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Peabody TeachFor teachers and grown-ups

Thankful theme for toddlers: a week of activities

A thankful theme lesson plan for toddlers: what a day looks like, then the week's circle time (two or three minutes, on laps), books, craft, song, snack, letter and outside time, each with what changes at this age.

Plan this week for toddlersThe whole thankful week

A day of the thankful theme with toddlers

  1. Arrival and free play on the floor.
  2. Sing “Polly Put the Kettle On” with actions; repeat it while you change and feed.
  3. Hold and pass something real for the week (thank you), and say its name.
  4. Snack: a toddler-safe version of banana oat cookies (check the recipe's lines for under-4s).
  5. Outside: a short walk looking for share.
  6. Read A Bun for Fran on laps, pointing and naming.
  7. Nap, then the song once more at pick-up.

Thankful circle time

  1. Hello song: sing hello to each child by name.
  2. Look out of the window together: sun, rain or clouds?
  3. Show the theme: hold up something real and name it.
  4. Sing: Polly Put the Kettle On.
  5. Read: A Bun for Fran (level 2).

Infants and toddlers: two or three minutes, on laps.

Thankful theme books

  • A Bun for Fran (level 2, free on peabody.kids): Sharing a bun with a friend.
  • Pat, Pat, Pat (level 0, free on peabody.kids): Small kindnesses in a family, in a pattern.
  • Ring the Bell (level 2, free on peabody.kids): A gift and a friend at the door.
  • Fish in a Dish (level 2, free on peabody.kids): Being kind to an animal that needs help.

Infants and toddlers: one book, read every day; point and name.

Thankful craft: Thank-you handprint tree

You need (4): large paper, brown crayon, washable paint in fall colors, wipes.

  1. A grown-up draws a tree trunk on the paper.
  2. Each child presses a painted hand on as a leaf.
  3. Write by each hand who that child is thankful for.

With a grown-up. No heat, nothing hot.

Infants and toddlers: let them touch and hold the materials while you make it; nothing small enough to swallow.

Thankful song: Polly Put the Kettle On

The words

Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, We'll all have tea. Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, They've all gone away.

Traditional; public domain. From Top 52 nursery rhymes with lyrics.

Thankful snack

Banana Oat Cookies from the Peabody Kitchen: picture steps, allergy swaps and safety lines on the recipe.

Letter T activities

TtT is for thank you. Print the two pages (a trace page and a color page).

Infants and toddlers: skip the trace page; show the picture page and say the word.

Outside activity: Helper relay

Pass a basket of balls down a line, saying "thank you" with each one.

Thankful theme for 2 year oldsThankful theme for 3 and 4 year oldsThankful theme, all ages

Checked 2026-10-30