Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It's a time of family gatherings, a time for gratitude, history, and turkey. Thanksgiving day has always been a fun time with songs and activities to enjoy. Here are Thanksgiving songs for children that can be added to a song list and most are easy with new words to traditional tunes.
Songs of Gratitude
Gratitude is the action of giving thanks and to show appreciation for kindness. This song is a parody to the traditional song "If You're Happy and You Know It." Children love to do the actions as they sing this holiday song.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
if you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
Other verses:
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet...
If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"...
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three...
Discuss that Thanksgiving is a special time to give thanks, just like the Pilgrims gave thanks for their plentiful harvest and food. This Thanksgiving song for children is sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Let's be thankful for this day,
For our friends and our play.
Let's be thankful; let's be glad,
For our food and the things we have.
Let's give thanks for you and me,
And our home and family.
Song of the Pilgrims
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower in 1620. The Pilgrims and Native Americans worked together growing crops and harvesting the bounty to celebrate their first Thanksgiving many years ago. Sing this song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
The Pilgrims sailed away,
Far across the sea.
They came to America,
So they could be free.
The Native Americans
Helped them plant the corn.
Then they shared a great big feast,
Thanksgiving Day was born!
Time for Turkey Songs
Turkeys are large birds, both wild and domestic. The Pilgrims hunted wild turkeys for their Thanksgiving feast and this bird has become a tradition in most American families for this holiday. Turkeys walk with a specific waddle that children love to imitate. Invite the children to pretend to be turkeys as they sing these songs.
How many ways can the Hokey Pokey be adapted? Here is a version for Thanksgiving with plenty of movement.
You put your right wing in (the elbow),
You take your right wing out,
You put your right wing in and you shake it all about.
You do the Turkey Pokey and you wobble all around.
That's what it's all about.
Continue singing and playing this game with these verses:
You put your left wing in...
You put your right leg in...
You put your left leg in...
You put your head in...
You put your whole self in...
This open-ended song emphasizes the sounds that turkeys make and young children love to act out the infamous 'gobble' sound. Sing this turkey song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot."
I'm a little turkey,
My name is Ted.
Here are my feathers,
Here is my head.
Gobble, gobble, gobble,
Is what I say,
Quick run...It's Thanksgiving Day!
Thanksgiving Dinner Song
Today this holiday is celebrated with a feast (just like the first Thanksgiving) with family, relatives and friends. Sing this song about what good food might be on the table. Use the tune of "Are You Sleeping/ Frere Jacques."
Turkey dinner, turkey dinner,
Gather round, gather round.
Who will get the drumstick?
Yummy, yummy drumstick.
All sit down, all sit down.
Cornbread muffins,
Chestnut stuffing,
Pudding pie, ten feet high.
We were all much thinner, before we sat for dinner.
Me, oh my, me, oh my!
All children benefit from experiences with music. It enhances learning especially the child's language development. These Thanksgiving songs for children will enlighten the holidays with fun music and energetic movement.
Note About Songs: Authors Unknown
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