We are continually reminded in the Bible to give thanks to God for “He is good.” As the director/teacher in a Christian preschool, I have the awesome privilege of teaching the children in my care about God’s goodness to them and me. Although the Little Footprints’ teachers continually point out God’s goodness to the children, they will spend a concentrated effort relaying this message during the month of November as they discuss the reason for the Thanksgiving holiday.
In conjunction with Thanksgiving and thankfulness, the 2s and 3s are continuing to explore the world around them using their five senses to find and/or create the colors brown and blue, triangle shape and number 3.
The three and four-year-olds will learn about the first people in America, the Native Americans, as well as the Pilgrims who came from England to this new land. While the three-year-olds will just scratch the surface of this topic, the four-year-olds will dig deeper and explore, compare and contrast the Native American and Pilgrims’ way of life with present day life. The children will learn about the first Thanksgiving, how the Native Americans helped the Pilgrims survive this new land and their thankfulness to God for His bountiful provisions
Finally, the four-year-olds will continue their letter and number study with the letters Gg, Hh and Ii and the numbers 5 and 6. They will also explore the mathematical concept of sequencing.
Thanksgiving at Little Footprints
Having learned about the first Thanksgiving, all the children will dress up as either as Pilgrims or American Indians and celebrate Thanksgiving on the last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday. In preparation for our “feast,” the children will have had the opportunity to name and illustrate the many things and people for which they are thankful. On our feast day, the threes, our American Indians, join the fours, our Pilgrims, around a pretend campfire to share a time of celebration through songs. Then they proceed to the “dinner table” to share a meal of rolled deli turkey, muffins, carrots, celery and cookies. Since the twos meet on a different day, their feast is in their classroom and all the children are American Indians.
Mission Projects
Another way we help the children learn to be thankful is by engaging them in mission projects. By giving to others, we are more able to see all that God has given to us.
The staff at Little Footprints works with the children to support two ministries, Samaritan’s Purse through Operation Christmas Child and Fellowship Senior Living, through visiting and engaging with the residents.
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Through Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse allows Christians around the world to share the love of Jesus through shoebox gifts to children in third world countries who would otherwise never receive a Christmas gift. In support of this ministry, our children bring to school one or two gifts to go into our class boxes. As teachers we are privileged to be able to use Operation Christmas Child to teach our own children to appreciate what they have and encourage them to share with others who are not as fortunate.
Fellowship Senior Living, located in Basking Ridge, NJ, strives to serve seniors of varied backgrounds through their Christ-centered community, bringing them together in mutual respect and unity. They provide seniors in need with the highest quality services that foster long-term health, personal independence, spiritual growth and fellowship.
Little Footprints Learning Center began a partnership with the Fellowship Senior Living Recreation Department about 10 years ago. What started as a once a year costumed Harvest Parade visit, has evolved into visits by the four-year-old children four times a year blessing the residents with music and joint student/resident activities. All of our children make pictures to send the residents but only the four-year-olds actually get to visit. What a blessing this partnership has been for both Fellowship Senior Living and Little Footprints Learning Center!
Happy Thanksgiving!
On behalf of the staff and families at Little Footprints, I extend our wishes to you and your family for a bountiful and happy Thanksgiving!
