Curated OER
Thanksgiving
Students access a variety of Thanksgiving themed websites. They locate information on the Pilgrims and Native Americans. They examine Squanto, the Wampanoag Tribe, Samoset and the history of Thanksgiving.
Curated OER
Wampanoag Indians
Students read stories and listen to a brief lecture about the Wampanoag Indians, aspects of their culture and their role in the first Thanksgiving. They make a Wampanoag carrying pouch out of a paper bag and cook a corn cake as a class.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Slide Show
Second graders produce a simple piece of writing given the topic sentence: "I am thankful for..." . Students translate their piece of writing into an electronic format using the software program KidPix. Students present their completed...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Native American Cultures Across the United States
Students explore different aspects of the cultures of the First Americans in this lesson plan. Stereotypes are often associated with Native Americans through movies and in the context of the Thanksgiving holiday. Specific information and...
Scholastic
Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving
This is a site covering every aspect of the first Thanksgiving ever celebrated. There is a picture timeline, an interactive trip on the Mayflower, and wonderful descriptions of what the lives of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Thanksgiving Match the Spanish Words to the Pictures
A Spanish language vocabulary worksheet on the theme of Thanksgiving.
![Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: Turkey Trotten [Pdf] Activity](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: Turkey Trotten [Pdf] Activity")
Chase Young, PhD
Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: Turkey Trotten [Pdf]
A reader's theater script for Turkey Trotten, a play about turkeys who are nervous about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Seven character roles are needed in this activity.
Chase Young, PhD
Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: The Abc's of the First Thanksgiving [Pdf]
A reader's theater script for Marci McGowan's work, ABC's of the First Thanksgiving, is provided on these pages. Thirty character roles are needed in this activity.
NWT Literacy Council
Nwt Literacy Council: How to Kit: Literacy Activities for Holidays [Pdf]
'Literacy Activities for Holidays' is an extensive collection (150 pages) of activities for celebrating the traditional holidays of Valentines Day, Halloween, Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving. Birthdays are also included.
Other
Nourish Interactive: Actividades De Nutricion Para El Dia De Accion De Gracias
A collection of printable, nutrition-related activities on Thanksgiving. In Spanish.
Stanford University
Beyond the Bubble: The First Thanksgiving
[Free Registration/Login Required] This history assessment measures students' ability to source a document, in this case a painting of the first Thanksgiving celebration. When historians interpret a document, they look at who wrote it...
A&E Television
History.com: Thanksgiving
A detailed overview of the first Thanksgiving and the menu that the Pilgrims served which was quite different than the modern Thanksgiving meal. Features videos, a photo gallery, and links to many related articles and topics.
Other
Plimoth Plantation: You Are the Historian
What really happened at the first Thanksgiving? Students will explore different aspects of the harvest celebration in 1621 through an interactive program provided by an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of the American Indian: Perspectives on Thanksgiving
Excellent resource for educating students on the American Indian perspective on Thanksgiving using the themes of environment, community, encounters, and innovations. Includes images, quotes, classroom activity ideas, and links to related...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Pictures and Text Work Together Too!
The class will read the informational text "Together They Were Better". As the teacher reads the book aloud, she/he will use the illustrations from each page to give students clues as to the text on the page, helping them to see the...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Emergent Readers With and Emergent Reader
Students will sequence story events with the teacher and read an emergent reader in a guided setting. The chosen book, "Pilgrims and Wampanoag: Together They Were Better", has high use of sight words and high levels of picture support...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: I Learned It Online
Preparing the new generations for college and career readiness absolutely requires us to ensure our children are competent and comfortable in the use of a variety of digital tools. Young scholars will be learning about a topic online and...
Ancestry
The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620
Study guide with loads of information about the pilgrims. Details everything from the religious beliefs of the pilgrims to what the Mayflower looked like, to the dogs on the ship, furniture, clothing, descriptions of medical practices on...
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Sarah Josepha Hale
Sarah Josepha Hale is best known for creating the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Her influence can also be seen in historic sites and in the creation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
Library of Congress
Loc: Learning Page: Primary Source Set: Thanksgiving
A set of primary documents that reflect the Mayflower, Plymouth, Puritans, the first Thanksgiving, and legislation for the holiday.
Utah State University
Teacher Link: Celebrations: A Resource Guide for Teachers
TeacherLINK at Utah State University offers a wealth of topics and project information on celebrations held throughout the world. Click on "Topics and Authors," to access a long list of available lesson plans on a variety of...
Schools of California Online Resources for Education
Score: Life on Plymouth Plantation
In this activity students will be discovering about the early Americans by looking at a recreation of Plymouth Plantation in 1627.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Lesson Plan: The First Thanksgiving
Teachers deepen students' understanding of the first Thanksgiving as they discuss the Mayflower voyage, life in the colonies, the Wampanoag traditions, and an extensive look into this time period.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: All About the Holidays
We celebrate many holidays but have you ever wondered how the tradition began? Find out through a collection of short, fun and informative videos about Christmas, Columbus Day, Halloween, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, President's Day, Ramadan,...