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Think about it, Thanksgiving is the kick-off event to start the holiday season. Some people feel that it’s starting to be neglected or overlooked, but we know that Thanksgiving is a season in which we can focus our children’s ministry on giving thanks to our Lord. We can help to develop an attitude of gratitude that lasts the whole year. Although Thanksgiving is traditionally an American holiday, the idea of teaching our children to be thankful and to notice the many blessings we have been given is a good tradition for any family, no matter where you live!

Follow along for fun Thanksgiving craft ideas to help you celebrate a season of thanks in your Sunday school.

We All Love An Easy Craft

Do you realize that making a craft with the kids in your small church can help develop connections and relationships as you work together? We love to encourage creativity while spending time working around the tables. It’s important that our crafts are targeted to the skills, ages, and abilities of the children we have in our class. We want to encourage and have fun, not frustrate or disappoint!
Did you know that crafting actually has many benefits for children, for example:

  • Developing Fine Motor Skills: Crafts can help children develop their hand-eye coordination, and engage their God-given gifts of their senses of touch, sight, and sound.
  • Critical Thinking And Processing: The steps or the process of creating a craft can actually help children think about the final product and the logical steps they need to perform to reach their goal. God gives us creativity to help us develop young minds.
  • Growing In Patience: Crafting can help us to produce the fruit of the Spirit in Patience. Certain craft projects can take time to create. We need to have patience as we work on it. Also, if something doesn’t come out perfectly, we need to have patience and grace with ourselves, a godly quality that is good to know!
  • Building Their Confidence: Crafting can give children a sense of confidence and pride as they accomplish their goals and complete a project. Bringing a craft home to show their family is an opportunity to be valued and seen.
  • Demonstrating Our God-Given Gift Of Creativity: Crafts are a great way to show children that God has equipped us with a wonderful mind that is able to explore creativity, imagination, and artistic expression. God has made each one of us unique. Remind the children that that is why each of our projects is unique. God is so good!
  • Building Relationships: Gathering at the craft table and working on projects together can be a catalyst for deeper connection. A time to share and chat, a time for teachers to encourage and to listen, a time for kids to become friends.

Great Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids Of All Ages

As you gather together to try some of these great Thanksgiving crafts, don’t forget to include some older people from your congregation. Invite a teen, a parent, or a grandparent to come to your class. Extra hands are a big help for handing out supplies, helping one-on-one, and even helping in the cleanup. Don’t be afraid to ask others in your church family if they can help by prepping materials. It’s also a great way to involve them in your children’s ministry. 

Having a multi-generational time of crafting is a great way to encourage conversation and appreciation for one another. Ask your older helpers to share what Thanksgiving was like when they were little, what kinds of activities they had, or what projects they liked to make. Ask what they are thankful for now. Help your children appreciate their own church family and how God has designed us to work and love together as His own family!

5 Thanksgiving Craft Ideas For Your Sunday School

1. Coffee Filter Turkey

This is an easy craft that does require some dry time. You can do this craft in 2 separate classes and spread the joy out or you can use a blow dryer to speed the process along. Get your small church involved by having them save toilet paper rolls for you, ask volunteers to help precut some of the materials, or invite a senior adult in to help kids with their projects.

Materials Needed:

  • Disposable Coffee Filters
  • Recycled Toilet Paper Rolls (cut in half)
  • Water Markers Or Colored Bingo Daubers
  • Brown Construction Paper (cut into strips)
  • A Spray Bottle With Water
  • Orange Chenille Stems/ Pipe Cleaners
  • Disposable Paper Plates (cut in half)
  • Bottles Of Craft Glue
  • Stapler
  • Scissors
  • Crayons
  • Clothespins Or Paper clips 

Instructions:

  1. With markers or Bingo Daubers, color your coffee filter. Make sure to put a scrap piece of paper under the filter as the kids color, just to protect the table.
  2. Take the spray bottle & lightly spray the coffee filter. This will cause your colors to bleed and expand. This creates a ‘watercolor’ effect. Hang your filters to dry on a string with clothespins or paper clips. This is where you can speed things along by blow-drying them with the hairdryer.
  3. Have kids use crayons to color the paper plates. This is the background of your turkey. Allow them to use their creative talents and make it as colorful as they wish!
  4. Take the dried coffee filter and fold it in half. Glue the filter to the paper plate. 
  5. Take the brown strip of construction paper (that was cut to the size of the half toilet paper roll before class) and attach it to the toilet paper roll. This will be the body of the turkey. Staple it to the center of the paper plate.
  6. Poke a small hole in the top center of the toilet paper roll. insert the chenille stem, fold it in half, and form a head shape at the end. Twist it to be secured.

Crafting Tip: If you like you can also add an orange foam heart at the base of the toilet roll to be the feet.

2. Thanksgiving Blessing Box

This is a great recycling project as well as teaching our children the importance of counting our blessings. Kids could easily use this project with their whole family as they discuss and put their blessings in their boxes. Next year, pull them out and read them together. They can have a time of praise for how God has provided for their family. This activity will teach children to keep their eyes open to how God works in their lives!

Materials Needed:

  • Recycled Tissue Boxes (1 per child)
  • Fall Wrapping Paper
  • Decorations Or Stickers
  • Pre-cut Sticky Felt Or Fun Foam Pieces. (Be sure they match the top of the tissue box) This is a project to ask a volunteer to do ahead of class for you. Use colors that will coordinate with the choices of wrapping paper)
  • Misc. Craft Items: Scissors, Glue Sticks, Tape, Sticky Dots, Or Heavy Craft Glue

Crafting Tip: This is a project to ask a volunteer to do ahead of class for you. Use colors that will coordinate with the choices of wrapping paper.

Instructions:

  1. Place the pre-cut felt or fun foam top on the top of the tissue box.
  2. Help the children cut their choice of wrapping paper to wrap around the sides of the tissue box. Attach with the glue stick.
  3. Decorate the top of the Blessing Box with decorations. Stick on gems, buttons, stickers, or glitter. Let their creativity shine!
  4. You could make a small sign to glue to the side of the box that says, “I am Thankful” or “Count Your Blessings”.
  5. Provide the children with slips of colored paper to write blessings on and start their collection in their boxes. Have a time of prayer and thank God for His goodness.

Need to restock your children’s ministry craft supplies? Take a look at the list below!

3. Decoupage Jar Lantern

This craft is a bit more fancy and would make a nice gift to someone special. It also would be great to use as a centerpiece on the Thanksgiving table. Allowing your children to do more intricate projects encourages them to use new skills and it gives them an opportunity to be proud of their project as they see it displayed on their families’ table. 

Materials Needed:

Crafting Tip: Make sure to cover your work area with disposable tablecloths. Ask kids to bring an old T-shirt or apron to wear while crafting.

Instructions:

Explain to the children that the word ‘decoupage’ simply means putting glue down first, applying your item, and then putting another layer of glue on top. This step seals in your project. When it dries it becomes hard and shiny.

  1. Give each child a paper cup with some decoupage glue. Demonstrate how to apply some glue to the glass in a small area. Place a piece of tissue paper in the glue then carefully dab some more glue on top of the tissue paper. 
  2. Continue with this process, overlapping tissue pieces until your whole glass is covered. 
  3. Select a few decorations (dried flowers or floral cutouts). Tell the children you don’t want to cover the jar in the decorations, just add pretty embellishments. Use the same method of applying the flowers as you did with the tissue.
  4. Your projects will have to dry for 24 hours before you can finish them up and bring them home.
  5. Last steps: Wind the twine around the neck of the jar a few times then tie in a simple bow. Drop your votive candle into the jar and you have a beautiful centerpiece!

4. Wooden Bead Door Sign & Wreath

This project is better suited for older kids because of the skills needed. This wreath ring made of wooden beads is a very trendy craft right now. You can embellish however you decide, but these instructions are just for the wreath and the decorative sign. This project would be a wonderful gift to give to someone to share Thanksgiving joy and blessing. If your group can do it, have each child make 2, one to keep and one to give to someone in the church. This encourages our kids to share God’s love with others and is a great connection point with those in your church family.

Materials Needed:

  • 10 in. Wood Bead Rings: Available here. You can order them in bulk here or check at a local store.
  • Unfinished Wood Sign (8-10 in. wide. Drill a small hole at each end of the sign to attach it to your wreath ring)
  • Foam Brushes
  • Paint Pens
  • Fake Fall Leaves
  • Twine
  • Craft Glue
  • Fall Ribbon
  • Acrylic Paints (fall colors)

Instructions:

  1. Paint the wood signs in the desired color. Set aside to dry. During the waiting time, discuss what to write on the signs. Try to include one big word, like: Blessings, Thankful, Grateful, or Welcome usually works best. Work with students and have a poster board or a printed sheet with the words so they know the correct spelling. Help them plan out the spacing for the words to ensure they fit evenly on the sign.
  2. Use paint pens to write the word on the sign. Make sure you check how to correctly use the paint pen and warn children about not pressing down hard as they write! Let the sign dry (5 minutes).
  3. Attach the sign to the wreath with twine, tying it to the ring frame. 
  4. Glue on a few embellishments to enhance the fall look. You could add a fall ribbon bow at the top or the bottom of the wreath, some fake fall leaves, or mini sunflowers. Acorns or berries would look lovely. Let your artists create!
  5. Make one final loop at the top and center of the wreath ring to enable you to hang the wreath!

Crafting Tip: You can also purchase die-cut wood letters or words at the craft store if you don’t think your kids would like lettering their own signs.

5. Fruit Loop Turkey Donut Party Favors

This is a fun and quick craft to make with your kids. Just be prepared as there may be a lot of sampling going on! It’s so special to teach children about hospitality during the holidays. Making party favors for your guests to take home adds a special touch. This class will allow students to make 1 sample to bring home that they can teach their family how to make for all the guests coming to their Thanksgiving gathering. You could have a mixed-aged group of people gather in your church to make these favors for a local nursing home as a blessing! This could be a great time of relationship building and joy!

Materials needed:

  • A Box Of Fruit Rng Cereal
  • Hostess Crunch Donettes
  • A Box Of Toothpicks Or Thin Wooden Skewers (cut to 3 in.)
  • Candy Eyes (available in the cake decorating section of a craft store)
  • White Frosting (used as glue)
  • Small Paper Plates
  • Disposable Knives
  • Bag Of Mini Marshmallows
  • Clear Plastic Treat Bags

Instructions:

  1. Give each child a plate. Use the plastic knife to put a small amount of frosting on the donut. Then, use that to stick the donut to the center of the plate (this way it won’t move around while they are creating).
  2. To make the feathers on the turkey donut, place 4 toothpicks about ¼ in. apart onto one side of the donut. Have kids fill each toothpick with the fruit ring cereal. They can choose to use one color per toothpick or make patterns. When they are near the top of the toothpick, place a mini marshmallow on top to prevent the rings from popping off.
  3. Push one orange fruit ring into the front of the donut to represent the beak.
  4. Use the frosting to put a small dot on the back of each candy eye and attach it to the front of the donut.
  5. Place your finished creation inside the treat bag, close up the bag, and twist it shut. Use a small piece of ribbon or string to tie it closed. This turns into a fancy package with a fun surprise!

A Few Tips To Make Crafting With Your Kids A Little Easier

  • Always Plan Ahead: Make a sample of the craft yourself. This way you’ll see if any parts are more difficult than others. For students, having a finished craft in front of them helps to view the process. Seeing is understanding!
  • Pre-Bag Materials In A Kit: Each child will have the materials that they need in one place and it will save time. 
  • Consider The Age And Abilities Of Your Children: Make sure they will have success! Keep your project timeline age-appropriate for their attention span. Bring in extra hands if needed.
  • Keeping Your Areas Clean: Put disposable tablecloths on your work surfaces. Have a place available to wash brushes after painting. Provide aprons or old T-shirts to wear so their clothes are protected too.
  • Have Extra Supplies On Hand: Be prepared in case you have more kids than usual or if someone drops or loses a piece in their kit.
  • Show Off The Craft: After everyone has completed their craft project, have a time of ‘Showing Off’ their creation. Make a Craft Runway and allow each child (who would like to) to walk through with their project and display it. Encourage other children to clap and be excited for others. This is a great way to demonstrate love and support for one another.
  • Take Pictures During The Creating Time: You can use them on your small church’s social media platforms. Be sure to have permission from parents to post these pictures. You could also make a bulletin board display in the lobby of your small church. Include a thank you sign to all those who helped out in any way. This is a great way to highlight your children’s ministry and get others excited about it.

Focusing On An Attitude Of Gratitude

With a little planning, some promotion, and the recruitment of some friendly helpers, your small church can have a great time making Thanksgiving crafts together. Crafting gives the opportunity to connect, build self-esteem in our children, build relationships in the church body, and demonstrate how to share a blessing with someone else. 

Having an attitude of gratitude is a biblically inspired way of living our lives and worshipping God through everyday actions. Let’s demonstrate this to the children in our small churches!

Be full of joy all the time. Never stop praying. In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Read More:

New Sunday School Tips For Building Deeper Connections

4 Ideas To Make Sunday School Meaningful With Just 3 Kids – Small Church Ministry

4 Steps To Create A Visual Schedule For Sunday School & Why You Need One – Small Church Ministry