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.

The Thankful Chain

We've all made paper chains for Christmas whether it be for decorations or a count-down chain.  How about a "Thankful" chain?!?

Cut 25 1" strips of fall colored paper 8 1/2" long.  Write the titles of the songs you would like to sing during singing time - 5 or 6 songs.  On the rest of the strips write "I am thankful for __________."  Mix the songs with the other strips and make a paper chain.

 Hang the chain on the chalkboard, podium, piano, several chairs, any place where the children can see and reach it.  Tell the children that on each chain there is a song or an "I am thankful for __________." sentence.  If the link has a song on it, the primary will sing it.  If it has "I am thankful for __________.", the child will tell something that he or she is thankful for.

Encourage the children to make their own "Thankful" chain at home with their family and see how long they can make it by writing things that they are thankful for.