What are you feeling thankful for this year? I love this time of year! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on the many blessings received from our loving Heavenly Father. If you’re looking for a simple activity that incorporates some Thanksgiving traditions, you’re in the right place!
Your primary children will love this fun Thanksgiving Thankful Chain festive primary idea! Add this activity to your collection of Thanksgiving singing time ideas and have some fun sharing what you are thankful for!
Thanksgiving Thankful Chain
The basic idea behind this activity is simple! During singing time, have your primary kids write down what they are thankful for on strips of paper and link all the strips to create one big “Thankful” Chain!
There are a few different ways to use this activity! This activity can be used to practice primary songs selected by the kids or to review a specific song. If you are looking for a song specific to Thanksgiving, browse our list of Fall Primary Songs.
First, you’ll want to gather yoursupplies. For this activity, you’ll need lots of construction or colored paper, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, and a stapler (or two). Before primary, cut out several long strips of colored paper.
I’ve created a simple printable with strips that include a sentence starter that says, “I am thankful for…” Plan to have at least one strip for each person. You can include your primary teachers in this count too!
At the beginning of primary, ask: What holiday is coming up? Thanksgiving! During Thanksgiving, we express extra gratitude for all our many blessings. What are you thankful for?
Have the pianist play a short song while you pass out strips of paper along with some crayons or colored pencils. Have the children write their name and one thing they are thankful for. Then, collect the papers and place them in a bowl.
If you need some guiding questions to spark ideas, here are some questions to ask your primary children:
- Who are you thankful for? What person or people in your life are you grateful for?
- What physical blessings has Heavenly Father given you?
- What spiritual blessings has Heavenly Father given you?
- What places are you thankful for?
- When did you see Heavenly Father bless you with something awesome this year?
- How have you seen Heavenly Father bless your family during a challenging time?
Then, choose one Thankful paper strip at random! Read the child’s name and invite them to come share what they are thankful for. Then, have them choose a primary song to sing! If you are reviewing a specific song, have the child choose a fun action to review the song.
Create your “Thankful Chain” by bringing together both ends of the paper strip and stapling to close the link. Continue reviewing and see how long your chain gets!
Keep your Thankful Chain up for a few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving! Share your testimony of the importance of expressing gratitude. Encourage your primary children to remember to thank Heavenly Father in their prayers.
Extension Activities:
- Build your Thankful Chain over the course of the entire month of November! Have the kids write on their paper strips the first week. Each week, plan about 5 minutes at the beginning or end of singing time to choose a few links to add to the chain. By the time Thanksgiving comes, you’ll have so many things to be thankful for!
- Review a bunch of different Thanksgiving themed songs for this activity! Instead of having the kids choose the song, have them pick a fun movement to lead during the song. Some movement ideas include: skip in place, roll arms, snap fingers, pat knees, jumping jacks, or yoga poses.
- Instead of creating a Thankful Chain, add your adorable Thankful links to the bulletin board for your primary. Families will be so happy to see all the things their primary children are grateful for!
For another fun similar activity using responses from your primary kiddos, head over to see this The Church of Jesus Christ Song Testimony singing time activity!
Thanksgiving Thankful Chain Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 1-page printable with 4 “I am Thankful for…” strips per page. Just print as many pages as you need.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including 6 per page, numbered slips, 1-page activity posters that can be signed instead, and a thankful pennant banner. You’ll find these bonus files included in the November New Testament packet.
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
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Continue on to this cute and fun festive idea, grab this Thanksgiving Pick a Pie!
What other fun ways will you use this Thanksgiving singing time activity in your Primary room?
