Thanksgiving Bible Activities for Kids
A week of short readings that teach children to thank God on purpose — one Bible story a day, a King James memory verse, a thankful-tree craft, printable coloring pages, and a Thanksgiving quiz. Free for home, church, and homeschool.
7-Day Gratitude Plan for Kids
Start the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Each day: read the short story, say the verse aloud, and add one leaf to your thankful tree naming something God has given you.
Print the whole pack (free PDF)
One file with the 7-day gratitude plan for kids, the memory verses, and all 5 coloring pages ready to print on US Letter or A4.
Only one leper came back to say thank you — be the one.
- Read
- The Ten Lepers — Luke 17:11–19
- Memory verse
- Luke 17:15 — “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.”
- Colour
- Good Shepherd
- Do together
- Cut a big paper tree trunk and tape it to the wall — this is your thankful tree. Add the first leaf today.
Jesus gave thanks for a little, and God made it enough.
- Read
- Jesus Feeds Five Thousand — John 6:1–14
- Memory verse
- John 6:11 — “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed.”
- Colour
- Loaves & Fishes
- Do together
- Give thanks out loud before dinner tonight — let a child pray it in their own words.
Paul and Silas sang praise in prison at midnight.
- Read
- Paul and Silas Sing in Prison — Acts 16:16–34
- Memory verse
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
- Do together
- Name one hard thing this week and thank God for one good thing inside it. Add that leaf.
Hannah asked God for a son — then gave thanks and gave him back.
- Read
- Hannah’s Prayer — 1 Samuel 1–2
- Memory verse
- 1 Samuel 2:1 — “My heart rejoiceth in the LORD… because I rejoice in thy salvation.”
- Do together
- Look back at a prayer God answered this year and write it on a leaf.
God fed Ruth and Naomi through the harvest and kind hands.
- Read
- Ruth in the Harvest Field — Ruth 2
- Memory verse
- Psalm 107:1 — “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
- Colour
- Ruth & Boaz Field
- Do together
- Thank someone who feeds you — a parent, a grandparent, a farmer — with a hand-made card.
The widow gave two mites, and Jesus noticed.
- Read
- The Widow’s Two Mites — Mark 12:41–44
- Memory verse
- 2 Corinthians 9:15 — “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
- Do together
- Let each child give away one thing this week — a toy, a snack, a coin — and thank God for it.
God’s people sang thanks after He rescued them.
- Read
- The Song of Moses — Exodus 15:1–21
- Memory verse
- Psalm 100:4 — “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”
- Colour
- Moses & the Red Sea
- Do together
- Read every leaf on the thankful tree out loud together as a family thanksgiving prayer.
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages to Print
Free printable KJV coloring pages — print on US Letter paper, or choose “Fit to page” for A4. Each page carries its own King James verse.
Loaves & Fishes
John 6
Free printable loaves and fishes coloring page — overflowing basket of bread and fish with the KJV verse.
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Ruth & Boaz Field
Ruth 2
Free printable Ruth wheat field coloring page — wheat sheaves, gleaning baskets, and the KJV verse from Ruth 2.
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Good Shepherd
John 10 / Psalm 23
Free printable Good Shepherd coloring page — a fluffy little lamb, the shepherd's crook, and the KJV verse from John 10:11.
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Moses & the Red Sea
Exodus 14
Free printable Moses Red Sea coloring page — parted walls of water with fish swimming inside, and the KJV verse.
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Lost Sheep
Luke 15
Free printable Lost Sheep coloring page — one little lamb on a hilltop with the shepherd's crook and the KJV verse.
Open & printThanksgiving Bible Quizzes
Ten questions each, answers straight from the King James Bible. Great as a class warm-up or a family game after the meal.
Thanksgiving Memory Verses for Kids (KJV)
Short enough for little ones to learn in a week. Say them at breakfast, in the car, or at bedtime.
Psalm 107:1
“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Psalm 100:4
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts… and be ye thankful.”
2 Corinthians 9:15
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
Thanksgiving Bible Questions Parents Ask
What Bible verses teach children thankfulness?
Start with Psalm 107:1, Psalm 100:4, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — all short enough for a young child to memorise. Luke 17:11–19 (the ten lepers) is the clearest story about saying thank you.
How do I make a thankful tree with kids?
Tape a paper trunk and branches to a wall. Each day of the plan, every child writes one thing they thank God for on a paper leaf and adds it. On Thanksgiving Day read every leaf aloud as a prayer.
Is Thanksgiving in the Bible?
The American holiday is not, but thanksgiving certainly is. Israel brought a 'sacrifice of thanksgiving' (Leviticus 22:29), the Psalms are full of thanks, and Paul commands believers to 'in every thing give thanks' (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Can churches and homeschools use this free?
Yes. Every reading, verse, coloring page, and quiz is free to print and share for home, church, homeschool, and ministry use. No signup required.
What Bible translation is used?
All verses are from the public-domain King James Version (KJV).
More Free Bible Resources for Kids
Keep going after Thanksgiving with reading plans, age-by-age lesson guides, verses by topic, and child-level Bible character pages.