Teaching Lessons and Activities

25 Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids from Kids Enjoying Jesus

• 10 Thanksgiving Games
• Bacon Thank You Card
• Leaf Games
• A Heart of Thanksgiving Bible Lesson
• Thank you, God! Activity Guide

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Gospel Turkey Craft - Share the Gospel with this craft using 5 colors and sticks of gum.

God Multiplies Object Lesson - Fall activity with corn and pumpkins to teach kids that God multiplies and provides for us.

Free Thanksgiving Lesson from Answers Bible Curriculum for Pre-K through Adult by Answers in Genesis 

Gratefulness Teaching Ideas from Institute for Basic Life Principles
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Historic Thanksgiving Meal Ideas (See specifically pages 3-4)

Thankful List - Challenge your kids (and yourself) to write down as many things as you can think of for which you are thankful. See if each of you can write 100 items by the time you are done. For younger kids, have them draw pictures of things for which they are grateful. It is amazing how counting your blessings can change a complaining attitude into a thankful one. 

The Unforgettable Pumpkin Run Lesson from Child Evangelism Fellowship 

The Thank you Spy Lesson from Child Evangelism Fellowship

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Books and Articles

First Thanksgiving Proclamation by President Washington

Thanksgiving Proclamation by President Lincoln - Original Document

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford - Bradford's history of the Plymouth settlement by his own pen (1608-1650).

Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey - Includes the journey of the pilgrims and their celebration of the first Thanksgiving, pages for your family to record God's blessings, and a CD of hymns that can be sung at Thanksgiving; a good book to read together as a family.​​

William Bradford: Plymouth's Rock (Heroes of History Series) by Janet & Geoff Benge - Eye opening story for all ages of the life of William Bradford and his journey to America. Learn about his trials and perseverance, through which we are still being blessed today. Book -- CD --​ ChristianAudio ​

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas - "Your 4- to 8-year-olds will be amazed to discover that the real hero of the first Thanksgiving was not English or Indian---but God. The remarkable story of how he brings together the struggling Pilgrims and a lonely brave who knows their language and shares their faith is a true American history miracle."

The Treacherous World of the 16th Century & How the Pilgrims Escaped It: The Prequel to America's Freedom by William J. Federer - Discover the facts you've been missing from the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving story! 

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Replica ship Mayflower II at the State Pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts, US.

Front page of William Bradford's journal,
​​Of Plymouth Plantation.

Statue of William Bradford, Plymouth Rock State Park, Massachusetts.

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Media

President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation is linked above in the "Books and Articles" section.

Movies

The Lost Secrets of Thanksgiving  
by Bill Heid with Heirloom Audio -
A 9 minute overview of the history of Thanksgiving.​ 

Monumental (Film)- Journey with Kirk Cameron as he retraces the steps of the pilgrims and seeks to learn the account of their life and Christian faith.
​Study guide for the movie also available. 

Music

• ​Count Your Blessings - by Johnson Oatman
• We Gather Together - Translated by Theodore Baker; Author is Anonymous.
• Come, Ye Thankful People, Come - by Henry Alford
• My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness - by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend
• 10,000 Reasons - by Matt Redman

Podcasts

Everything is Connected: William Federer - Hosted by Dr. Frank Turek with Cross Examined - Enjoy almost 200 years of history in 50 minutes as you learn the fascinating history, not just of the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving but the background story going back to 1453!

The Story of Thanksgiving - Hosted by Child Evangelism Fellowship of Illinois and Telling Future Generations

Thanksgiving and Earthquakes - Good News Radio - Uploaded by U-Nite - Audio story for kids about thankfulness

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Other Things Thanksgiving/Fall Related

A Time of Remembrance Quote Cards - Quotes by the Pilgrims and early founding fathers whose example of Christian faith and sacrifice continues to bless us, even today.

Thanksgiving Memory Verse Challenge from Scripture Memory Fellowship

Psalm 100 Memory Challenge - After the Pilgrims saw land “where God would be worshiped freely and – in time- where freedom would flourish. Shouting for joy and falling to their knees to pray, they celebrated by reading Psalm 100.”* During the month of November have your children memorize Psalm 100 (five verses) and then recite it together before your Thanksgiving meal. *Thanksgiving-A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey
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Pilgrims' Thanksgiving to God from American Minute with Bill Federer
 
​WallBuilders

• Sermons (outline for pastors to use today and historic sermons)
• Proclamations given by state governors, U. S. Presidents, and founding fathers on Thanksgiving.
• Articles

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​Pinecone Turkey Craft
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Gratefulness Devotion and Activities from Homeschooling with Confidence

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You Might Also Like...

Gospel Turkey Craft

​Share the Gospel using 5 colors and sticks of gum with this Thanksgiving craft. ​

View Craft

A Time of Remembrance Quote Cards

Quotes by the Pilgrims and early founding fathers whose example of Christian faith and sacrifice continues to bless us, even today.

View Cards

Connect to Resources

Explore over 60 ministries that will connect you with resources for your children and youth needs.
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View More Resources

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Photo Credit: First Thanksgiving Header: {{PD-Art|PD-old-auto-1936}}  --- ​Mayflower: wikitravel:user:OldPine [CC BY-SA 1.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons --- William Bradford Journal: {{PD-US}} --- First Thanksgiving: - A Time of Remembrance Quote Cards: {{PD-US-not renewed}}