masking tape to mark out a starting line near one end of the table, and a finishing line near the opposite end.
Place 3 feathers* behind the starting line. Place a balloon next to it.

* Instead of feathers, you can use leaves. You may like to adjust the number of feathers or leaves depending on their weight, and the size of your table. Lighter feathers get blown off the table more easily, making game more challenging.

For Younger Players:
Use fewer feathers.
Change the objective to blowing the feathers completely off the opposite edge of the table.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: This Blows.

3 Peck Away

Turkeys use their beaks to pick up food like seeds, berries, and insects from the ground. In this game, each player is given a plate of 10 candy corn* buried under whipped cream and finely crushed Oreos. Players must use only their mouths to transfer all 10 candies to another empty plate.

Supplies and Set-up:
Place 10 candy corn* in a plate. Cover with whipped cream. Sprinkle finely crushed Oreos on top of the whipped cream.
Place an empty plate next to it.

* You can also use gummy worms or any type of candy, berry or seed.

For Younger Players:
Use fewer candies.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Nose Dive.

4 Move the Cranberries

Using a straw in their mouth, players suck 4 cranberries*, 1 at a time, and place them on top of 4 flexible straws standing vertically.

Supplies and Set-up:
At least 4 cranberries*.
5 flexible straws.
Sticky Tack to hold up 4 straws.

* You can also use any small candy.

For Younger Players:
Instead of placing candies on top of the straws, simply place them in a bowl.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Suck It Up.

5 Flying Turkeys

Players must keep 3 Turkey Balloons in the air for 1 minute. They may use any part of their body, but the Turkey Balloons must not rest on their body or be held.

Supplies and Set-up:
Blow up 3 balloons.
Decorate each balloon to look like a turkey using the Flying Turkeys printable.

Download, print, cut out the pieces and paste them on the balloons. 
Alternatively, use a permanent marker to draw a turkey face and feathers on each balloon. 

For Younger Players:
Use fewer Turkey Balloons.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Defying Gravity.

6 Cranberry Racket

Holding a tennis racket between the legs, the player must move a cranberry to the exact center of the racket.

Supplies and Set-up:
Use a washable marker to mark the center of a tennis racket.
At least 1 cranberry

For Younger Players:
Mark out a bigger center area on the tennis racket.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: What a Racquet.

7 Knock Off the Turkey

Standing inside a circle, players must swing a ball of yarn to knock at least 3 Turkey Cans off the top of empty soda cans. The empty soda cans must remain standing.

Supplies and Set-up:
Download and cut up the Knock Off the Turkey can sleeve printable and paste each sleeve around an empty soda can.
You will need to prepare at least 5 of these Turkey Cans..

Use chalk or masking tape to mark out a circle in which the player must stand.
Set up 5 stacks of soda cans in a circle, about 5 feet away from the player.
Each stack consists of 1 Turkey Can on top and 1 empty soda can below.
These stacks should be placed on tables and chairs of varying heights.
A ball of yarn: leaving a 5-ft length loose, secure the remaining length in a ball such that it will not unravel during the game. (Alternatively use a tennis ball tied to one end of a string, or a yoyo.)

For Younger Players:
Knock off any 1 Turkey Can.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Knock It Off.

8 Mayflower Floatacious

In 1620, the Mayflower successfully transported the Pilgrims across the rough and stormy Atlantic Ocean from England to North America. In this game, each player must place a plastic plate on the surface of a large bowl of water, then stack 5 empty soda cans, one on top of another, on the plastic plate. The soda cans must remain standing for 3 seconds. Will the players in this game enjoy the same success as the Mayflower? Or will they get shipwrecked?

Supplies and Set-up:
Fill a large bowl or tub with water and set it on a table.
5 empty soda cans.

For Younger Players:
Use fewer soda cans.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Floatacious.

9 Feathers in the Air

Players must use only their breath to keep 2 feathers in the air for 1 minute.

Supplies and Set-up:
2 light and fluffy down feathers* for each player.

* This game does not work well with heavier feathers.

For Younger Players:
Use 1 feather instead of 2.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Keep It Up.

10 Johnny Applestack

Stack 5 apples on top of each other. The apples must remain freestanding for 3 seconds.

Supplies and Set-up:
5 apples.

For Younger Players:
Use fewer apples.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Johnny Applestack.

11 Jumping Acorns

Players jump, shake, bend, wiggle and contort their bodies to try to get all 8 acorns out of a tissue box secured to their waist.

Supplies and Set-up:
Secure the bottom of 1 empty tissue box onto 1 belt.
Place 8 acorns in the empty tissue box.
During the game, players wear the belt around the waist with the tissue box at the back, just above the hips.

For Younger Players:
Use fewer acorns.
Cut a bigger hole in the tissue box.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Junk in the Trunk.

12 Pilgrim’s Hat Fishing

A Pilgrim’s Hat is secured to the end of a fishing line. While blindfolded and using only one hand to hold the handle of the fishing rod, players must place the Pilgrim’s Hat on their heads.

Supplies and Set-up:
Blindfold
Tie a Pilgrim’s Hat to the end of a fishing line.

For Younger Players:
Use a shorter fishing rod.
Use both hands to hold the fishing rod.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Fish Head.

13 Bouncing Cranberries

Did you know that fresh, ripe cranberries are bouncy? Holding 2 cranberries in one hand, players must bounce both cranberries at the same time across the table, so that they land in 2 separate glasses simultaneously.

Supplies and Set-up:
Place 2 glasses approximately 2.5 inches apart on one end of a table.
Place a bowl of fresh, ripe, bouncy cranberries near the opposite end of the table.

For Younger Players:
Bounce each cranberry separately.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Double Trouble.

14 Cranberry Re-bounce

Players drop 1 cranberry at a time onto an angled plate so that it bounces onto another angled plate before landing in a tall glass jar between the two plates. The goal is to have 1 cranberry land inside the glass jar within 60 seconds.

Supplies and Set-up:
Place 2 low stools on the floor, about 12 inches apart.
On each stool, place 2 ping pong balls underneath a ceramic plate.
Angle the 2 ceramic plates toward each other.
Place a glass jar between the 2 stools.
A bowl of cranberries.

Variation:
Replace the cranberries with ping pong balls.
Wrap the Knock Off the Turkey can sleeve printable around the glass jar.

For Younger Players:
Replace the glass jar with a small bucket.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Re-Bounce.

15 Sticky Cranberry Situation

Players bounce 1 cranberry at a time onto a slice of bread with cranberry sauce. The goal is to have 1 cranberry sticking to the bread within 60 seconds.

Supplies and Set-up:
Spread some cranberry sauce on a slice of bread.
Place the bread on a plate on one end of a table.
Place a bowl of fresh, ripe, bouncy cranberries near the opposite end of the table.

For Younger Players:
Use a smaller and lower table.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Sticky Situation.

16 Don’t Spill the Corn

Holding a spoon in their mouths, players scoop 6 candy corn, 1 at a time, from a large bowl and place them in a smaller bowl 8 feet away.

Supplies and Set-up:
Place 2 tables about 8 feet apart.
On one table, place a large bowl of candy corn* and a spoon next it.
On the other table, place a small empty bowl.
* You can replace with any type of candy or berries.

For Younger Players:
Scoop fewer candy corn.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Spoon Feeding.

17 Indian Corn Matchmaker

Eighteen Indian corn kernels, 6 each of 3 different colors, are hidden underneath 18 overturned cups. Players must uncover 1 corn kernel at a time and place them in the matching cup 8 feet away.

Supplies and Set-up:
Place 1 table in the center of the room and 3 other tables around the center table, 8 feet away.
Place 18 corn kernels, 6 each of 3 different colors, on the table in the center. Cover each corn kernel with a paper cup.
Place 3 small bowls on the 3 surrounding tables, 1 bowl per table. Place a different colored corn kernel next to each small bowl.
* Instead of Indian corn kernels, you can replace with any type of seeds, candy, or berries.

For Younger Players:
Use fewer corn kernels.
Reduce the distance between the center table and the 3 other tables.

This game is adapted from the Minute to Win It game: Matchmaker.

Bible Lesson – Thanksgiving: Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers 

Discuss
1. Did you enjoy these Thanksgiving Minute to Win It games?
2. Which game was the most fun?
3. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Who do you usually celebrate Thanksgiving with? How do you celebrate?

Say
Thanksgiving Day is a good time for us to reflect on and give thanks for all the things that we are thankful for. (But we don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving Day to give thanks!)

Discuss
4. What is that best thing that has happened in your life that you are most thankful for?
5. What are some other smaller things in your life that you are also thankful for?

Say
Some of us may be better off than others. Some may be richer. Some healthier. Some smarter. Etc.
But whatever our life circumstances may be, there are always things that we can be thankful for.

Read
Luke 17:11-19

Discuss
6. In verse 12, how many lepers approached Jesus?
7. What did Jesus do for these lepers?
8. How many lepers did Jesus heal?
9. How many lepers thanked Jesus for what He did?

Say
Jesus performed the same miraculous healing for 10 lepers, but only 1 leper thanked Jesus and praised God for the miracle.
While most of us have never experienced a miraculous healing, all of us have received many other blessings from God.

Discuss
10. Have you encountered anyone who regularly says “thank you”, whether to the people around them or to God? Tell us about these people.
11. Have you encountered anyone who regularly complains about things? Tell us about these people.
12. Are you more like the first “thankful” group or the second “complaining” group of people? Tell us more.
13. Do you prefer to be around the first “thankful” group or the second “complaining” group of people? Tell us more.
14. Why is it good to be more like that “thankful” group?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18
15. What does this verse tell us to do?
16. Why is it important for us to give thanks in all circumstances?

Conclude
Whatever our life circumstances may be, there are things that we can be thankful for.
It is important that we have a thankful heart and regularly say “thank you” to God and to the people around us. It makes us a happier person, and it makes us more pleasant to be with. Most importantly, it makes God happy!