Thanksgiving Sunday School Lesson Plan
Ideas for Preschool Bible Planning for the Holiday
Oct 30, 2008
Teaching children to be thankful is a fun and rewarding thing to do. There is no better time to do a Bible lesson on thankfulness than at Thanksgiving. Use the ideas presented below to help plan your Thanksgiving Sunday school lesson. You can also find great ideas for a Thanksgiving party at Preschool Sunday School Central.
Bible Scripture
Every Sunday school lesson plan should be based on scripture verse, but when it comes to being thankful there are a lot to choose from. The most common verse used for Thanksgiving lesson plans is Psalm 107:1, which reads, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." This verse is perfect for small children teaching them to give thanks to God first and foremost.
A Thanksgiving Story
This is the time to teach the children in your class about the first Thanksgiving. This is a classic story about sharing with others and how to be thankful for who and what you have in your life. Explain the differences between the Pilgrims and the Indians. Explain how it was all set aside to give thanks. Now is also a good time to explain that many people believe different things when it comes to God. But even for these differences, the Pilgrims and the Indians were able to give thanks.
Book recommendations for this particular lesson plan and age group include:
- The First Thanksgiving by Patricia Hermes (ISBN: 0439206286; Scholastic Trade)
- The First Thanksgiving by Lou Rogers (ISBN: 0813659647; Pearson Learning)
- The Story of Thanksgiving by Nancy Skarmeas (ISBN: 0824941640; Ideals Publications)
Thanksgiving Preschool Craft - Thanksgiving Poem Placemat
Use the following poem to cut and paste next to a picture of a basket full of fruits and vegetables. Have the children color the picture while telling each other what they are thankful for. When they are done coloring, glue each picture to a piece of brown construction paper. If available, use a sheet of laminate over the top of the picture. This will make a cute placemat for Thanksgiving dinner.
The Poem:
For each new morning with its light, (new line) For rest and shelter of the night, (new line) For health and food, (new line) For love and friends, (new line) For everything Thy goodness sends. (new line) By Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanksgiving Snack Time - Thanksgiving Turkey
You will need:
- 1 apple per child
- Colored marshmallows
- Square toothpicks
Directions: Place the marshmallows on the toothpicks. Stick the toothpicks in the apple so it looks like the feathers of the bird.
Thanksgiving Game - Pin the Feathers on the Turkey
Use this familiar game to help preschoolers remember what they are thankful for, and a chance to win a prize.
- Use the pattern of the turkey below to hang on a wall in the classroom. You may want to enlarge the turkey by 125% to make it bigger.
- Cut out feathers using assorted colors of construction paper. Give each child a feather and help them write something they are thankful for on the feather.
- As each child comes up to pin the feather on the turkey, place a small piece of scotch tape on the back of the feather.
- Blindfold a child and direct her towards the turkey hanging on the wall. Let her try to place her feather as close to the turkey as possible. Give each child in the class a turn.
- Award the winner a big prize, and all of the other children a smaller prize just for playing the game.
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Here is a sample prayer that is great for Thanksgiving and easy for preschoolers to remember.
"Dear Lord, Thank you for sugar so sweet, thank you for the food we eat. May your love always be, just as sweet and good for me."
Thanksgiving is one of best holidays to teach your Sunday school children what it means to be thankful. By having each child say what they are thankful for, other children will remember something they have forgotten. Telling the story of the first Thanksgiving can help reinforce the idea that we are all created equal in the eyes of the Lord. What a great day to emphasize how thankful we are for our Lord.
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