I Am Thankful

This is a fun activity to help children to recognize the many things they can be thankful for.

You will need:

•  a stapler (the smaller the better) or tape
• 1 inch strips of paper (8 inches long)  fall colors
• choose several songs of gratitude and favorite songs

The goal is to make a "Thankful Chain" as long as possible.  Depending on how large your primary is will depend on how many children you choose in between songs.

Begin by telling one thing you are thankful for.  Make the first link.  Ask each member of the presidency to tell one thing they are thankful for and add a link for each one.  Sing a "thankful" song.  Now ask a few children to tell one thing they are thankful for.  Have each of them add a link to the chain.  (Younger children may need help, so enlist the help of another adult to help them so you can keep the activity going.)  Sing another song and then ask a few more children to share one thing they are thankful for.  Continue until you are out of time.  Try to give all the children an opportunity to share and add a link.

*This is similar to a previous post on gratitude.  Check out other posts on this subject.

I Am Glad for Many Things

One of my favorite thankful song is "I Am Glad for Many Things," p. 151  I have spent the entire singing time on this song.  Children come up with something that they are thankful for and we substitute it in place of "many things."  (You may need to change more words in the song to make sense.) Keep track of what the children are thankful for by writing it on the board.  See how many things they can be thankful for without repeating anything.  Use the last verse to finish.

Example:
I am glad for my Savior, my Savior, my Savior.
I am glad for my Savior who is mine today.

I am glad for sunshine bright, etc.

I am glad for my fam'ly, etc.

I am glad for forests green, etc.

I am glad for oceans blue, etc.

I Am Thankful to Be Me

It is always good to pause from our busy lives and think of the many blessings we have.  It is important to help children take a moment to feel grateful, as well.  "I Am Thankful to Be Me," p. 11, is the perfect song to help children recognize their blessings.

Ask the children to listen to the words and see if they can find things in the song to be thankful for.  Recite or sing the song as the pianist plays it through.

• Sing the first line.  Ask what might be happening.  (getting ready to pray)  
• Sing the second phrase and ask where blessings come from.
• Have the children sing both phrases with you 2 or 3 times.
• The third phrase suggests some specific things to be thankful for.
• Sing the third phrase with the children.
• Ask them what specific things can we be thankful for. (They may have other ideas, but point out what the song lists.)
• Sing the last phrase and have the children sing it with you 2 times.
• Ask why it's important toe be thankful to be who you are.
• Sing the whole song.