This introduction character-building lesson about thankfulness provides the building block for teaching kids about this important trait. Character isn’t always innate, but it is learned over a lifetime. Thankfulness is something we can and should teach our children.
Want more lessons on thankfulness? Check out this collection of 16 ways to teach kids about thankfulness.
Introduction Character-Building Lesson About Thankfulness
You have discovered my character-building education series. Here, you will discover 52 different character traits to work on with kids, one for each week of the year. Explore all of the character qualities we work on here.
SUBJECT
Thankfulness
OBJECTIVE
Kids will learn the meaning of thankfulness and learn a Bible verse about this topic. They will begin to understand why it is important to be grateful.
THANKFULNESS VERSE
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
The scripture above is the memory verse for our character-building week about thankfulness. Work daily on this verse so kids can commit it to memory, thus writing the Word of the Lord on their hearts.
PERSEVERANCE DEFINITION
Read the following definition to your kids:
Thankfulness meaning – a feeling of gratitude or appreciation for something good that has been received or has happened.
Synonyms to Thankfulness: Gratitude, appreciation
ASK
Ask the following question:
- Do you know someone who seems to have an attitude of thankfulness? Explain what it is like to be around them.
- What are the benefits of being thankful?
- What are some ways you can show thankfulness to others?
REASON CHOSEN:
Thanksgiving is coming. I know we focus on giving thanks at Thanksgiving. However, what we want to teach our kids is that gratefulness needs to be a character quality that flows out throughout our lives. It’s not something we do once a year. It’s an attitude that should help define who we are.
There is absolutely no benefit to sitting and dwelling on the negative – what we don’t have. Rather, we should be grateful for all we do have.
Having this attitude can transform our lives…and our children’s lives.
The Bible teaches us to “Rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
Life can be hard, but no matter your circumstances, you can always find things for which to be thankful.
How to Make a Thankfulness Word Ring
CHARACTER BUILDING ACTIVITY: CREATING A WORD RING FOR PERSEVERANCE
At the beginning of each week of character-building lessons, the craft will be the same because we will simply be adding a new word to our already established word ring. As with all the 52 words we are working on for the year, the first task will be making a word card for our word ring and learning the Bible verse.
MATERIALS NEEDED TO MAKE WORD RING FOR PERSEVERANCE
HOW TO MAKE A WORD RING FOR PERSEVERANCE -CHARACTER BUILDING ACTIVITY
Have your kids choose a paper style and sticker letter they think will look good together. Then, have them sound out the word “thankfulness.”
My kids took turns finding the letters we needed and sticking them on the paper…they’re kids – the letters will not be stuck on perfect.
Assist kids in cutting the paper to 9.5 x 3 inches.
Next, punch a hole in the corner and place the word paper on your binder ring.
Each week, a new word will be added to the clip in similar fashion.
Next, write the Bible verse on the back. I did this for my kids since they were still young. If your kids are older, have them do it themselves.
This is the first day of our thankfulness week. We will spend this week learning the word, meaning, and memorizing the scripture. There will be supporting lessons and activities to help develop gratefulness in children.
Note: This post was originally written in 2012, but it has been updated with better formatting and description for the reader’s benefit.
LOOKING FOR MORE LESSONS IN THANKFULNESS?
Thankfulness Bible Verse Coloring Sheet
