Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times in the classroom. There’s something so special about helping children slow down and reflect on their blessings.
Each year, I try to teach my students what thankfulness really means — to help them see that gratitude isn’t just about what we have, but about who gives it to us. I want them to know that God’s love and blessings are with them every single day, and that their thankful hearts bring Him joy.
I truly believe one of the most important lessons we can teach young children is that God loves them, forgives them, and provides for them. When students understand that, it shapes the way they see the world and how they treat others.
These Thanksgiving activities are more than crafts — they’re ways to teach about faith, love, and the goodness of God. They give children a way to express what’s in their hearts through drawing, writing, and art — and they give teachers an easy, ready-to-use way to bring Christ into their classrooms during this busy season.
These activities were designed to be easy for teachers to print and use right away, yet filled with opportunities for deep, faith-filled conversations. Each placemat and activity focuses on helping students connect God’s Word to their own lives in a simple, age-appropriate way. They work beautifully as morning work, centers, Thanksgiving week activities, or even a family keepsake for your classroom celebration.
A Plate Full of Blessings Placemat with a Thanksgiving Prayer
This one is always a favorite because it helps children clearly connect God’s blessings to the things they see and experience every day. It also includes a short, child-friendly prayer that students can easily learn. Perfect for your Thanksgiving feast or celebration!
I’ve done different versions, depending on the age of the students:
Students can:
- Draw anything they’re thankful for on a plate
- Cut and paste paper “foods” — writing one blessing on each food before placing it on their plate
This makes a beautiful keepsake to send home — families love it!
Thankful Hearts Turkey Placemat Craft
This placemat reminds students that all good gifts come from God and helps them reflect on the many people and blessings for which they’re thankful. The heart-shaped feathers represent a thankful heart filled with love, joy, and gratitude.
Students practice gratitude, faith reflection, and writing/drawing skills while learning to thank God for His blessings. This is a perfect way to integrate faith and thankfulness into your Thanksgiving celebration or classroom feast.
I like to use the following scriptures and titles:
- James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above.
- Psalm 9:1 – I will give You thanks, O Lord, with all my heart.
- Give thanks with a grateful heart.
It creates a perfect “thankful with all my heart” message!
Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good Placemat Craft
This placemat reminds students to thank God for His goodness and blessings in their lives. The simple layout makes it perfect for younger learners to express gratitude through drawing and/or writing.
It can be easily differentiated by placing headings in the boxes (Family, Friends, Home, Food) or leaving them blank for students to choose their own blessings or categories.
This is perfect for centers, quick activities, or a simple reflection time during Thanksgiving week.
Fruits of the Spirit Cornucopia Thanksgiving Placemat Craft
This one is so meaningful — it helps children understand that being thankful isn’t only about things… it’s also about the character God grows in us.
Students will understand the Fruits of the Spirit and reflect on how they can show these Christlike qualities in their everyday lives. Each fruit represents a special gift from God that grows in our hearts when we follow Jesus.
You can complete this all in one day or spread it out over a week, teaching 2–3 fruits per day and gradually filling the cornucopia. It becomes a gorgeous visual reminder of how we can “live out” our gratitude.
Students:
- Cut out each labeled Fruit of the Spirit
- Add the fruits to a large cornucopia printable
- Color and decorate
- Complete a writing prompt version (“I can show the Fruit of ___ by…”)
or use the Bible verse version with Galatians 5:22–23
The 5 Kernels of Corn Legend Thanksgiving Activity
This project helps students learn the Legend of the Five Kernels of Corn and remember that God is faithful and provides for us, even in difficult times.
If you are not familiar with the legend, here is a brief summary:
When the Pilgrims faced a harsh first winter, they had very little food.
Sometimes each person received only five kernels of corn to eat.
When God blessed them with plenty and things improved, they continued to place five kernels of corn on each plate to remember His faithfulness and the hardships they endured.
This activity connects the Pilgrims’ story of hardship and God’s provision to their own lives, identifying blessings that God has given them. This activity integrates history, faith, social-emotional learning, and fine motor practice.
Students then draw their own five blessings inside the sections of the placemat.
I also like to send home a note that explains the story to parents, along with the idea of placing 5 pieces of candy corn next to each person’s place setting at their Thanksgiving table. Each person can pick up each piece of corn and name something for which they are thankful. I always get a great response!
Clean Heart Science Experiment and Reflection Page
As you may know, I love incorporating science into my lessons! This simple, hands-on experiment always has a big impact!
It visually shows students how Jesus forgives our sins and makes our hearts clean again.
Draw a heart on a deep paper plate, cover it with water, and then sprinkle pepper all over it to represent our sins.
Then, add a little dish soap to your finger and touch the center of the heart. The pepper instantly scatters, revealing the clean heart underneath.
Students are amazed — and it’s the perfect visual to help them understand that Jesus forgives us of our sins and makes our hearts clean again.
Afterwards, students can complete a reflection page to help them connect what they saw in the experiment to their faith and thankfulness.
There are spaces for them to write and/or draw things for which they are thankful and ways they can share Jesus’s love now that their hearts are clean.
I love this activity because it ties faith, science, and gratitude together beautifully.
✝️ If You’d Like to Use These in Your Classroom
If these ideas speak to your heart the way they do to mine, I’ve bundled everything into an easy-to-use resource with all five placemats, optional versions for every ability level, patterns, teacher directions, family notes, and the Clean Heart science experiment.
You can take a closer look at everything included right here or click on the cover below:
I hope these activities bless your classroom as much as they’ve blessed mine.
May your Thanksgiving season be full of gratitude, joy, and the love of Jesus! 🧡
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