"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in number, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand, which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.  It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.  I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." 
- Abraham Lincoln - October 3, 1863



Thanksgiving is not a time of the year but rather an attitude of the heart.

ACTIVITIES:

 Camp Thankful by Rochelle Hale
Fight for Food - Youth Service Activity by Jill Revelli
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt by Talya Matheson

CLIPART:

 Leaf Pattern

COLORING PAGES:

Cornucopia
Scarecrow

COUNTDOWN CALENDAR:

 Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar

CRAFT IDEAS:

 Button Indian Corn Napkin Rings
 Gobble Up Turkey, Nov 2000 Friend
 Gum Drop Turkey
 Handprint Turkeys
 How to make a turkey shirt
 I am thankful for... craft
 Pilgrim Hat Instructions - Start with white 12 x 18 sheet of construction paper, lay it horizontal. From the top measure down 2 inches, and fold top down to that point. This makes the brim of the bonnet. Then along the bottom, starting from the left, measure every 2 inches and draw a straight line from the bottom going straight up to about an inch from the folded over section at the top. Continue this pattern across the bottom (every 2 inches). Then cut along those lines. This will look like wide fringe along the bottom. Now take the paper from the brim and form a horseshoe shape, grab each 2 inch strip and overlay them at the bottom. Staple them together. This forms the complete bonnet. I usually attach yarn to tie under their chins. (Tina) - Here are some other patterns that could be adapted for pilgrim bonnets: Site 1, Site 2
 Pilgrim Pat
 Spuds McTurkey
 Sugar Cone Cornucopia -
 Turkey Candelabra
 Turkey Finger Puppets (made out of felt)
 Turkey Hat
 Turkey Napkin Holders
 Turkey Nut Holder
 Turkey Pattern from ChristianEdWarehouse.com- (in color) (in black and white) - Instead of using a hat like they have shown here, just use a paper or Styrofoam bowl. 

DECORATIONS:

 Gratitude Tree
 Thanksgiving Garland

FAMILY HOME EVENING LESSONS:

 I can show gratitude by.... by Colette Bomsta 
 Thanksgiving Family Night
The turkey with the terrible temper

FAVOR IDEAS:

 Simple Turkey Favor

FUN FOODS:

 Blessings Mix
 Cute pilgrim hats can be made with Fudge Stripe Cookies.   Turn cookie over to use the flat bottom chocolate covered side.  Use a daub of frosting in the middle to attach an unwrapped chocolate kiss.  Use purchased brown or white frosting tube to squeeze and create a bow at bottom rim of kiss. (Shared by Kathee Merkley / ga11082007)
 Edible Cornucopias
 Indian Corn Favors
 Indian Corn on a Stick
 Mini Pots of Pumpkin Cream Pie
 Oreo Turkey's: Using Oreo's, Another Oreo Version
 Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecake
 Pumpkin Pie-sicles
Rice Krispie Treat Drumstick
 Scarecrow Cookies
Sweet Scarecrows
 Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Thankful Cake - As each guest arrives, have them write down on a slip of paper something they are grateful for and sign their name.  Fold each paper very small and wrap tight with tinfoil.  Have a previously baked cake ready to frost.  Cut the cake into the desired amount of pieces.  Then, before you frost each piece, insert a foil-wrapped note into the top of each piece of cake and then frost.  When served, have each person read aloud the note found in their piece of cake.
 What recipe/dish is a MUST HAVE at your Thanksgiving dinner?

GAMES:

 Thankerchief by Debbie Loveland
 Thanksgiving TV Bingo
 Turkey Trot

JOKES:

 The Pregnant Turkey

MISSIONARY CARE PACKAGE IDEAS:

Thanksgiving Missionary Care Package Printables by Laurie Johnson

MUSIC:

 Thanksgiving Song from November 1979 Friend

ONLINE VIDEO CLIPS:

 Thanksgiving Daily
 What are you thankful for?

OTHER:

 Autumn Pillow Boxes by Dana Cockrum 
 Brown Bag Popcorn Turkey
Joy and Thanksgiving Scripture Study Challenge
 Centerpiece Idea (Paper Bag Cornucopia) - Use a brown paper bag (large or small...depending on how big you want it).  Fold the top down two inches.  Fold down once more to create a rim.  Gradually gather bag between both hands and twist bottom end of bag into a tight twist resembling the tip of a cornucopia.  You may need to tack areas of the bag with a hot glue gun to keep in place.  Spray with brown or gold spray paint.  Allow to dry and display an array of fresh fruit.  (Flat lightweight paper sacks work best.  You may also use newspaper, kraft, or butcher paper by making a large cone and twisting like a paper bag).
 Five Kernels of Corn (cute)
 Thanks Givings Day Information
 Turkey Legend (kind of fun)


PLACE CARDS:

 Kid Friendly Place Cards for your Thanksgiving table

PUZZLES:

 Crossword Puzzle

SHARING TIME IDEAS:

 Count your many blessings, November 1981 Friend
 Gratitude Turkey by Shayleen Lunt
 Thanksgiving, Giving Thanks, November 1982 Friend
 Watch you attitude and always show your gratitude

SKITS:

 Squanto's Thanksgiving  A One Act Children's Play from Christian Articles Archive

STORIES:

 Thanksgiving Surprise (November 2006 Friend)
 Turkey with the Terrible Temper

THANKSGIVING COUNTDOWN CHARTS:

 Counting Down to Turkey Time
 Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar -and- Activity Ideas
 Tom the Thankful Singing Turkey (Part 1) and (Part 2)

TRADITIONS:

 A book of thanks
 A chain of gratitude by Amy Peacock
 Thanksgiving Thankful Calendar by Valerie Lee
 Thanksgiving Tablecloth
 We make a rice crispy shaped turkey and cut feathers out of construction paper taped to a toothpick - one for each person with their name on it. Then we go around the table and say what we're thankful for as we put our feather on the turkey. You could do this and afterward sing thanksgiving songs while you cut up the turkey for a treat. (Kandi Chapman /ga10202006)
 We usually get together and have the traditional dinner then we have a craft of some kind to help keep the little ones entertained. We also just sit around and visit while dinner digests, then we have the pie and ice cream! (Janice Bird /ga10252006)

VISITING TEACHING REMINDER:

 Gobble with your sisters by Stephanie McBride - Visiting Teaching reminder for your Relief Society sisters