US National Archives
Nara: Congress Establishes Thanksgiving
From the National Archives, an essay on the establishment of the American holiday of Thanksgiving as a legal holiday starting with the original proclamation in 1789 celebrating it on different days or months up to the 1941 resolution...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Native American History
This is a collection of 27 Grade-Leveled texts (4-12) on the topic Native American History. Before European settlers came to North America, millions of native people lived in many unique societies. Explore the history of Native Americans...
Other
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Everything you would want to know if you are planning a trip to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. There is a photo tour of the parade, a route map, parade history, and hotel and dining information.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Become a Thanksgiving Historian
Students may be surprised to find out that some ideas they have about the history of Thanksgiving are actually myths. In this lesson students become a true "Thanksgiving historian" by completing a Venn diagram about the Wampanoag people...
Other
Fdr Library: The Year We Had Two Thanksgivings?
Learn about the history of how Thanksgiving got its official date.
Other
Pilgrim Hall Museum: History Paintings
This website from the Pilgrim Hall Museum contains a collection of various history paintings depicting the pilgrims. Each image is annotated with a brief summary of what event the painting is depicting and general information about the...
Other
Plimouth Plantation: Thanksgiving Interactive: You Are the Historian
This site, developed by Plimoth Plantation, offers visitors the chance to use the skills of historians to peel away the layers of myth and misconception surrounding "The First Thanksgiving" and discover what might really have happened...
Mayflower History
Mayflower history.com: Brief History of Thanksgiving
Describes what is known about the history of Thanksgiving and of the first Thanksgiving held by the Pilgrims in 1621.
A&E Television
History.com: How the First Thanksgiving College Football Game Kicked Off a Holiday Tradition
How the First Thanksgiving College Football Game Kicked Off a Holiday Tradition. In 1876, Yale beat Princeton before a sparse crowd, but by the mid-1880s, their annual contest was a major social event that attracted thousands of fans in...
A&E Television
History.com: Colonists at the First Thanksgiving Were Mostly Men Because Women Had Perished
According to this account (elements of which continue to be debated by historians, especially regarding the presence and role of Native Americans), the historic event didn't happen on the fourth Thursday in November, as it does today,...
Read Works
Read Works: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text telling the story of the first Thanksgiving. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
A&E Television
History.com: What's the Real History of Black Friday?
The retail bonanza known as Black Friday is now an integral part of many Thanksgiving celebrations, but this holiday tradition has darker roots than you might imagine. This article discusses several myths as to the term Black Friday....
A&E Television
History.com: Why the Wampanoag Signed a Peace Treaty With the Mayflower Pilgrims
The peace accord, which would be honored on both sides for the next half-century, was the first official treaty between English settlers and Native Americans, and a rare example of cooperation between the two groups. On the orders of...
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids: First Thanksgiving
National Geographic recounts the first Thanksgiving and offers related activities, games, and web links.
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...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: A History of Thanksgiving
This self-paced lesson provides historical context for Thanksgiving and presents students with writing-based activities.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: The First Thanksgiving
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, students will learn about Pilgrims, the Mayflower Compact and basic facts about this early colony in the New Land. Students will also explore the history of Thanksgiving. A five question...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Native American Cultures Across the United States
Learners 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...
The History Cat
The History Cat: Us History: Plymouth Colony
The story of how Plymouth Colony came to be. Looks at the Puritan movement with its roots in England, the sailing of the Mayflower, and the progress of the settlers in their first years in New England. Describes their first encounters...
Open Door Team
Open Door Web Site: The First Thanksgiving
This brief article tells of the help the Indians gave the Pilgrims in learning about the land, resulting in the first Thanksgiving.
Other
Macy's: Parade History
A timeline showing the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Learn about the time honored tradition with this site!
Ducksters
Ducksters: Holidays for Kids: Thanksgiving Day
Kids learn about Thanksgiving Day. The history and facts about this holiday where we eat turkey and give thanks.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: New England Colonies: William Bradford; The First Thanksgiving
Plymouth Colony did not suffer the same problems as the English colony farther south, Jamestown. Read about the leadership of William Bradford, and the relationship between the settlers and the Native Americans who helped those who lived...
The History Place
The History Place: Abraham Lincoln
This site provides an extensive timeline of the life and work of Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the timeline there are photos that can be enlarged and many, many links to speeches, papers, letters of Lincoln's. The site is very easy to...
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