Thanksgiving - being thankful

Thanksgiving: being thankful - preschool lesson plans


Thankful Collage
Ask the children to finish the following sentence:
I am thankful for _____________.
Write their answer on a sheet of paper then have them draw a picture of what they are thankful for.
You can also have them cut out pictures from magazines, use paint, crayons, or other items to create the artwork.


I am Thankful for my Family Art
Show your child how to make finger prints on a piece of paper. Have your child draw eyes, nose mouth and hair to create a face. Ask the children to name the people in the picture.  Write the family names below each print.

I am Thankful for my Family Art 2

Ask the children to create a paper plate face of someone in their family.  Have the children draw facial features onto a paper plate to make a face. Supply the children with yarn or easter grass for hair.


I am Thankful for my Family Art 3
Supply the children with non-toxic bingo dabbers. Ask the child to dab a piece of paper with the dabber a couple of times. When dry, have the child add a face to the dots. Ask the child to tell you the names of the people in the family in their picture. Label the people for them.


Thanksgiving Pictures
Ask the parents to share pictures of their family celebrating Thanksgiving.  Affix the pictures to the wall at eye level with contact paper.


Thankful Game
Have the children sit in a circle and they should have a bean bag or stuffed toy to pass around the circle.  Have the children pass the item around the circle while they chant:
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving,
What am I thankful for,
It's your turn to share with us,
1, 2, 3, 4
Whomever is holding the item when the chat is done should share what they are thankful for.


I Love My Family Because....
Have the children finish the sentence "I Love My Family Because..." Write down the children's answers and post them on a bulletin board.


Thank You Cards
Have the children make thank you cards. Have the children give the card to someone special.


Songs from Kiddiddles.com
Father, We Thank Thee 
Thank You, Lord, For This New Day 
Thanksgiving Fable, A 
Thanksgiving is Coming, Hurray! 

I am Thankful
by chicky-ma-ma
(sung to "Where is Thumbkin?"
I am Thankful, I am Thankful
Yes I am, Yes I am
I am Thankful for my friends
I am thankful for my kin
Yes I am, Yes I am
(Explain that kin is another word for family! )

submitted by Ms. Tricia

Thankful Turkey Headbands
Have the children dictate three things they are thankful for and write those three things on pre-cut construction paper feathers. Have the children cut brown paper strips to make a headband out of. They may glue, staple or tape the headband together. Have the children add a little bit of glue to the bottom back of each feather and glue onto the headband. Finally, the turkey face can be added.

Thankful Tag
Play thankful tag, just like freeze tag.  To become unfrozen, a friend has to come by and touch the frozen child and say something they are thankful for.
For younger children, just have them say something they are thankful for to be unfrozen.

Thankful Tree
On your bulletin board create a tree trunk shape with brown construction paper.  Label the board (your class name) Thankful Tree).  Cut out several leaf shapes from construction paper.  Have the children draw what they are thankful for on the leaf, then place the child's name and what they are thankful for on the leaf.  Place the leaves on the tree.

Individual Thankful Trees
Have the children tear red, orange and yellow paper to create leaves that are big enough to write on.  An adult will ask the child what they are thankful for and each answer will go on a leaf. Children can tear pieces of brown paper and glue them onto a sheet of construction paper to create a stump.  Then they can add their thankful leaves.

Paper Plate Thankful Wreath
Have the children cut out a variety of leaf shapes from different colors of construction paper.  (for younger children you can do this step)  On as many leaves as you need to, write all the things the child is thankful for.  Then have the child glue the leaves onto the edge of a paper plate.  In the center write "(child's name) is thankful for:".

Thankful Hand Print Tree

On your bulletin board create a tree trunk shape with brown construction paper. Label the board (your class name) Thankful Tree). Trace the children's hands onto different colors of construction paper.  Have the children draw what they are thankful for on the hand shape, then place the child's name and what they are thankful for on the shape.  Place the hand prints on the tree.  

image submitted by Ms. Tricia

Thankful Turkeys

Students will dictate what they are thankful for. The teach will write their responses on feather shapes construction paper. The teacher or child could cut out the feathers, depending on the ability level of the student. The child's foot is traced onto brown paper and cut out to be used as the turkey's body. The child will then glue the feathers onto a piece of paper or a paper bowl. The body is glued on top of the feathers. After the glue dries, the turkey's facial features can be drawn with a pen or marker.

Book Ideas:

Little Critter: Just So Thankful
I'm Thankful Each Day
The Most Thankful Thing
Let's Be Thankful