Welcome (5–10 minutes)
Set out:
As kids arrive, say simple lines:
- Free play: toy food (fruit, vegetables, bread, turkey), animals, family figures around a “table.”
- Table: coloring page of a family thanking God at a meal or a cornucopia with “Thank You God” and crayons.
As kids arrive, say simple lines:
- “Today we will have a special Thanksgiving lesson.”
- “Thanksgiving is a time to say ‘Thank You’ to God for His good gifts.”
- “The Bible says, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.’”
Opening Prayer (echo prayer)
Children repeat after you:
“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Songs (5–10 minutes)
Song 1 – B-I-B-L-E
Song 2 – My God Is So Big
Song 3 – “If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
“If you’re thankful and you know it, say ‘Thank You!’ (Thank You!)
If you’re thankful and you know it, say ‘Thank You!’ (Thank You!)
If you’re thankful and you know it,
Then your heart will surely show it,
If you’re thankful and you know it, say ‘Thank You!’ (Thank You!)”
- Bible hands, hug the “book,” step on “I stand alone.”
Song 2 – My God Is So Big
Song 3 – “If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
“If you’re thankful and you know it, say ‘Thank You!’ (Thank You!)
If you’re thankful and you know it, say ‘Thank You!’ (Thank You!)
If you’re thankful and you know it,
Then your heart will surely show it,
If you’re thankful and you know it, say ‘Thank You!’ (Thank You!)”
Lesson
Sit kids in a circle. Have: a Bible, some toy food, house, family figures, maybe a maple leaf to nod to Canada.
a) The Bible tells us to give thanks
Hold up the Bible.
b) What has God given us?
Place toy food, house, and family figures in the middle.
d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:
Motions:
Point up on “God,” thumbs up on “good.”
Point to self on “I can,” fold hands and look up on “thank God.”
Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.
a) The Bible tells us to give thanks
Hold up the Bible.
- “The Bible tells us, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.’ God is good and gives us many gifts.”
- “Thanksgiving is a time when we stop and say ‘Thank You’ to God for all the good things He gives us.”
b) What has God given us?
Place toy food, house, and family figures in the middle.
- “God gives us food to eat, homes to live in, families and friends to love us, and a beautiful world to enjoy.”
- “All these good things come from God. When we say ‘Thank You, God,’ we are worshiping Him.”
d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:
- “God is good. I can thank God.”
Motions:
Point up on “God,” thumbs up on “good.”
Point to self on “I can,” fold hands and look up on “thank God.”
Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.
c) Jesus connection (Jesus is God’s greatest gift)
Hold a cross or picture of Jesus.
Hold a cross or picture of Jesus.
- “The Bible also shows us the greatest gift God has given: His Son, Jesus. Jesus came to earth, loved people, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven and be God’s children.”
- “At Thanksgiving, we thank God for food and homes—but most of all we can say, ‘Thank You, God, for Jesus.’”
Craft –“Thank You, God” Thanksgiving Placemat
Goal:
A simple placemat or picture filled with things the child is thankful for, with a short verse.
Steps
Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
Have children hold up their papers and say:
A simple placemat or picture filled with things the child is thankful for, with a short verse.
Steps
- Give each child a large sheet with the words already written.
- Invite them to “fill the page” with drawings of things they are thankful for: family, food, toys, church, Jesus, nature, etc.
- Option: glue on leaf shapes or food pictures around the edges like a border.
- Encourage: “You can use this as a Thanksgiving placemat at home and tell your family about what you drew.”
Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
- “You are drawing all the things you are thankful for. Every good gift comes from God. He is good and He loves you. When you look at this placemat, you can remember to say, ‘Thank You, God! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.’”
Have children hold up their papers and say:
- “God is good. I can thank God.”
Supplies
- Large paper (placemat-sized) or cardstock.
- Pre-printed at the top: “Thank You, God!”
- At the bottom: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” (Psalm 107:1, shortened preschool wording).
- Crayons/markers.
- Optional: leaf shapes, food shapes, stickers.
Pierre's Activity Box
Find more hands-on activities (PDF format) from Pierre to help children learn and live God’s Word.