The Thankful Pumpkin Bible Lesson For Preschoolers

🎃 The Thankful Pumpkin

With a toddler-friendly Bible story, hands-on craft, movement game, and a catchy song, this fall lesson is perfect for Sunday School, preschool, children’s church, and homeschool.

📖 Bible Theme:

Gratitude — Saying thank you to God for everything.

📖 Bible Verse (Toddler Version):

“Give thanks to God.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

⭐ Main Point to Repeat with Kids:

I can say thank you to God!

📚 STORY: The Thankful Pumpkin

Once upon a fall morning, a little orange pumpkin named Penny sat on a hay bale at Farmer Fred’s pumpkin patch. All the other pumpkins were busy chatting and daydreaming.

“I hope I get taken to a school!” said one pumpkin.
“I want to sit on a porch with pretty mums!” said another.
“I just want to ride in a wagon!” giggled a tiny round one.

But Penny had a different kind of wish.

“I want to thank God for everything,” she said with a smile.

So Penny rolled to the scarecrow and said,
“Thank you, God, for the scarecrow who keeps the garden safe.”

She rolled to the apples and said,
“Thank you, God, for crunchy snacks!”

She bumped into a corn stalk and said,
“Thank you, God, for tall, green plants that sway in the breeze!”

Penny even said thank you when it started to rain.
“Thank you, God, for water to help things grow!”

At the end of the day, a little girl named Lucy came to the pumpkin patch. She saw Penny and smiled.
“Mommy, can I get this pumpkin? She looks happy!”

Penny went home with Lucy and became… The Thankful Pumpkin!

Lucy used a marker to write things she was thankful for all over Penny — like “family,” “puppy,” “cookies,” and “Jesus.”

Penny glowed with joy, knowing she had helped Lucy say thank you to God.

And that night, Penny whispered one more thing:
“Thank you, God… for letting me be me.”

🎲 ACTIVITY: Thankful Toss

Supplies:

A small plush pumpkin or beanbag
A basket or bowl
Thankful idea cards (optional)

Instructions:
Form a circle. Toss the plush pumpkin to a child and ask, “What’s something you’re thankful for?”
They answer, then toss it into the basket. Repeat with each child!

The Thankful Pumpkin Fall Paper Plate Craft For Prescoholers

🎨 Craft: Paper Plate Thankful Pumpkin

Description:
In this fun fall craft, kids will turn a simple paper plate into a smiling pumpkin. Using crayons, paper, and glue, little ones can create their very own “Thankful Pumpkin” to remind them to say “thank you” to God. This easy activity works perfectly alongside the story and makes a sweet take-home keepsake.

Supplies Needed:

White paper plate
Orange crayon
Black crayon
Pink crayon
Green construction paper (for stem)
Scissors
Glue

Directions:

Give each child a paper plate.
Color the entire plate orange using a crayon.
Cut a small rectangle from green paper to make the pumpkin stem. Glue it to the top of the plate.
With a black crayon, draw two round eyes, a happy mouth, and eyebrows.
Add rosy cheeks with a pink crayon.
(Optional) Kids can write or draw things they’re thankful for around the pumpkin at home.

🖍️ Coloring Page: The Thankful Pumpkin

This adorable “Thankful Pumpkin” coloring page is the perfect companion to the fall Bible lesson on gratitude. Featuring a happy pumpkin with a cheerful face, this printable gives preschoolers a hands-on way to remember that we can always say, “Thank You, God!” Pair it with the story, craft, and song from the lesson for a complete Sunday School activity.

Encourage children to color the pumpkin bright orange and add their own thankful words or pictures on the back of the coloring page. This simple activity reinforces the Bible verse “Give thanks to God” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and helps little ones connect fun with faith.

Download Coloring Page- CLICK HERE

🎨 CRAFT: Thankful Pumpkin Paper Craft

Supplies:

Orange construction paper
Green paper for a stem
Scissors
Glue
Black marker
Optional: pre-cut strips

Instructions:

Cut orange paper into strips (around 1-inch wide).
On each strip, help kids write or draw something they’re thankful for.
Loop the strips into a pumpkin shape, securing the ends together.
Add a green stem and leaf on top.
Display them as a “Pumpkin Patch of Praise” in the classroom!

🎵 SONG: “Thank You, God, for Everything”

(Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)

🎵
Thank you, God, for food to eat,
Shoes and socks upon my feet.
Thank you for my family,
And for pumpkins orange and sweet.
Thank you, God, for everything—
You're the reason why we sing!
🎵

📝 POEM: The Pumpkin’s Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for skies so blue,
For cozy scarves and morning dew.
For hayrides, leaves, and fields of gold,
And stories that the children told.
For hugs and laughs and songs we sing—
Thank you, Lord, for everything!

🎭 PRETEND PLAY GAME: Pumpkin Parade

Let the kids pretend to be pumpkins rolling through the patch saying “Thank you, God!” every time they bump into something.
Examples: “Thank you, God, for the wind!” “Thank you, God, for my coat!” Let them roll, wobble, and giggle!

The Thankful Pumpkin Fall Cupcakes For Bible Sunday School Lesson

🧁 Snack Idea: The Thankful Pumpkin Cupcakes

Description:
These fun and festive Thankful Pumpkin Cupcakes are the perfect treat to match the fall Bible lesson, The Thankful Pumpkin. With simple ingredients and a cheerful topper, they remind kids to celebrate gratitude while enjoying a sweet seasonal snack. Perfect for Sunday School, homeschool, or a fall church gathering!

Supplies / Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients on box)
Chocolate frosting
Candy corn (4 pieces per cupcake)
Candy corn pumpkins (1 per cupcake)
Toothpicks
Scissors
Printed “The Thankful Pumpkin” clipart topper (cut out with decorative scissors for a scalloped edge) Grab the downloadable cupcake topper template to make these cupcakes: CLICK HERE

Directions:

Bake cupcakes according to the directions on the chocolate cake mix box. Allow to cool completely.
Frost each cupcake with chocolate frosting.
Place one pumpkin candy corn in the center of the cupcake.
Add four regular candy corn pieces around the pumpkin to decorate.
Print out “The Thankful Pumpkin” clipart toppers on white paper and cut them out using decorative scissors to give them a wavy edge.
Tape or glue each topper to a toothpick and insert into the cupcake.

Now you have a tray of Thankful Pumpkin Cupcakes ready to serve alongside the lesson!

🍎 SNACK IDEA: Pumpkin Patch Cups

Ingredients:

Vanilla pudding or yogurt
Crushed graham crackers (dirt)
Candy corn pumpkins or orange fruit snacks

Instructions:

Scoop pudding or yogurt into cups.
Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top.
Add candy pumpkins on top to make a “pumpkin patch.”
Optional: Let kids say one thing they’re thankful for before they eat!

🙏 CLOSING PRAYER (Repeat After Me):

Dear God,
Thank You for pumpkins.
Thank You for fall.
Thank You for everything—
Big and small!
Help me remember to say thank you every day.
Amen.

📬 TAKE-HOME NOTE FOR PARENTS:

This week, we learned about thankfulness through “The Thankful Pumpkin.” Help your child write or draw things they’re grateful for on a paper pumpkin at home. You can tape it to the fridge as a daily reminder to say “thank you, God!”