Thanksgiving Fun

I love this time of year when the primary program is over and the holiday songs dust themselves off and start to get some "sing time" again!  Of course I'm planning and bringing back my favorite Thanksgiving song "My Blessings" . . .here's how I taught it and used it last year, it was a lot of fun, I just have to find a new guitar player since I still am not so good and need practice.

I also am planning on recycling my Serving Scarecrow for a fun singing time about gratitude and serving others.

Finally I am planning on finally teaching them the "For Health and Strength" using sign language and teaching it it German, I found two amazingly fun ideas here at sugardoodle.

Reinforce the words by teaching the children to sign four of the words. For the word health, extend the forefinger and the middle finger—this is the hand shape for H. Both hands form the H shape and touch the chest and then the waist. For food, use the right hand to act as if you are placing food in the mouth. The sign for praise is made by combining the signs for true and applaud. First the forefinger of the right hand is upright and moves straight forward from the mouth, then a hand-clapping motion is made. To sign the word Lord, use the thumb and first finger of the right hand extended (hand shape L), move the hand from the left side of the chest to the right hip.

Another fun way to review the song is to teach it in a different language. The English and German words to “For Health and Strength” are very similar:

“Für Hilf und Kraft, fürs täglich Brot wir danken dir, o Gott.” (Pronounced similar to “fyur hilf oont kroft, fyurs teglikh brote veer donken deer, oh Gote.”)

It is fun to speak a different language! German has some sounds that we do not have in English. The “ü” sound is made by saying a long “e” and then rounding the lips. The “ä” sound is a short “e” sound. German does not have a “w” sound; the “w” makes the sound of “v.” Point out the similarities in such words as for/für, and/und, health/Hilf, bread/Brot (bread stands for food here), God/Gott.  (Idea taken from the November 2006 Friend Sharing Time Suggestion)

Maybe have the 1st group sing in English and the next group sing in German for Sr. Primary.

Here's a link to a ton of amazing Thanksgiving ideas if you need some more inspiration