Spin the wheel Thanksgiving charades
Mostly verbs, so everybody can play
Most charades lists are nouns that are hard to mime. This one leans on actions you have seen a hundred times on a holiday: stirring the pot, falling asleep after dinner, fighting over a drumstick. Because almost everyone has done these things, even a quiet player can act them without feeling put on the spot.
A few entries are slightly harder, like a squirrel hoarding acorns or a scarecrow in the wind. If the youngest players are around five, take those out in Entries and keep the cooking and eating moves. For teens and adults, leave everything in and add one rule: no pointing at things in the room.
Every prompt is family-friendly, so grandparents and the littlest cousins can play the same round. The only cooking joke on the list is the burnt rolls, and everyone has lived through those.
What's on this wheel
- Turkey strutting
- Basting the turkey
- Mashing potatoes
- Rolling out pie dough
- Raking leaves
- Carving at the table
- Passing the gravy
- Burning the rolls
- Setting the table
- Falling asleep after dinner
- Too full to move
- Cheering for a touchdown
- Watching the parade
- Tossing a football
- Stirring a big pot
- Hiding from dish duty
- Tasting the cranberry sauce
- Pulling the wishbone
- Catching falling leaves
- Wearing a pilgrim hat
- Waiting for the pie
- Sneaking a snack
- Loosening your belt
- Opening a can of corn
- Peeling potatoes
- Whisking the gravy
- Shucking corn
- Squirrel hoarding acorns
- Scarecrow in the wind
- Picking a pumpkin
- Welcoming guests at the door
- Setting out folding chairs
- Looking for a parking spot
- Fighting over the drumstick
- Hugging a relative
- Sharing what you're thankful for
- Washing a huge pile of dishes
- Packing leftovers
- Driving through traffic
- Playing with the family dog
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How a charades round goes
- Divide the group into two sides, or play as one big circle if you have fewer than six people. The actor steps up and uses Spin to see the prompt.
- Give each actor 90 seconds. Silence is the rule: no words, no sounds, and no mouthing. Tug your ear to say "sounds like", or hold up fingers for the number of words.
- When the team guesses it, take that entry off with Remove from wheel. Keep a tally on a piece of scrap paper and call the winner when the pie comes out.
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Thanksgiving charades FAQ
What age can play?
Children from about five can act simple moves like raking leaves or tossing a football, with a helper whispering the clue. From about seven, most kids can read the prompt on the screen and act it out alone.
Is there a way to play with small kids and adults together?
Pair each child with an adult. The adult spins and whispers the prompt, then the pair acts it out together while the room guesses.
How many rounds should we play?
Aim for ten to fifteen minutes. That is roughly one prompt per player in a group of eight to ten. Stop while it is still funny.
Can I use it on a video call?
Yes. Share your screen with the wheel, or send the link from Share. One person acts on camera while the others type guesses into the chat.
Do we need a timer?
A phone timer is enough. If you want to avoid screens at the table, an egg timer or an hourglass works, and so does counting the seconds out loud.
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