5 Fun November Staff Morale Activities to Show Your Team You’re Grateful

November is one of those months that feels like it's over before it started. Teachers are rushing to squeeze in valuable learning before break; custodial and cafeteria staff are working hard to keep everyone healthy and fed; support staff are juggling extra behavioral excitement; and everyone looks like they could use about three more hours of sleep. The Thanksgiving break is getting closer, but there are still plenty of school days to get through before everyone gets a chance to slow down. That's when a little dose of November staff morale fun can make all the difference!

I've rounded up five simple November staff morale activities that don't require a huge budget, hours of preparation, or another complicated event on your calendar. Because sometimes the little things mean the most! 

November Is the Perfect Time to Show Some Appreciation

By November, you've had plenty of time to see just how much your staff does every single day. You've watched teachers stay late to prepare lessons, seen your office staff handle one thing after another, and probably noticed countless little acts of kindness happening throughout your building.

November gives you a great opportunity to pause and say, “I see you, and I appreciate you.” And you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to do it! 

A quick surprise in a mailbox, a little friendly competition, or a treat delivered during a busy afternoon can give your staff something to smile about. Even better, these ideas are simple enough to actually fit into your November schedule.

Let's take a look!

1. Surprise Staff With November Scratch-Off Tickets

Everyone loves a little surprise, especially when that surprise comes with a prize! November Scratch-Off Tickets are an easy way to give your staff a little pick-me-up during those busy weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

You can hand them out at a staff meeting, tuck them into mailboxes, or use them as an unexpected reward when you notice someone going above and beyond.

These November Scratch Offs include eight different pre-programmed tickets with prizes such as:

• A jeans pass
• Prime parking for a week
• A special treat
• Copies made for the week
• 30-minute class coverage
• Lunch provided
• A book of their choice

There are also blank tickets included, so you can write in prizes that make sense for your particular school. This is one of those activities where you can make it as simple as you need it to be. Print the tickets on cardstock, add your scratch-off stickers or scratch-off paint, and you're ready to go.

Sometimes it's the unexpected “You've won!” that makes someone's whole day.

2. Start a Friendly Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge

Want to get your staff laughing and interacting without adding another event to the school calendar? Try a school-wide game of Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge!

This is such a fun November staff morale activity because it can happen throughout the day. Your staff doesn't have to stop everything and gather in one place.

Everyone starts the day wearing a necklace. Then, whenever two staff members cross paths, they can challenge each other to a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The winner gets to take the loser's necklace.

You can keep the rules simple, or make things a little more competitive by allowing the winner to take all of the loser's necklaces. At the end of the day, whoever has collected the most necklaces wins.

My November Rock Paper Scissors resource gives you everything you need to organize the activity, including a reminder flyer, directions and rules, necklace holders, and certificates for your first-, second-, and third-place winners.

You'll just need some inexpensive necklaces and prizes for your winners. It's quick, it's silly, and it gives everyone a reason to stop and have a little fun.

3. Give Everyone a Mini Pie

If there's one thing November does really well, it's giving us an excuse to eat pie! A mini pie makes a simple and thoughtful Thanksgiving staff appreciation gift. You can pick them up from a local grocery store or bakery, add a cute gift tag, and you're ready to make your staff feel appreciated.

The Mini Pies & Gift Tags resource includes four colorful Thanksgiving and November designs with messages such as “Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful to have you on staff!” and “No matter how you slice it...you are simply the best.”

You can place the pies in staff mailboxes or set them out in the staff lounge. If you have a little extra time, I recommend delivering them yourself. Imagine walking into someone's classroom with a mini pie and saying, “I just wanted you to know how thankful I am for everything you do.”

That takes about 30 seconds, but it's the kind of moment people remember!

Don't feel like you need to spend a fortune on this idea. Shop around for individually packaged mini pies, buy in bulk, or ask your local bakery if they offer a school discount.

It's simple, seasonal, and guaranteed to make a busy November day a little sweeter.

4. Let Staff Guess How Much a Turkey Weighs

Ready for a staff morale activity that gets everyone talking? Bring in a turkey and let your staff guess how much it weighs! This is such a fun Thanksgiving activity because everyone gets to participate, and you can adjust it to fit your budget.

You might purchase one turkey for your entire staff to guess, or you could provide several turkeys if your budget allows. You could even reach out to a local grocery store to see if they're willing to donate a turkey or two.

Before you get started, label each turkey with a number, remove the price tag, and record the actual weight. Then give staff members a ballot and let them submit their best guess.

My How Much Does the Turkey Weigh? resource includes turkey cards, ballots, and recording sheets to make the whole process easy to organize.

Set the turkeys up somewhere staff members will see them and give everyone a deadline for submitting their guesses. Once everyone has made their estimate, compare the guesses with the actual weights and announce your winner. The person with the closest guess gets to take the turkey home for Thanksgiving!

You can even make this a little event in the staff lounge. Put out the turkeys, some coffee, and maybe a few Thanksgiving treats while everyone makes their guesses. It's a simple activity, but it gives your staff something fun to talk about during an otherwise ordinary school day.

5. Create a Thanksgiving Turkey Full of Prizes

Want an activity that lasts throughout the month instead of just one day? Create a turkey display where your staff can “pluck” feathers to reveal prizes! This is one of my favorite activities!

This November Staff Prizes Turkey Bulletin Board gives you an easy way to create a fun Thanksgiving display for your staff lounge, office, or another area where staff members will see it.

The resource includes the turkey pieces, several gratitude messages, and 12 prize coupons.

You get to decide how staff members earn the opportunity to choose a feather. Maybe someone gets to pick one after going above and beyond. Maybe you draw a name during a staff meeting. Maybe you recognize someone who helped a colleague or handled a particularly challenging situation. Or maybe you simply choose someone at random and say, “You've been working so hard. Pick a feather!”

The prizes can be completely customized to your school and your budget. You might offer a jeans pass, a special treat, extra planning time, a duty-free lunch, or gift cards if you have room in your budget.

I especially love this idea because it keeps the appreciation going throughout November. Every time someone chooses a feather, you have another opportunity to tell a staff member that their hard work has been noticed.

Staff Morale Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

If there's one thing I hope you take away from these November staff morale activities, it's that appreciation doesn't have to be complicated. You don't need to plan a huge Thanksgiving luncheon or to spend hundreds of dollars. And you definitely don't need to add another stressful event to your already packed November calendar.

Instead, stick with little things that really do remind staff how grateful you are for them. A scratch-off ticket in someone's mailbox, or a mini pie waiting in the staff lounge. Even five minutes of laughter over a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors can go a long way. 

Those little moments can remind your staff that they're more than the endless list of things they have to accomplish each day. They're valued members of your school community, and their hard work matters.

So pick one idea that works for your staff and give it a try this November!

Looking for More November Staff Morale Activities? 

I've got another great post with even more November Staff Morale Activities right here. You'll find tons of fun ideas to celebrate Thanksgiving with your staff, so be sure to take a peek before you plan your month!

Want Even More Easy Staff Morale Ideas?

If you love the idea of having simple staff appreciation activities ready to go throughout the school year, you'll definitely want to check out the Ultimate Staff Morale Bundle.

Instead of having to come up with a new idea every time you want to surprise your staff, you'll have a whole collection of ready-to-use morale boosters, games, appreciation activities, and fun surprises at your fingertips.

It's the perfect resource to keep on hand for those weeks when you can tell your staff needs a little something extra. Plus, this is a growing bundle, so purchasing now will allow you to have all available resources and anything new in the future for a great price!

Check out the Ultimate Staff Morale Bundle and make it easier to celebrate, encourage, and appreciate your amazing staff all year long!

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