Free Bible lessons for kids · 8 lessons
Thanksgiving Bible lessons for kids
Thanksgiving is a natural time to teach children to thank God for what He gives and does, and to remember that every good gift comes from Him.
Here are 8 free lessons that help children learn Thanksgiving from the Bible itself. Every lesson has a story film, a coloring page, a class sheet, a teacher guide, questions with answers and a game, ready to teach.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
- Lessons
- 8
- Passages
- Luke 17:11–19, Exodus 15:1–27, Exodus 16:1–36, John 6:1–14, Acts 16:16–40, Philippians 4:4–13, and more
- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Each lesson
- Story film (KJV), coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
- Cost
- Free: no subscription, no cost per child, no sign-up to teach
8 Bible lessons about Thanksgiving
Ten Lepers Are Healed
Luke 17:11–19 · story film
Ten men with leprosy cried out to Jesus for mercy. He sent them to show themselves to the priests, and as they went they were cleansed. Only one, a Samaritan, came back to thank Him.
Big idea: Remember to thank God for what He does.
Memory verse:
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luke 17:15 (KJV)Ask: How many lepers did Jesus heal? Ten.
Game: Thank-You Tag (about 10 minutes)
The Song and the Sweet Water
Exodus 15:1–27 · story film
Moses and the people sang a song to the LORD, and Miriam led the women with timbrels. Three days later the water at Marah was bitter, but God showed Moses a tree to cast in, and the water was made sweet.
Big idea: God deserves our songs, and He cares for our needs.
Memory verse:
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exodus 15:2 (KJV)Ask: Who led the women in singing? Miriam the prophetess, with a timbrel.
Game: Bitter or Sweet? (about 10 minutes)
Bread from Heaven
Exodus 16:1–36 · story film
In the wilderness the people complained that they were hungry. God sent quails in the evening and, in the morning, small white bread called manna on the ground. They gathered it every day, and twice as much before the sabbath.
Big idea: God gives us what we need, day by day.
Memory verse:
Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Exodus 16:4 (KJV)Ask: What came in the evening? Quails.
Game: Gather the Manna (about 10 minutes)
Feeding the Five Thousand
John 6:1–14 · Matthew 14:13–21 · Mark 6:30–44 · Luke 9:10–17 · story film
A great crowd was hungry. A boy had five barley loaves and two small fishes. Jesus gave thanks, and everyone ate and was filled, with twelve baskets left over.
Big idea: Jesus gives more than enough, for He is the bread of life.
Memory verse:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:35 (KJV)Ask: What did the boy have? Five barley loaves and two small fishes.
Game: Twelve Baskets Full (about 10 minutes)
Songs at Midnight
Acts 16:16–40 · story film
Paul and Silas were beaten and put in stocks in the inner prison. At midnight they prayed and sang praises to God. An earthquake opened every door, and the jailer and his house believed.
Big idea: We can praise God even in hard times.
Memory verse:
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:31 (KJV)Ask: What were Paul and Silas doing at midnight? Praying and singing praises unto God.
Game: Earthquake! (about 10 minutes)
Rejoice in the Lord
Philippians 4:4–13 · story film
Writing from prison, Paul told the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always, to pray about everything, and to think on good things. He had learned to be content because Christ strengthened him.
Big idea: We can have joy and peace in Jesus in every situation.
Memory verse:
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)Ask: Where was Paul when he wrote this letter? In prison.
Game: Joy Jar (about 12 minutes)
Water from the Rock
Exodus 17:1–7 · story film
At Rephidim there was no water and the people argued with Moses. God told Moses to strike the rock in Horeb with his rod, and water came out for everyone to drink.
Big idea: We can bring our needs to God instead of complaining.
Memory verse:
Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:6 (KJV)Ask: What did the people need? Water to drink.
Game: Grumble or Trust? (about 8 minutes)
God Will Provide
Genesis 22:1–19 · story film
God tested Abraham, telling him to offer his only son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah. As they went up, Isaac carried the wood and asked, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” and Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb.” At the altar the angel of the LORD called out of heaven to stop him, and God provided a ram caught in a thicket in the stead of his son; long after, God gave His own Son, Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Romans 8:32).
Big idea: God provides what we need, and He gave Jesus, the Lamb, for us.
Memory verse:
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Genesis 22:8 (KJV)Ask: What did Isaac carry up the mountain? The wood for the burnt offering (Genesis 22:6).
Game: Find the Ram (about 10 minutes)
8 weeks of lessons on Thanksgiving
| Week 1 | Ten Lepers Are Healed (Luke 17:11–19). Remember to thank God for what He does. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | The Song and the Sweet Water (Exodus 15:1–27). God deserves our songs, and He cares for our needs. |
| Week 3 | Bread from Heaven (Exodus 16:1–36). God gives us what we need, day by day. |
| Week 4 | Feeding the Five Thousand (John 6:1–14). Jesus gives more than enough, for He is the bread of life. |
| Week 5 | Songs at Midnight (Acts 16:16–40). We can praise God even in hard times. |
| Week 6 | Rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4–13). We can have joy and peace in Jesus in every situation. |
| Week 7 | Water from the Rock (Exodus 17:1–7). We can bring our needs to God instead of complaining. |
| Week 8 | God Will Provide (Genesis 22:1–19). God provides what we need, and He gave Jesus, the Lamb, for us. |
Each week: welcome and pray, show the story film, talk through the questions, learn the memory verse, then color the page or do the class sheet.
Bible verses about Thanksgiving to memorize
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,”
Luke 17:15 · Ten Lepers Are Healed
“The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
Exodus 15:2 · The Song and the Sweet Water
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.”
Exodus 16:4 · Bread from Heaven
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35 · Feeding the Five Thousand
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Acts 16:31 · Songs at Midnight
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13 · Rejoice in the Lord
“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”
Exodus 17:6 · Water from the Rock
“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”
Genesis 22:8 · God Will Provide
Questions people ask
What Bible lessons fit Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a natural time to teach children to thank God for what He gives and does, and to remember that every good gift comes from Him.
Which Bible stories teach Thanksgiving?
Ten Lepers Are Healed (Luke 17:11–19), The Song and the Sweet Water (Exodus 15:1–27), Bread from Heaven (Exodus 16:1–36), Feeding the Five Thousand (John 6:1–14), Songs at Midnight (Acts 16:16–40), and 3 more on this page.
Are these lessons free?
Yes. Every lesson, film, coloring page, class sheet and game is free for churches, families and schools, with no subscription, no cost per child and no sign-up needed to teach.
Which Bible translation is used?
The films and memory verses show the King James Version word for word. In the lessons you can switch the verses to the Berean Standard Bible, the ESV or dozens of other English Bibles, every verse is labelled with its translation, and tapping a verse on the film opens its whole chapter.
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