Scholastic
The First Thanksgiving Feast for Grades 3-5
Scholars examine the first Thanksgiving through books and interviews while they complete a KWL chart. Pretending they are part of the feast, learners craft a scrapbook page that features images related to their experience. Pupils reflect...
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Thanksgiving 2—The Pilgrim Story and My Immigrant Story
The tradition of the First Thanksgiving is really a story of immigration. Connect the feelings and customs of the early Pilgrims to the experiences of the immigrants in your class with an introduction to the 13 colonies, the Mayflower,...
Scholastic
The First Thanksgiving Feast for Grades 6–8
It's time for the feast! Young historians complete their study of the First Thanksgiving by completing an online activity, watching a slideshow, and examining a First Thanksgiving timeline. After answering text-dependent questions to...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Traditions
Everyone celebrates traditions in different ways. Young writers share the ways their families celebrate Thanksgiving with a journal writing prompt and discussion activity.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Handprint Tree
Students work cooperatively to create a classroom thanksgiving tree in this November art lesson for the elementary classsroom. Included with the lesson is a short resource list of books that contain more Thanksgiving craft ideas.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Activity: Thanksgiving and Family
Students examine common Thanksgiving foods employing counting, singing, and discussion. Students sing "We Eat Turkey" and discuss what their families eat. Students will then be asked to create and plate of Thanksgiving food and count and...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving : The Mayflower
First graders identify what a pilgrim is and what it was like to travel on The Mayflower. They are read, If You Sailed on The Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern
Curated OER
Thanksgiving: The Mayflower
Students examine the characteristics of a pilgrim. They discover what it was like traveling on the Mayflower as well. They create their own Mayflowers and share them with the class.
Curated OER
Popcorn
Students discuss the properties of popcorn. They explore the connection between corn, popcorn and Thanksgiving. As a class, students sing a popcorn song and create a popcorn craft. They practice writing the word popcorn. As a...
Curated OER
Colonial Customs
Young scholars experience Colonial life and explore the customs of the 17th century. In this colonial America lesson plan, students play dress up, barter items, author pledges, and review 17th century etiquette.
Curated OER
Clowning Around: Drawing
Kids create a clown out of shapes. They work to show emotions while practicing their drawing skills. Pupils use circles, triangles, squares, oil pastels, and their imagination to draw, color, and decorate a sad or happy clown. Tip: Have...
Curated OER
Web of Interdependence
Students investigate the colonial era and the crafts practiced in each of the trades as an expression of the interdependence the colonists had on each other. The impact of emigration from an American colonial town is experienced as...
Curated OER
Holiday Poetry and Music
Students discuss Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and family traditions. After brainstorming how holidays are celebrated, students write a poem about a chosen holiday and create their own hand-made instrument. They share their poems...
University of Northern Iowa
Additional Folklife Information
Use a packet packed with ideas for how to celebrate the traditions of your country, state, community, and pupils's families. Suggestions for how to draw on oral and material traditions, customs, beliefs, music, and stories all find a...
Curated OER
A Monster's World
Study African American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger and create imaginary monsters using texture.