How Do You Play a Thanksgiving Fortunately-Unfortunately Story Game?

Play by building one imaginary Thanksgiving story together, one sentence at a time. Each new sentence begins with “Fortunately” or “Unfortunately,” alternating between a helpful development and a small complication. A picnic blanket might blow away, then land beside the perfect picnic spot.

The pleasure comes from hearing where someone else takes the story. There are no points, winners, required funny voices, or prizes for the cleverest line in this relaxed version.

Set up a small, comfortable circle

Invite two or more willing players to sit where they can hear one another. No supplies are necessary. Offer a short round of about five minutes, with the option to finish sooner or play again.

Choose a fictional Thanksgiving setting: a pumpkin picnic, a talking apple preparing a feast, or woodland neighbors decorating a table. Give the characters a simple goal so everyone knows what they are trying to accomplish.

The seated-circle format follows the Consensus Education Foundation’s game description. The holiday settings and comfort rules here are suggested adaptations for a casual gathering.

Explain the alternating turns

Start with one neutral sentence that establishes the characters and their plan. Then follow these steps:

1. The next storyteller begins with “Fortunately” and adds something helpful.
2. The following storyteller begins with “Unfortunately” and introduces a gentle complication.
3. Continue around the group, keeping that alternating pattern.
4. Connect each sentence to something already established. Solve, complicate, or change the current situation rather than launching a separate story.

One short sentence is enough. The Beat by Beat Press teaching activity similarly asks players to create a coherent story through alternating contributions.

Anyone may say “pass,” ask for thinking time, or listen throughout. A pass does not use up a story turn: the next willing person uses the same starting word. If someone forgets the word, offer a friendly reminder and continue without restarting.

Try this original seven-turn story

Starter: Pip and Fern, two imaginary squirrels, planned a Thanksgiving picnic beside a pumpkin patch.

1. Fortunately, they found a bright blanket big enough for their picnic.
2. Unfortunately, a breeze folded one corner over their basket of rolls.
3. Fortunately, Fern lifted the corner and uncovered the basket.
4. Unfortunately, the breeze folded it over the basket again.
5. Fortunately, Pip brought four pebbles to hold the blanket’s corners down.
6. Unfortunately, the pebbles were so round that they rolled off the corners.
7. Fortunately, Fern replaced them with flat stones, and the friends settled down to share their picnic.

Notice how the same small problem carries the story forward. Nobody needs to invent a new character or a bigger disaster on every turn.

Keep the complications kind

Agree beforehand that everything happens to imaginary characters. Avoid using guests’ names, embarrassing family memories, arguments, frightening events, or personal hardships as material. Keep problems easy to change: a crooked decoration, a missing ribbon, or a pumpkin too wide for its pretend wagon.

“Unfortunately” means a small story obstacle here, not an invitation to make someone uncomfortable. If a direction bothers anyone, pause and replace that sentence or choose a new starter. Nobody owes an explanation.

Ask before offering a suggestion to someone who is thinking. The Character Council’s classroom activity includes helping a participant who struggles to find an idea.

Offer partners and an easy ending

Two people can alternate quietly as partners. Pair play also appears in CJ Fallon’s Rainbow Oral Language Programme, on printed page 31. For this gathering version, a player can also whisper an idea to a willing partner or write it for someone else to read. Nobody needs to stand or perform.

When the group wants to finish, let the next willing “Fortunately” storyteller resolve the current problem. If anyone wants to stop immediately, stop without requiring a tidy ending.

Unlike a story-card activity, this version needs no drawn prompts. Unlike word association, each turn develops the same plot; unlike fold-and-pass writing, everyone hears the earlier contributions. A few connected sentences and an optional shared ending are enough.