Looking for a creative way to utilize your fall harvest? Bring in different types of hard vegetables to pass around the room during singing time! This Thanksgiving Share the Harvest is such a fun & simple fall singing time idea to add to your primary toolkit!
Thanksgiving Share the Harvest
You will just love this simple & festive people interaction singing time idea! This activity is based on the classic Hot Potato game where you pass around an object until the music stops!
What I love most about this activity is that it pairs well with any primary song you are working on! If you have finished your primary program for the year, you might have a few extra weeks before beginning Christmas songs. This is a great time for an activity like this one!
We have a variety of fall primary songs that are great for Thanksgiving time! Many of these songs are pretty easy to learn and may not be familiar to your primary kids. You can also use this time to enjoy singing some favorite primary songs! Whether you decide to teach a new song this month or review past songs, this activity is sure to be a hit!
For this activity, I gathered a few different types of hard vegetables from home. This activity is meant to be super simple, so just grab what you have! I recommend bringing in vegetables that will be sturdy enough but still light and easy to pass around.
Here are some examples you could use:
- Pumpkin (a smaller pumpkin may work best for this)
- Zucchini Squash
- Yellow Squash
- Potato
- Decorative Gourd
What holiday is coming up? Invite the spirit by explaining that Thanksgiving is a time when we can focus on recognizing and expressing gratitude for our many blessings. You might consider also sharing a short inspirational message to begin this activity. I love this #ThankfulFor inspirational video published in 2014.
As you sing, pass one vegetable around the room. Have the pianist randomly stop the music. When the music stops, the vegetable freezes! Invite whoever is holding the veegtable to share something they are thankful for! Continue singing and passing the harvest until most children have had a chance to share.
For a spiritual tie-in, discuss the importance of expressing gratitude to Heavenly Father for the many blessings He has given us. I have included a printable later in this post that includes some scripture verses and conference quotes about gratitude.
Each time the music stops, have a child read a short General Conference quote about gratitude. President Thomas S. Monson has a great talk entitled “An Attitude of Gratitude” that has several great quotes! Elder Gary B. Sabin’s 2023 talk, “Hallmarks of Happiness” also teaches about gratitude.
You could also share a few scripture examples of gratitude. Here are some examples of the quotes and scriptures I chose to include in this activity:
- “How our awareness would change if every morning we awoke with only the blessings we were grateful for the night before. Failure to appreciate our blessings can result in a sense of dissatisfaction, which can rob us of the joy and happiness that gratitude engenders.” – Gary E. Sabin
- Mosiah 24:21: “Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God.”
- “We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.” – Thomas S. Monson
Extension Activities:
- Finish the sentence! Quiz your primary kids by challenging them to finish the sentence if they are holding the pumpkin when the music stops. This is a great way to see how well the kids know the lyrics!
- Display an array of fall vegetables on the table. On the back of each vegetable, write the name of a primary song. Invite a child singing reverently to come choose a vegetable to determine the next song!
- See what other fun questions you can come up with! Some examples might include: What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food? What is your favorite primary song? How can you show gratitude to someone this week?
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this Grandmother Primary Song Hot Potato singing time activity!
Thanksgiving Share the Harvest Printable Song Helps
Grab this printable with 4 General Conference quotes and 2 scriptures that teach about gratitude.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including full page quotes and a printable pumpkin and squash graphics! You’ll find these bonus files included in the November Book of Mormon packet.
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For another Thanksgiving singing time idea, check out this cute Thanksgiving Thankful Chain activity!
What other fun ways will you use this Thankssgiving singing time activity in your Primary room?
