10 Thanksgiving-Themed Activities for Homeschoolers
Homeschool
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Thanksgiving is a special time around here—for our family, it’s a season to pause, reflect, and celebrate the blessings God has given us. And there are so many of them to thank Him for! As homeschooling parents, we have the unique opportunity to integrate the themes of Thanksgiving into our learning and daily lives; not just those generic ones about Pilgrims and turkeys. We can also show our kids the importance of giving God thanks for all the amazing things he does for us, and to show thanks to others by serving them. From crafts and recipes to outdoor activities and lessons in gratitude, we can make the holiday meaningful and fun!
One of the biggest lessons I’ve tried to teach my kids over the years is the importance of a thankful heart. Here are some Thanksgiving-themed activities designed to inspire gratitude, encourage creativity, and bring your family closer together.
Memory Verse to Learn Together:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
This simple verse is perfect for kids to memorize during the Thanksgiving season, and it reminds them to give thanks to God in all things, no matter what is going on in their lives. Use it as a starting point for family discussions on gratitude and God’s faithfulness. You could even go around the table and have each person say something in their life they can thank God for. Memorizing scripture together is a great activity for kids year-round!
Thanksgiving-Themed Crafts for Homeschool Families
- Gratitude Tree
- What You Need: Construction paper, scissors, markers, and a small tree branch or craft paper to create a tree.
- Activity: Cut out leaves from construction paper and have each family member write something they’re thankful for on a leaf every day leading up to Thanksgiving. Add the leaves to your “tree.”
- Homeschool Connection: This craft encourages writing, fine motor skills, and family discussions about gratitude.
- Handprint Turkey Art
- What You Need: Paint, paper, and a marker.
- Activity: Have each child make a handprint turkey. Around the turkey, write things they are thankful for. You can even use this as a creative writing prompt for older kids!
- Homeschool Connection: Great for younger children to practice coordination and for older children to work on creative storytelling.
- Thanksgiving Blessing Jars
- What You Need: Mason jars, slips of paper, and ribbon or stickers for decoration.
- Activity: Decorate jars together and label them “Blessing Jars.” Throughout the season, add notes of blessings or things you’re grateful for. Read them together as a family on Thanksgiving Day.
- Homeschool Connection: Writing and expressing gratitude become part of your family routine and a fun holiday tradition.
Thanksgiving-Themed Recipes to Make Together
- Mini Pumpkin Pies
- What You Need: Pre-made pie crust, canned pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices, salt, muffin tins, and whipped cream.
- Activity: Kids can cut out circles of pie crust, press them into muffin tins, and fill them with pumpkin pie filling. After they’ve cooled, kids can dollop on whipped cream and enjoy!
- Homeschool Connection: Teach math and measurement as you follow the recipe, and discuss the history of pumpkins and Thanksgiving traditions.
- Homemade Butter
- What You Need: Heavy cream, a mason jar, ice water, and a pinch of salt.
- Activity: Place heavy cream and a pinch of salt into the mason jar. Shake vigorously until it turns into butter. Serve with warm rolls at dinner!
- Homeschool Connection: Introduce lessons on science (liquid turning into a solid) and pioneer living while creating a tasty treat.
- Gratitude Trail Mix
- What You Need: A mix of nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, chocolate chips, or other small snacks.
- Activity: Assign each ingredient a thankful theme (e.g., pretzels = family, chocolate chips = God’s love). As you mix, talk about why each one is special.
- Homeschool Connection: Use this as a math lesson to discuss proportions and measurements, or as a way to spark discussions about thankfulness.
Outdoor Thanksgiving Activities
- Turkey Trot Scavenger Hunt
- Activity: Create a list of Thanksgiving-themed items to find (e.g., an orange leaf, a pumpkin, a feather, etc.). Split into teams for a fun-filled adventure that gets everyone up and moving. This is also a great way to keep kids entertained in the car when visiting family over the holiday! For a more challenging version for older kids, try something like this.
- Homeschool Connection: Incorporate science lessons about nature and seasons while keeping kids active and engaged.
- Thankfulness Walk
- Activity: Take a family walk and name things you’re thankful for in nature, such as the crisp air, colorful leaves, or birds.
- Homeschool Connection: Combine physical activity with nature studies and discussions about God’s creation.
- Leaf Pile Gratitude Game
- Activity: Write things you’re thankful for on small slips of paper and hide them in a leaf pile. Take turns finding and reading the notes. No leaf piles where you live? That’s okay! Try this Thankful ABC game instead.
- Homeschool Connection: Great for practicing reading skills and for sneaking in gratitude lessons while having fun outdoors!
Family-Friendly Books on Thankfulness
- The Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving Blessings
- The Berenstain Bear family celebrates Thanksgiving by giving thanks to God for his blessings as they travel to their grandparents’ home for dinner. This is a great book to foster thankfulness in little ones.
- Archer and The Thankful Tree
- This sweet, beautifully illustrated children’s book is the perfect way to introduce your kids to the love of God and gratitude. It includes a bonus activity to do with your child, and this story highlights our memory verse! (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- God Gave Us Thankful Hearts
- The God Gave Us series was a favorite of my grandkids’ when they were little. This book features a little wolf pup who learns the value of appreciating what we have while we have it.
- God Is Giving
- If you haven’t read any of the God Is series with your kids, this is the perfect one to start with! This board book is perfect for tiny ones to hold, and it’s a wonderful way to share God’s blessing with them.
- The Grumbles: A Story about Gratitude
- When Grandma Grateful comes for a visit, the Grumble family will have to turn their attitudes from grumbles to gratitude! This book teaches children to approach life with a gracious mindset and recognize goodness is every situation.
5 Ways to Teach Kids to Have a Thankful Heart
- Practice Gratitude Daily
- Start or end each day by sharing one thing you’re thankful for as a family (dinnertime is perfect for this!). Keeping a gratitude journal is a wonderful habit for kids of all ages.
- Serve Others Together
- Volunteer as a family at a local food bank, deliver meals to a neighbor, or make cards for nursing home residents. Service fosters empathy and helps kids see how they can make a difference, and they might make new friends along the way!
- Read Bible Stories About Thankfulness
- Stories like the healing of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) teach kids the importance of gratitude. Discuss these stories during family devotions or incorporate them into your homeschool Bible lessons.
- Limit “Wants”
- Use this season of Thanksgiving to remind kids (and ourselves!) that we are blessed with so much; we have more than enough. Encourage kids to focus on giving rather than getting by choosing gifts for others or donating toys and clothes they no longer use.
- Celebrate Small Blessings
- Help kids notice the little things—a sunny day, a kind word, or a bird’s song. Gratitude doesn’t have to wait for big blessings; it can be found in everyday moments, in the things we often take for granted. We, as parents, can benefit from this lesson, as well. Our children watch what we do! When we start to take notice of and show gratitude for the small things, our kids will, too.
Final Thoughts: A Season of Gratitude
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and teach our kids the value of gratitude. By weaving thankfulness into our homeschool days—through crafts, cooking, outdoor fun, and service—we can create lasting memories and lay a foundation of joy and contentment in our children’s hearts.
This year, let’s focus on “giving thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and celebrate the abundant blessings God has given us.
Walking in Him,
Tricia Goyer
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