Give thanks with your family this season with this fun list of Thanksgiving activities for kids (there are some great printables too)!
In the United States of America, Thanksgiving is an historic holiday, with a definite beginning and purpose. It was originally started by the Pilgrims and Puritans in 1621 as a way to give thanks for the harvest after an incredibly tough first year in America.
My friend Donald W. White took William Bradford’s original journal, annotated it, and rewrote it using modern-day English, titling the book A Plymouth Pilgrim. The book ends with the recorded celebration of the first Thanksgiving. It’s a great piece of literature for families and older students.
The holiday of Thanksgiving today serves as a reminder that we are called to be grateful to God for all things.
As you discuss Thanksgiving with your children, here are two passages you can look over:
- Psalm 107 ~ Ask your children what character of God is being pointed out in this Psalm over and over again. What does the Psalm say about God’s sovereign rule over all things? When are we to praise God and give thanks?
- Ephesians 1:3-14 ~ Talk to your family about what this passage means for believers. What cause do we have for daily rejoicing? How does our very salvation work to the “praise of His glory”?
Here are some reasons Bible activities are a GREAT tool to help you teach the Bible to your kids!
Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
Here are some studies and activities about Thanksgiving for you to try with your kids this year! These focus on both the history of the American holiday, and on our gratitude to God for all He has given us.
The Super Accurate and Serious Lego History of Thanksgiving from Adventures in Mommydom ~ I love this fun history lesson from my friend Ticia. I’m sure your kids will enjoy it as well!
Thanksgiving Banner with Thanksgiving Devotions and Bible Verses ~ This is such a fun project with a 24-day focus on thanking God for his blessings!
My Thanksgiving Notebook from Path Through the Narrow Gate ~ These fun notebooks are free to download.
Thanksgiving Bible Study Bundle ~
Teach your kids to give thanks to God in an engaging, hands-on way with the Thanksgiving Bible Study Bundle.
You’ll receive four hands-on tools to use in your family Bible studies. Your children will take an in-depth look at what the Bible says about praising God, giving thanks with a grateful heart, why and how we give thanks, and more.
In this Family Bible Study Bundle, you’ll receive four separate products:
- Thanksgiving Lapbook
- Write, Color, and Memorize Set: Psalm 100 Thanksgiving Bible Verses
- Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart Card Set
- Thanksgiving Banner and Devotional
The bundle is available in ESV or KJV.
Thanksgiving Calendars from Proverbial Homemaker ~ These cute cards come with Scriptures, quotes, and either writing prompts or discussion starters (you choose!).
Grab your FREE Bible Study Tool Kit–over 130 pages of Bible resources for your family!
Thanksgiving Resources We Love
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving
Fisher-Price Little People Thanksgiving CelebrationLEGO Thanksgiving Harvest 2017 133pcsAdventures in Odyssey: Thanksgiving at HomeA Plymouth Pilgrim: William Bradford’s Eyewitness Account of the Mayflower PassengersFirst Thanksgiving Sticker Activity Book (Dover Little Activity Books Stickers)The Story of the Pilgrims (Dover History Coloring Book)Coloring Our Gratitude: The Art of Everyday ThankfulnessStop Your Complaining: From Grumbling to GratitudeSay Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes… in You and Your Kids
More Fun Thanksgiving Activity Ideas
- Use this fun Give Thanks with a Thankful Heart card set.
- Make Hard Tack like a sailor–and the kids from Adventures in Mommydom.
- Purchase these beautiful Thankful Meditations posters and study from Path Through the Narrow Gate.
- The Modest Mom has a free History of Thanksgiving unit study for Kindergarten through Second Grade.
- Get your build on with this free Thanksgiving Brick Challenge from Proverbial Homemaker.
- Pick up a copy of A Plymouth Pilgrim (review), so your kids can learn about the first American Thanksgiving.
- Download this Thanksgiving Scripture Memory Challenge from The Pelsers.
- Create an I Am Thankful Pumpkin from The Moffat Girls.
- Make a family Gratitude Garland with printable pieces from Somewhat Simple.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Puzzle-Based Independent Bible Study for Kids!
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2, ESV
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- Observe: They pay attention to what they’re reading.
- Interpret: They figure out what the Bible means in that section.
- Apply: They decide how the truth of God’s Word impacts their life today.
There are a great many truths in life to be found—some interesting, some boring, and some that really matter. You can be the kind of investigator who spends time puzzling out important truth so that you can know all the knowable knowledge that God has given us. That’s right. God, the Creator of the Universe, gave you a great big letter from him to explore and study so that you can discover the truths that really matter to your life!”
Bible Investigators: Creation, (The Good Book Company, 2024), page 7
The Bible Investigators: Creation Bible study for kids, written by Danika Cooley and published by The Good Book Company, is 272-pages of learning, puzzles, and fun activities designed to help your kids become amazing independent Bible investigators–observing, interpreting, and applying God’s Word as they learn what the Bible teaches on a particular subject.
Bible Puzzles for Kids
Middle grade kids, aged 8-12, love puzzles. After all, their brains are just built for figuring things out and memorizing facts. Puzzles are a wonderful way to help kids develop logic skills and retain important information. And, the book is written in a fun, conversational tone your children are sure to love!
What types of puzzles and activities will you find in Bible Investigators?
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- Word Searches
- Crosswords
- Rebus Puzzles
- Dot-to-Dots
- Logic Puzzles
- Missing Letter Puzzles
- Cryptograms
- Word Sudoku
- Mazes
- How-to-Draw Pages
- Matching Pairs
- Word Scrambles
- Journal Pages
Every child is sure to find activities they’ll love!
Elementary-aged kids need hands-on middle grade resources that engage them and equip them to process important truths.
Bible Investigators is the perfect resource to teach your kids about an important biblical doctrine, while helping them apply God’s Word to their lives today.
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