Thankful Pie

As Thanksgiving approaches, parents and teachers look for ways to help kids understand the importance of gratitude. This Thankful Pie activity is a simple and creative way to get kids thinking about what they’re thankful for and to spark meaningful discussions in the classroom or at home.

What is a Thankful Pie?

The Thankful Pie is a hands-on activity where children create their own “pie” with slices dedicated to things they appreciate. Each slice can represent something they’re grateful for, such as family, friends, home, food, or pets. The craftivity encourages kids to reflect on the people, places, and things that bring joy and comfort into their lives.

Materials Needed

You don’t need a lot for this activity. Just gather the following materials:

• Printable Thankful Pie template (download below)
• Card stock paper
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Scissors
• Paper fastener or brad

Before the Activity

Start by having children think about things they’re thankful for. Younger kids may need guidance, so consider discussing categories like family, friends, food, shelter, and nature. You could put their ideas on the white board or chart paper. This printable has the option to have categories listed or a blank thankful pie where you can fill it in yourself.

How to Make a Thankful Pie

Print the pages for this activity on card stock paper to make it more durable.

Start by having students cut out the two circles. You also need to cut out the one slice on the Thankful Pie.

Add your student’s name on this part. If students are able, they can write their own name.

Have students color the turkey and leaf pictures. Then once students have identified what they’re thankful for, have them add drawings or words that represent what they are thankful for.

After the children have finished decorating, use a paper fastener to attach the spinner. They can spin it to choose a slice to talk about, which makes it a great tool for starting conversations about gratitude.

Why This Activity is Beneficial

This Thankful Pie activity helps children:

• Reflect on their blessings: By identifying things they’re thankful for, kids can better appreciate the positive aspects of their lives.
• Express creativity: Drawing or coloring each slice allows children to showcase their artistic side.
• Practice gratitude in a fun way: The spinning element adds excitement, encouraging kids to share what they appreciate with others. Students will be excited to share this with their loved ones!

Helpful Tips

1. If your students are too young to use scissors, you will want to cut out the pieces for them.
2. You can spread this activity out over multiple days.

Free Download

This Thankful Pie activity is a simple, engaging way to teach gratitude during the Thanksgiving season. Give it a try and see the thoughtful responses it inspires!

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