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| Teaching Children About the First Thanksgiving |
Most American children are familiar with Thanksgiving and all the festivities that come with the fall holiday. They have probably completed many turkey crafts and they are probably used to family Thanksgiving dinners, but do they know why we celebrate Thanksgiving in America? It's important for children to understand the reason we celebrate our holidays. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on God's blessings over our lives and to thank God for those blessings. Teaching children about the first Thanksgiving will not only help them understand the Christian origins of the holiday, but also help them understand the hardships the first settlers suffered as our great nation was just beginning.
Teaching Children About the First Thanksgiving
I have created a Thanksgiving coloring book to help children learn the important history behind Thanksgiving. The coloring book contains 8 coloring pages explaining, in simple language, the history of the first Thanksgiving. After those 8 pages, children will enjoy the opportunity to draw a picture of something they are thankful for. They will color a turkey. On the last page of the coloring book, children will list 5 things they are thankful for. The 13th page in the booklet will offer a Bible verse for children to memorize from Psalm 106:1.
Praise the Lord
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever. Psalm 106:1
My Thanksgiving Coloring Book is available here.
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| My Thanksgiving Coloring Book is available here in our Etsy shop. |
More Ways to Teach Children About the First Thanksgiving
The History of Thanksgiving (+ Unit Study Ideas) from Hess UnAcademy
Thanksgiving Devotion for Kids (with Printable!) from Just Homemaking
Pilgrims & First Thanksgiving Activities from How to Homeschool My Child
Here is a Thanksgiving video you can show your children or your students.
Once your children or students understand the history of the first Thanksgiving, you can teach them to be thankful all year long. Children can learn to have thankful hearts even in circumstances when they don't feel thankful. One way to teach children to keep thankful hearts is to read to them or read with them books about Thanksgiving and gratitude.
Books About Thanksgiving and Gratitude for Kids
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks
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| The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks |
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| A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Give Thanks to the Lord |
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| Give Thanks to the Lord |
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| P is for Pumpkin |
Now, you can watch Missy read the book.
Missy's book, Because You're My Family, teaches children that obeying their parents is required and there are consequences for disobedience, but we love each other because of our relationships with each other, because we are family - not because of what we do or don't do when we disobey or make mistakes.
Get your copy of Because You're My Family here.
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| Because You're My Family by Missy Robertson with Brave Books |
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| Because You're My Family (Open Book) by Missy Robertson and Brave Books |
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| Thanksgiving Resources from Faith Gateway (Bible Gateway) |
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| Teaching Children About the First Thanksgiving |
