The month of November can feel like a whirlwind in schools. Between parent conferences, shortened schedules, holiday programs, and preparing students for a long break, staff members often find themselves running on empty. That’s why it’s the perfect time to sprinkle in some extra joy and gratitude to boost morale. Simple, intentional staff morale activities can go a long way in showing appreciation and keeping spirits high as the holidays approach. That's why I'm sharing seven fun and meaningful November staff morale activities you can use to bring laughter, connection, and a whole lot of thankfulness to your team!
Bring a little excitement to your staff lounge with this engaging and hilarious activity! Provide one or more turkeys and let staff members guess the exact weight. Use the included recording sheets, turkey cards, and ballots to keep things organized. The person with the closest guess wins the turkey.
This activity is not only festive but also flexible, too! You can give away one turkey or twenty, depending on your budget or donations. Make sure to check with local grocery stores to see if any are willing to donate turkeys. You may be surprised how many are willing to help out your school. Try this activity at your November staff meeting before Thanksgiving for a fun way to boost morale and connect.
There’s nothing sweeter than pie. . . except being reminded how much you’re appreciated! This next resource falls perfectly in line with the Thanksgiving theme and is really easy to put together. Purchase mini pies from a local bakery or grocery store and attach thoughtful tags with appreciative messages. This resource includes 4 different colorful tags with fun sayings such as, "No matter how you slice it, you’re simply the best" and "Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful to have you on staff!".
Once you've got all your pies labeled with the cute tags, deliver them on a cart, place them in staff mailboxes, or hand them out personally. It’s an affordable gesture that leaves a big impact, especially during such a busy season! Plus, who doesn't love pie?!
Ready to laugh with your staff? This November staff morale resource is just the thing! The
Turkey Name Game is a quick, low-prep way to spark laughter. To use, you will print and post the colorful game chart in a high-traffic area and print nametags for staff to fill in their silly "turkey names." They use the code on the chart to find the two words provided for the first letter of their name, as well as the month of their birth. When combined, this creates a super silly and fun turkey name to write on their tag.
It’s a lighthearted way to break up the day and create shared moments of fun. Place it by the sign-in sheet, copier, or staff lounge on the last day before Thanksgiving break, or right before your staff meeting. You’ll hear giggles all day long!
A kind and thoughtful sticky note can truly brighten someone’s day. With this resource, you’ll get 18 fall-themed designs that print right onto Post-It notes. They're so simple to use, too! Just open the template on your computer, load sticky notes into your printer by following the directions, print, and you're ready to go. No cutting required!
Once they are printed, leave them on desks, doors, or mailboxes to spread cheer and encouragement throughout the month of November. You can even mix it up with seasonal colors such as orange, yellow, brown, and green. It’s quick, easy, and powerful in showing staff that they’re valued!
My
Staff Morale BINGO is such a huge hit in schools that I knew I HAD to create a version specifically for November! With this resource, you'll be able to encourage gratitude, wellness, and self-care with a fun round of Staff BINGO. Here's how it works:
- Choose 25 tasks from the 35+ included options
- Print the colorful cards, and arrange them as a BINGO board on a wall in a high-traffic area
- Let your staff complete challenges throughout the month and sign their name to each BINGO card as they do.
- The goal is to get at least one BINGO horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
For each BINGO that a staff person gets, they will receive a raffle entry for prizes. These can be as simple as a prime parking spot, a jeans pass, or a free lunch. This is a great way to involve all the staff in your school, not just teachers, and promote positivity across the building. Just let your teachers know when the BINGO board is open, collect raffle entries, and raffle off prizes before break. This will be such a memorable activity that you will want to use it year after year!
Kids can't have all the fun at school! Get ready for laughter and a little friendly competition with this
Turkey Toss Challenge. Using hula hoops, you'll set up a few different toss stations. Inside the resource, you'll find printable Thanksgiving-themed targets to place inside. Staff members will stand behind a spot marked on the floor with painter's tape and use bean bags or stuffed turkeys to toss at the target. This is a great activity to set up in the gym, or even outside on the playground if you live in a warm area. Staff take turns tossing into targets and earning points for their team.
It’s active, silly, and guaranteed to bring people together! Finish it off with prizes for the winning team, like snacks, gift cards, or fun privileges. The best part about this activity is that you can choose the prizes to fit your budget!
The last November Staff Morale activity on this list is another active, fun game. To get started, you will print out the invitation that gives staff members the details. This activity is done every day for a week, and staff are put in teams to "hunt". On the first day of the event, hide a stuffed turkey somewhere in your school and let the hunt begin!
Staff members will search throughout the day with their team and notify the leader of the game if they spot the hidden turkey. A point is awarded to the first team that finds it, and an extra bonus is given if they find it before noon. This repeats each day, and at the end of the week, points are tallied and the highest scoring team at the end of the week wins! You can choose the type of prizes you award, but one thing is for sure: this will be a hit! It’s a fantastic way to create energy and camaraderie in the weeks before break.
Bundle and Save on November Staff Morale Activities
Loving all of these November staff morale activities? The good news is that you don't have to choose which one to use at your school!
Check out this bundle to find many of the activities mentioned here, plus one more! Here's what's included:
- Turkey Name Game
- Gratitude BINGO
- Turkey Hunt
- November Post-It Notes
- Turkey Toss
- Gratitude Jar
Have Fun Celebrating Thanksgiving with Your Team!
November is the season of gratitude, and these activities make it easy to celebrate the hardworking staff who keep your school thriving. Whether you’re gifting pies, sparking laughter with a silly turkey name, or encouraging wellness through BINGO, each small act adds up to a staff culture where people feel seen and appreciated. Take a moment this November to pause, give thanks, and spread joy. You’ll be amazed at the positive ripple effect it creates across your building!
Looking for More Staff Morale Activities?
Check out these posts next to get all set up for the months to come!
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