The Turkey Who Wrote a Thank-You List for God | Thanksgiving Preschool Bible Lesson

🦃 The Turkey Who Wrote a Thank-You List for God

(A preschool Bible lesson about gratitude and thankfulness to God.)

With a toddler-friendly Bible story, hands-on craft, activity, song, and prayer, this lesson helps little ones learn that thanking God for everything is a joyful part of worship.

🌿 Bible Theme:

Thankfulness and remembering God’s blessings

📖 Bible Verse (Toddler Version):

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” — Psalm 107:1

💬 Main Point to Repeat with Kids:

“I can thank God every day!”

📘 Story – Bob the Turkey Who Wrote a Thank-You List for God

Bob the Turkey was one thoughtful bird! 🦃

Every morning, he liked to walk around the farmyard and think about all the things he was thankful for. One chilly November day, Bob decided he wanted to do something special — he wanted to write a Thank-You list for God!

He grabbed his big feather quill and started scribbling on a piece of paper.
“Thank You, God, for the sunshine,” he said, writing it down. ☀️
“Thank You for my food and my friends!” 🍎
“Thank You for the warm barn and the soft hay!” 🌾

Soon, all the other animals came by to see what Bob was doing.
“Whatcha writing, Bob?” asked the cow.
“It’s my Thank-You list for God!” Bob said proudly.

The animals all wanted to add to it! The sheep said, “Thank You, God, for fluffy wool.”
The pig said, “Thank You, God, for mud puddles!”
The rooster crowed, “Thank You, God, for mornings!”

By the end of the day, Bob’s list was so long that it trailed off the table and onto the barn floor!

That night, Bob knelt beside his hay bed and said,
“Thank You, God, for hearing every word we say — even when we’re thankful in our own special ways.”

And God smiled, because a thankful heart is the best kind of gift. 💛

🎲 Activity – Make a Class Thank-You List for God

Give each child a turn to say one thing they are thankful for. Write their ideas on a big sheet of paper titled “Our Class Thank-You List for God.”

Hang it up in the classroom or on the church bulletin board to remind everyone to be thankful every day.

💬 Optional for nonverbal children: Show picture cards (family, food, animals, church, sunshine) so they can point to something they love.

Bob The Thanksgiving Turkey Who Wrote a Thank-You List for God Preschool Bible Lesson Sunday School Craft by ChurchHouseCollectionStore.com

🎨 Craft – Bob the Turkey’s Thankful List Craft

Supplies:

Brown paper for the turkey’s body
Colored paper feathers (red, orange, yellow)
Marker or crayons
Glue stick
Small piece of paper or cardstock for “Bob’s List”
Optional: Googly Eyes

Directions:

Cut out and glue together the turkey’s body and feathers. Draw eyes or add googly eyes.
On the small “list” paper, help children write (or draw) 3–5 things they are thankful for.
Glue the “list” next to the turkey’s wing.
Add the title: “Bob the Turkey’s Thank-You List for God.”

✨ Variation: Turn it into a class bulletin board with all the turkeys’ lists displayed together.

🎵 Song – “Thank You, God, For Everything”

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

🎶
Thank You, God, for all You do,
For my friends and family too.
For the sunshine, sky, and trees,
For the birds and bumblebees.
Thank You, God, for everything,
We lift our voices up and sing! 🎶

📝 Poem – Bob’s Big List

Bob the Turkey wrote a list,
Of blessings he did not want to miss!
He thanked the Lord for every day,
And smiled as he knelt to pray.

🎭 Pretend Play – The Thankful Parade

Let children pretend to be different animals joining Bob’s “thank-you parade.”
Each child can flap, hop, or crawl while saying something they’re thankful for.
Example:
🐄 “Thank You, God, for milk!”
🐑 “Thank You, God, for wool!”
🐔 “Thank You, God, for eggs!”

🍓 Snack – Bob’s “Thank-You Fruit Kabobs”

Theme: Thanking God for the good things He made!

Supplies:

Child-safe skewers or straws (paper or plastic)
Fresh fruit pieces: strawberries, grapes, bananas, apple chunks, and marshmallows
Small plates or napkins

Directions:

Pre-cut fruit into small, safe pieces before class.
Let each child build a “Thank-You Kabob” by adding one fruit piece for each thing they want to thank God for.
- Example: “This grape is for my family,” “This strawberry is for my friends,” “This marshmallow is for Jesus’ love!”
When finished, pray together:
“Thank You, God, for everything You made — and for our yummy snack too!”

✨ Easy Adaptation Ideas:

For allergy-friendly or toddler groups, use dry cereal rings or mini crackers instead of fruit.
For children with fine motor challenges, let them tell you which items to add to their kabob, and you build it for them.

🍎 Snack – Thankful Trail Mix Cups

Fill small cups with a simple snack mix:

Cereal (for God’s daily blessings)
Mini marshmallows (for soft hearts)
Pretzels (for prayer hands)
Raisins (for joy)

Say together before eating:
“Thank You, God, for this snack and for everything You give us!”

🖍️ COLORING PAGE: Bob the Turkey’s Thank-You List for God

Let little ones bring Bob’s story to life with this fun and easy Thanksgiving Bible coloring page! Print the free pdf coloring page: CLICK HERE

Kids can color Bob the Turkey as he writes his thankful list for God, reminding them to thank Him for family, friends, and all the blessings He gives every day. Perfect for Sunday School or quiet time after the lesson!

🎵 Song Title:

“Bob the Turkey Wrote a Thank-You List!”

(A Thanksgiving Bible Song for Preschoolers)
By Church House Collection Store. All Rights Reserved.

🦃 Lyrics:

(Verse 1)
Bob the turkey woke one day,
With thankful things he had to say.
He grabbed his feather pen so neat,
And made a list—what a thankful treat!

(Chorus)
Thank You, God, for family and friends,
Thank You, God, again and again!
Thank You, God, for the food I eat,
For sunshine warm and hay so sweet!

(Verse 2)
The cow and sheep came walking by,
“Bob, what’s that paper? Can we try?”
Bob just smiled and said with cheer,
“I’m thanking God for blessings here!”

(Chorus)
Thank You, God, for family and friends,
Thank You, God, again and again!
Thank You, God, for the food I eat,
For sunshine warm and hay so sweet!

(Bridge)
Flap your wings and spin around,
Say “Thank You, God!”—what a joyful sound!
Clap your hands and stomp your shoes,
God gives blessings we can’t lose!

(Final Chorus)
Thank You, God, for all You do,
For love and laughter, sunshine too!
Thank You, God, for the life You give,
I’ll thank You every day I live! 💛

💡 Movement Ideas for Preschoolers:

Flap wings like a turkey when you say “Bob the turkey”
Pretend to write when Bob makes his list
Clap hands during the chorus
Spin in a circle and stomp feet during the bridge
End by pointing upward when saying “Thank You, God!”

🙏 Closing Prayer (Repeat After Me):

Dear God,
Thank You for my family.
Thank You for my friends.
Thank You for all You give.
Help me to always say —
“Thank You, God!”
Amen.

💬 Let’s Talk About It – With Answers

❓ What did Bob the Turkey write on his list?
✅ He wrote all the things he was thankful to God for — like sunshine, food, and friends.

❓ Who did Bob want to thank?
✅ Bob wanted to thank God for every good thing in his life.

❓ What are three things you can thank God for today?
✅ (Possible answers for children:)

My family 👨👩👧👦
My toys 🧸
My church or friends ⛪💛

💖 How Everyone Can Join In:

Children who can’t write can tell their teacher what to put on their Thank-You List.
Nonverbal children can point to picture cards.
Children with physical disabilities can use stickers or hand-over-hand help to place feathers.
Every “thank you” matters — spoken, signed, drawn, or smiled.

💗 Teacher Reflection – For You:

A thankful heart is contagious. When you model gratitude in your classroom, it grows in every child who hears it.

💖 How Everyone Can Join In – Adaptive Learning Ideas for “The Turkey Who Wrote a Thank-You List for God”

Every child can praise God and feel included in His love — no matter how their body moves or what tools they use. These ideas help teachers include all children, especially those who use wheelchairs, have limited mobility, or are missing arms or legs. Each adaptation allows children to experience the story, craft, song, and snack in meaningful ways.

📖 Story – Bob the Turkey Who Wrote a Thank-You List for God

Goal: Help children understand that thankfulness is something everyone can share.

Adaptations:

Tactile Story Props: Use soft feathers, a small piece of hay, a mini paper list, or a toy turkey to help children touch and feel parts of the story while listening.
Sound Cues: Play quiet barn sounds (turkey gobbles, cow moos, rustling hay) to create an immersive experience for children with limited vision.
Switch-Activated Responses: If a child has a speech or movement device, pre-record a sound like “Gobble, gobble!” or “Thank You, God!” so they can press it during the story when everyone else speaks.
Eye-Gaze Participation: For children who communicate with eye movement, show them pictures (sun, food, friends, church) and let them look toward the one they’re thankful for.
Peer Buddies: Pair each child with a gentle partner who helps hold props or points to images during the story, so every child is involved in retelling.

🎨 Craft – Bob the Turkey’s Thankful List Craft

Goal: Create a turkey craft that helps each child share what they’re thankful for.

Adaptations:

For Children Without Arms or Limited Hand Use:
- Provide adaptive tools such as a headband pointer, mouth stylus, or Velcro-backed materials so they can direct where each feather or list goes.
- Teachers or helpers can place items based on the child’s verbal, eye-gaze, or yes/no cues (“Red feather here?”).
For Wheelchair Users:
- Tape the craft base (paper plate or sheet) to their tray or tabletop to prevent slipping.
- Keep supplies in reachable bins so the child can visually choose materials.
For Low Vision:
- Use high-contrast paper (bright feathers, bold outlines). Add tactile details — glue string or puffy paint around feather edges so the shapes can be felt.
Alternative Participation:
- If a child cannot physically build the craft, they can help name or “assign” thankful ideas that others write or draw on their behalf. Their words become the feathers.
Emotional Inclusion:
- When sharing finished turkeys, make sure each child’s name is read aloud and celebrated — God smiles at their “thank-you lists,” however they were made.

🎲 Activity – Make a Class Thank-You List for God

Goal: Build a group list of things the class is thankful for.

Adaptations:

Voice or Device Input: Children with speech devices can press a button or use a recorded message to share what they’re thankful for (e.g., “my family” or “music”).
Symbol Cards: Provide picture cards of common blessings (family, friends, food, pets, sunshine). Children can point, tap, or look at one to choose it.
Partner Participation: A friend or helper can write the child’s chosen words or draw simple pictures (heart for love, house for family).
For Non-Mobile Children: Bring the list to them on a clipboard or whiteboard. Include their ideas equally and visibly.
Whole-Class Inclusion: Let each child contribute one item — verbal, visual, or tactile — so everyone’s “thankful voice” is part of the final display.

🎵 Song – “Thank You, God, For Everything”

Goal: Encourage joyful worship through song and movement.

Adaptations:

For Wheelchair Users: Encourage hand movements, shoulder shrugs, or head nods in rhythm with the song. They can “flap their wings” by lifting arms or tilting side to side.
For Children Without Arms or Legs: Encourage them to use facial expressions, clapping sounds with their mouth, or gentle vocal sounds during the “thank you” parts.
For Children With Hearing Impairments: Provide printed lyrics or simple sign language gestures for key words: “God,” “Thank You,” “Family,” “Love.”
For Children With Visual Impairments: The teacher can describe the movements aloud (e.g., “We’re lifting our hands to thank God!”) and let them feel the rhythm with a small drum or shaker.
For Sensory-Sensitive Children: Lower the volume slightly and encourage quiet participation with a stuffed animal “turkey” they can hug during the song.

🍓 Snack – Bob’s “Thank-You Fruit Kabobs”

Goal: Give children a tangible way to thank God for the good things He made.

Adaptations:

For Children Without Arm Movement: Let them choose fruit pieces using voice, eye gaze, or yes/no cues, and have a helper build the kabob while the child gives directions (“Grape next,” “Add banana”).
For Wheelchair Users: Provide table-level access and shorter skewers or straws that fit securely in their trays.
For Children With Swallowing or Sensory Challenges: Offer soft, easy-to-eat fruit options (like banana slices) or serve small fruit cups they can enjoy safely with a spoon.
Visual Aid Option: Show a photo of the finished kabob and name each fruit while connecting it to something to thank God for (“Strawberry for love,” “Banana for joy”).
Inclusion Moment: When everyone prays before the snack, mention that each kabob represents the good things God gives us — and every child made one in their own way.

🖍️ Coloring Page – Bob the Turkey’s Thank-You List for God

Goal: Reinforce gratitude through coloring and creativity.

Adaptations:

For Limited Hand Use: Use adaptive crayons, chunky markers, or wrap crayons in foam grips.
For Children Without Arms: Provide a headband stylus or mouth stick for digital coloring, or let them choose colors verbally for an adult or helper to fill in.
For Low Vision: Trace the main outlines in black puffy paint or glue so the shapes can be felt.
For Sensory Needs: Offer alternative tools like sponge brushes or dot markers for gentler input.
Encouragement Tip: Let children “sign” their finished page in any way they can — a thumbprint, sticker, or mark of color — to celebrate that their work is theirs.

🙏 Closing Prayer – Repeat After Me

Goal: End the lesson by giving every child a chance to thank God.

Adaptations:

For Nonverbal Children: They can press a pre-recorded button or gesture when it’s time to say “Thank You, God!”
For Limited Mobility: Create a group circle where all children are included, with space for wheelchairs and mobility devices.
For Visually Impaired Children: Use a gentle touch cue (like tapping their hand) when it’s time for their turn to pray.
For Emotional Inclusion: End by saying aloud, “God hears every thank-you — even the ones we say in our hearts.”

💗 Teacher Encouragement:

In every classroom, there are children who teach us just as much as we teach them.
When a child with unique abilities joins your group, you are not limited — you are invited to see God’s creativity in action.
Every small movement, sound, or look upward is a “thank you” in God’s eyes.