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Thanksgiving Basket

A simple, yet colorful basket young children can enjoy filling with God’s provisions.

TOPICS:

Provision, Thanksgiving, Thankfulness

MATERIALS:

Paper plate for each child
Colored construction paper, 8x11
Basket Instructions [PDF] Click here
Food pictures [PDF] Click here
Stapler, clear tape
Crayons or colored markers 

DURATION:

Approximately 15 minutes

Thanksgiving Basket

PREPARATION:

For younger children, make the baskets beforehand. Older children may be able to do some of the construction during class using the basket instructions. Make enough baskets for each child.

Next, print out copies of the food pictures one for each child, and cut out each food item before class.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

After giving the children a basket, have them use crayons to color it the way they like. Then in different areas of the room, lay out the food provisions in groups. For example, place all fish in one corner, all the walnuts in another, etc. Then have the children go from one area to the next collecting one of each item to put in their basket. After collecting them, have the children tape them into their basket to stay put. The kids will have fun filling their own basket with God's wonderful gifts. 

WHAT YOU WILL SAY:

A long time ago, a group of people called Pilgrims trusted God that they would have enough food for everyone, especially during the long winters. During harvest time, they would gather large amounts of food from the field. There were pumpkins, corn, peas, fruits like strawberries, grapes, blueberries and all kinds of nuts. They gathered them all, along with some meat and stored them up for the winter.

God is a wonderful God and He cares for us very much. God provides everything we need to live, even all the many different and delicious kinds of food we eat. The Bible says, "He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Acts 14:17

Today we can pretend to be like the pilgrims and thank God for providing us all kinds of good things to eat.