TPS Journal
Sourcing a Document: The First Thanksgiving
How reliable is a painting of the first Thanksgiving if it was created 300 years after the fact? Learners assess the validity of a primary source image to determine what it can actually reveal about this event.
Teacher Created Resources
The First Thanksgiving Book
Looking for a Thanksgiving week activity? Try this seven-page printable book documenting the story of the first Thanksgiving. Each page (1/2 sheet) has a short text along with a picture kids can color in.
Curated OER
The Settlement of New England
A thorough exploration of the Puritan Migration and settlement of Plymouth, this presentation is sure to engage your young historians with its clear maps and historical documents. The presentation differentiates the philosophies of...
Manchester University
The History of the First Thanksgiving
First graders complete a project about the first Thanksgiving. For this history lesson plan, 1st graders read The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving, answer comprehension questions, and complete a booklet about the first Thanksgiving.
Scholastic
Thanksgiving Lessons Grades 3-5
Learners explore the first Thanksgiving. In this holiday lesson plan, students create a KWL chart on what they know about the first Thanksgiving and conduct Internet research on this topic. Learners use a Venn diagram to compare and...
Scholastic
Thanksgiving Lessons Grades PreK-2
A quintessential resource for teaching an elementary unit on the first Thanksgiving addresses a variety of skills, including informational reading, critical thinking, comparing and contrasting facts, technology tools, and historical...
Scholastic
Teaching About the First Thanksgiving
Learners research information about the Mayflower, Pilgrims, the Plymouth Colony, the Wampanoags, and the first Thanksgiving. They take an online tour of the Mayflower, interpret timelines, create a postcard, and compare and contrast the...
Utah State University
Thanksgiving: A Celebration of Gratitude
Learn about the first Thanksgiving with a unit centered around the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. First graders read and discuss books, create a mural, complete a worksheet about five blessings in their life, prepare recipes from...
Hubbard's Cupboard
The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
Young scholars explore holidays by participating in class singing activities. In this Thanksgiving history lesson, students discuss the importance of Thanksgiving Day and read several poems which discuss the history of Thanksgiving....
Curated OER
The History of Thanksgiving Day
Students discover details about the original Thanksgiving celebration. In this Thanksgiving lesson, students read an article about the topic and respond to questions about it. Students then plan a Thanksgiving celebration.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving History
First graders decode Thanksgiving vocabulary while learning about the history of this holiday. In this Thanksgiving history lesson, 1st graders listen to a story, trace their hands to make turkey feathers and listen to a turkey poem. ...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Dinner
Students plan a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In this Thanksgiving lesson, students compare and contrast the first Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving celebrations today. Students plan a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and research the costs...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Menu
Students explore the First Thanksgiving. In this U.S. history lesson, students read about the Pilgrims and Native Americans and discuss how they obtained and prepared food. Students develop a possible first Thanksgiving menu and draw a...
Curated OER
The Pilgrim Fathers
For this social studies worksheet, students recall the events of the Pilgrims, their arrival in Plymouth and the events of the first Thanksgiving. Students read a story which has 8 missing words. Students choose the correct word from the...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension
In this Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension learning exercise students will read a passage about the history of the holiday and answer 10 multiple choice questions and 1 short answer question.
Utah State University
Thanksgiving History
First graders examine the history of the first Thanksgiving and compare the first Thanksgiving with how we celebrate it today. They listen to and discuss the book "The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving," answer discussion questions about the...
Utah State University
The First Thanksgiving
Second graders examine the development of the first Thanksgiving. They develop a list of the resources and technologies both the Pilgrims and the Indians shared with each other, listen to the book "The First Thanksgiving," and...
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.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Teaching With Dear America: Colonial Period
Activities useful in presenting American colonial life. Find references to novels, a colonial home, and a diary entry activity.
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.
![Read Write Think: Myth and Truth: "The First Thanksgiving" [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Read Write Think: Myth and Truth: \"The First Thanksgiving\" [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Myth and Truth: "The First Thanksgiving" [Pdf]
Contains plans for three lessons that examine the myth and reality behind the first Thanksgiving and the Wampanoag Native Americans in colonial America. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
EL Education
El Education: First Thanksgiving Cards
As part of a Learning Expedition about the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians, 3rd graders in Springfield, Massachusetts created these note cards. They focused on the "real" story of the first Thanksgiving, using multiple perspectives...