As preschool teachers, one of our most rewarding—and sometimes challenging—roles is to nurture social and emotional learning. Children come into the classroom with varying levels of both academic skills and emotional awareness, and a big part of our job is helping to strengthen these skills in a supportive way. The top part of the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is responsible for critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy, skills that form the foundation for successful relationships and decision-making. In contrast, the "bottom brain," or limbic system, controls emotional responses and basic survival instincts, including the fight-or-flight response.
Just as we teach children to connect sounds to letters, we aim to connect these two brain regions to build emotional intelligence and self-regulation. This process supports children's ability to navigate challenges, understand their emotions, and develop empathy for others. One of the best ways to nurture these connections is by actively teaching and modeling kindness. When we create a classroom that practices kindness through role-play, thoughtful routines, and social stories, we set the stage for success in both learning and personal growth.
Below are some activities to start fostering kindness and gratitude in the preschool classroom—all while enhancing literacy skills. There are 8 ideas for the 4-year-old classroom (but be sure to modify for our littler learners), and 3 activities for the toddler and 2’s classroom. Let’s explore them together!
8 Literacy-Focused Preschool Thanksgiving Activities for 4-Year-Old Classrooms
1. Create a Thankful Tree
Invite children to create a “Thankful Tree” as a visual display of gratitude. Provide the children with precut leaves. Have them draw or cut out pictures from magazines things that they are thankful for. Share with the class and then add the leaves to the tree branches. As the tree fills up, children can see their combined gratitude grow!
2. Letter Gratitude Jar
Introduce the idea of gratitude from A to Z with a “Letter Gratitude Jar.” Write each letter of the alphabet on a sticky note. Each day, choose a few sticky-notes from the group. Work together to brainstorm something that the children are thankful for that starts with that letter, like “A” for apples or “B” for brothers. Write the word on the note, fold it up, and add the idea to the jar. Revisit the gratitude jar throughout the year as a reminder of all the wonderful things the children appreciate.
3. A-Z Class Thankful Book
Create an A-Z class book that highlights what the children are thankful for. Assign each child a specific letter. Help each child brainstorm something meaningful that he/she is thankful for. Each child will draw a picture of that item on the alphabet page. Once complete, go through each drawing and clearly write the word at the bottom. Laminate, staple together, and place the book in your classroom library for everyone to read and revisit, reinforcing gratitude in a way that’s personal to the class.
4. Name Alliteration Gratitude
Incorporate a little literacy fun with an alliteration activity! One by one, ask the children to come to the front of the room. Brainstorm adjectives that describe each child and begin with the same beginning letter as his/her name, such as Kate is kind, or Ben is brilliant. Let the children draw a picture of themselves to go with their sentence and dive into the fun vocabulary. Laminate the pages and make a class book that the children can read over and over, building self-esteem while celebrating each child’s unique qualities.
5. Kindness Bracelets
This activity combines gratitude with a little kindness! Write each child’s name on a notecard. Have each child draw a notecard name of a classmate and make them a simple bracelet using beads and pipe cleaners. When it is time to share the gift, ask the children to share one thing they appreciate about that friend. It’s a sweet way to teach friendship, build social and oral language skills, and practice speaking kind words.
6. “Thankful for ___” Alphabet Game
In this game, you’ll need a mystery bag full of magnetic letters, A-Z. Ask each child to draw a letter from the bag and say, “ I am thankful for ___,” filling in the blank with something that starts with that letter. This fun twist on a traditional alphabet activity is a great way to build vocabulary and phonemic awareness while focusing on gratitude.
7. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
A simple gratitude-themed scavenger hunt encourages children to observe and appreciate their surroundings. Create a list of items for children to find, like “something that makes you feel safe” or “something that makes you smile.” As they find each item, have them talk about why they’re thankful for it. This activity encourages mindfulness and helps children connect with things they see every day.
8. Thankful Alphabet Match
Practice beginning sounds with the simple alphabet picture match. Print out a collection of pictures that resemble items that children are thankful for. For example, mom, dad, cat, lunch, friends, bed. Spread the pictures around the classroom. Hang the matching magnetic letters on the board. Ask each child to find one picture around the classroom. One-by-one, share the item found and locate the letter that matches the beginning sound. Pair the items together and continue sharing the pictures and beginning sounds.
3 Literacy-Focused Thanksgiving Activities for Toddler and 2's Classrooms
Thankful Collage Basket
Prepare a basket with simple pictures of things toddlers might be thankful for, like family members, pets, favorite toys, or foods. During circle time, let each child pick a picture from the basket, talk about it briefly, and glue it to a large poster to make a “Thankful Collage.”
Thankful Song and Dance
Sing a simple, repetitive song that encourages movement and rhythm. Sing the song again and again, adding in motions and instruments.
“Thank you, thank you, clap, clap, clap.
I am thankful for this. I am thankful for that.
Thank you, thank you, one, two three,
I am thankful for my family!”
"Who Are We Thankful For?" Book
Ask families to send in photographs of family members, pets, and favorite items and toys. Create a simple class book with pages dedicated to family, friends, pets, and items. Include each child’s name and photos on the dedicated page so the children can locate familiar faces and items. Read the book again and again!
I hope that you enjoy these fun, thoughtful, and educational ways to express gratitude this Thanksgiving season! Tag @movinglittleminds on Instagram or Facebook if you give it a try!
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We believe that every child deserves a bright future, and this begins with a strong foundation in early literacy skills. At Moving Little Minds, we are dedicated to providing research-based literacy activities in fun and engaging ways! By merging instruction with play, we ensure that children are reaching their full potential and embark on their educational journey well-prepared for the future! Let's build those KEY emergent literacy skills together.
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