Thanksgiving Activities
I made a PowerPoint presentation on the history of the first Thanksgiving. It is presented in a quiz-type format. (A fact/clue appears on one page, followed by the answer on the next page. This format continues throughout the presentation.)
The following webpage called, "Resources for Christian Teachers: Audrey's Thanksgiving Links," is packed with links to sites and activities having to do with Thanksgiving. http://www.teacherhelp.org/thanks.htm
There is a free Thanksgiving lapbook available through Live and Learn Press. To access the free lapbook, you will first need to join the Live and Learn Press yahoo group. Visit http://www.liveandlearnpress.com/freebies.php for more details.
GROUP SNACK ACTIVITY:
This is a neat idea I heard about some time ago. I don't know from where the idea originated as I received it in a forwarded e-mail. I made some changes and have used the idea as it appears below for a children's group activity. I cut the activity into slips of paper and hand one slip out to four different children. Each child is responsible to complete the activity on his/her slip in the correct order (the slips are numbered). After completing the activity, enjoy the snack!
For this activity, you will need the following:
Copies of the slips of paper
Large mixing bowl
Bugles (the crunchy snack)
Yogurt-covered pretzels
Chocolate-covered pretzels
Shelled sunflower seeds
Peanut M&M’s
Dried cranberries
Dried berries
Yogurt-covered raisins
Chocolate-covered raisins
READ: WE ARE TO SING SONGS AND PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD AND AS AN EXPRESSION OF JOY TO GOD.
READ: Psalm 81:1-3
“Sing for joy to God our strength; shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, strike the timbrel, the sweet sounding lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.”
Psalm 81:1-3 
ADD to a large mixing bowl (while also reading):
Bugles are being added to represent worshiping and thanking God with musical instruments.
(1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
READ: WE ARE TO PRAY TO GOD WITH THANKSGIVING.
READ: Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7
ADD to the large mixing bowl (while also reading):
Yogurt-covered and chocolate-covered pretzels are being added to represent hands folded in thanks and prayer.
(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
READ: WE ARE TO BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR SUPPLYING US WITH ALL WE NEED, INCLUDING THE SEEDS FOR PLANTING AND THE FRUIT OF THE HARVEST.
READ: 2 Corinthians 9:8-11
“…God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed…Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:8-11
ADD to the large mixing bowl (while also reading):
Shelled sunflower seeds & peanut M&M’s are being added to represent the seeds God supplies to the sowers (peanuts are seeds); while dried cranberries, dried berries, yogurt-covered raisins and chocolate-covered raisins are being added to represent the fruit of the harvest.
(3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CONCLUSION)
READ: EPHESIANS 5:20:
“…always [give] thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father…”
Ephesians 5:20
(4)
