Thanksgiving Bible Activities for Kids: 10 Ways to Give Thanks Together
Thanksgiving is one of the easiest times of year to talk with children about God's goodness. The whole holiday is built around gratitude, and Scripture gives us the reason behind it. These ten simple Thanksgiving Bible activities work at home, in a homeschool morning, or in a Sunday school class, and most need nothing more than paper, crayons and a Bible.
Start with a verse
Choose one verse for the week and read it together each day. A great one for families is Psalm 107:1: "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" (ESV). Older children can also learn 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (ESV). Write the verse on a card and tape it to the table where everyone will see it at meals.
1. Build a thankful tree
Draw a bare tree trunk on poster paper or tape a branch into a jar. Each day, every family member writes one thing they thank God for on a paper leaf and adds it to the tree. By Thanksgiving Day the tree is full, and you can read the leaves aloud before the meal.
2. Read the ten lepers story
In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus heals ten men with leprosy, but only one comes back to thank Him. Read it together, then ask: "Why do you think only one came back? What can we thank Jesus for today?" Children can act the story out, with one child running back to say thank you.
3. Make a gratitude prayer chain
Cut strips of colored paper. Each strip gets one short thank-you prayer, like "Thank You, God, for Grandma." Loop the strips into a chain and hang it across a doorway. Add a link every day and pray through a few links at bedtime.
4. Solve a Bible word search
Puzzles are a quiet, screen-free way to keep Bible words in front of kids while the kitchen is busy. Make a simple grid with words like THANKS, PRAISE, GOOD, LOVE and HARVEST, or print a ready-made Bible word search. Ask children to read the hidden words aloud and use one in a sentence of thanks when they finish.
5. Sing a psalm of praise
Many psalms were written to be sung. Read Psalm 100 together and try clapping along to the rhythm. Younger children can make simple shakers from rice in a sealed container and "make a joyful noise" as they listen.
6. Create a "God provides" harvest basket
Gather a few fruits, vegetables or pantry items. Talk about how God gives rain and sunshine so food can grow (Genesis 8:22 is a good reference). Then let children help choose items to donate to a local food pantry, turning thankfulness into giving.
7. Write thank-you notes
Gratitude grows when we say it out loud. Have each child write or draw a thank-you note to someone who serves them: a pastor, teacher, grandparent or neighbor. Include the week's verse at the bottom.
8. Play the thankful alphabet game
Go around the table and name something you are thankful for that starts with each letter: A for apples, B for the Bible, C for church. It's perfect for car rides to family gatherings.
9. Color a verse page
Write Psalm 107:1 in large bubble letters on a sheet of paper and let children color and decorate it. Frame the finished page or use it as a placemat for Thanksgiving dinner.
10. Share a "Thanksgiving testimony"
Before the meal, invite each person to share one way God has been faithful to them this year. Even little ones can answer, "God gave me my family." It's a simple way to point the whole day back to Him.
Tips for making it stick
- Keep it short. Ten minutes a day is plenty for young children.
- Repeat the verse. Saying the same verse every day all week helps kids remember it.
- Let kids lead. Children love to pray, read and explain the activity to younger siblings.
- Point to Jesus. Our greatest reason for thanks is the gift of Jesus Himself.
Printable Bible puzzles
Want a ready-to-print activity for Thanksgiving week? Our Bible Word Search for Kids has 40 large-print puzzles built around favorite Bible stories, from Creation to Revelation, with a full answer key. It's an instant PDF download, enough to keep little hands busy right through Christmas. Find more family Bible printables at brightleafstudios.com.
However you celebrate, we pray your family has a joyful Thanksgiving, full of gratitude to the God who is good.