• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Printables Terms of Use
  • Subscribe!
  • Printables
    • Free Printables
    • Circle Time Printable Packets
    • Fall Printable Packets
    • Themed Printable Packets
    • Fine Motor Printable Packets
    • Dramatic Play Printable Packs
    • Literacy and Story Time Printable Packets
    • Color Recognition Printable Packets
    • Winter Printable Packs
    • Spring Printable Packets
  • Preschool
  • Toddlers
  • Lesson Plans
    • Preschool Lesson Plans
    • Toddler Lesson Plans
You are here: Home / Fall Activities / Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Activity {that Teaches Thankfulness)

This post might contain affiliate links. Click here for more information. Thanks for visiting!

Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Activity {that Teaches Thankfulness)

November 21, 2018 by Sheryl Cooper

Share
Pin
Tweet
Email

Inside: Looking for an easy toddler Thanksgiving activity? Make a simple Thankful banner! Comes with free printable labels.

Thanksgiving is the time to focus on what we are thankful for, but this can be hard for toddlers to grasp.

You might have already experienced asking them what they are thankful for and they look at you with a blank face and then move on to something else.

This can happen with 3 year olds as well.

There are simpler ways of working on thankfulness with young children, and this toddler thankful banner activity is an example.

Plus, it’s a fun way to make a decoration for the fall!

👉 Note: I’ve provided free printable labels to go with this toddler thankful banner, as well as a leaf template. You can find them towards the bottom of this post.

Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Activity {that Teaches Thankfulness)

 

The idea to make this toddler thankful banner came from the friendship banner we made in September.

We all loved it so much that I wanted to make another banner for Thanksgiving!

Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Activity {that Teaches Thankfulness)

 

What we used:

  • Leaves cut out of construction paper (printable template towards bottom of this post)
  • Small colorful pom poms (or anything you’d like to use)
  • White washable glue tinted with some paint (see video below)
  • Labels ( printable towards bottom of this post)
  • Brads
  • Hole Punch

Preparing this toddler thankful banner:

Cut leaves from construction paper.

Tint glue desired colors by adding a bit of tempera paint to the bottles.

 

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

Getting started:

Before starting this activity, we read some simple thankful books during circle time.


I then shared what made me happy.

And then I asked each of the children.

“Popsicles.”

“Going to the park.”

“My dog.”

“Mommy and Daddy.”

“Playing outside.”

And then, it was time to invite the children to decorate a leaf.

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

I squirted colored glue on the leaf and the toddlers spread it around the paper leaf using a paintbrush.

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

Then, it was time to add the mini pom poms.

Notice in the photo below how the thumb and index finger are pinching the pom pom?

This is a wonderful way to work on those fine motor skills!

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

Once the children were finished adding their pom poms, I let them dry completely.

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

Assembling this thankful wreath:

First, I added the children’s names on the leaves using the labels.

Then, I punched a whole on either side of the leaves, joining them with brads.

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

I added the “We are Thankful” label in the middle of the banner.

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

Displaying the banner:

Once the banner was assembled, I hung it in our classroom window using suction cup hooks.

I just love how you can see the same colors in the landscape on the other side of the window!

A fun way to decorate the classroom using the children’s work.

Related: Easy Ways to Decorate a Classroom with the Children’s Work

How to Make a Toddler Thankful Banner for Thanksgiving

Free printables to go with this activity:

Free Thanksgiving Thankful Printable

free toddler leaf template

 

More fall activities:

Preschool Turkey Craft that Teaches Thankfulness

Leaf Sorting Activity with Free Printable Cards

Super Easy Fall Wreath

Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Activity {that Teaches Thankfulness)

 

FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!

Get your FREE circle time planner as a gift when you subscribe to my free weekly newsletters.

Here is my Privacy Policy

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email

Filed Under: Art, Fall Activities, Toddlers Tagged With: art, fall, printables, Thanksgiving, toddlers

About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 20 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

Previous Post: « Setting Up the Thanksgiving Theme for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Next Post: Toddler and Preschool Christmas Cooking Ideas that are Tasty and Fun »

Primary Sidebar

You can also find us here!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Looking for something specific?

Categories

Welcome! I'm Sheryl Cooper, teacher of 2 and 3 year olds for over 22 years. Read more about me here!

More Printables!

preschool printables

Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds is a participant in Amazon Associates.

preschool printables

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds · Privacy Policy