We’ve created a fresh, new (and educational!) way for students to learn about Thanksgiving!
With these interactive lessons, students will engage in fun, hands-on activities that make the history of Thanksgiving come alive!
1st-3rd grade students will discover the history of Thanksgiving through interactive, teacher-directed mini lessons.
During each mini-lesson, the teacher reads a script to present facts relevant to a Thanksgiving topic while showing a visual picture card. After a short class discussion, students are able to take a closer look at the topic by participating in an interactive activity that solidifies their understanding.
Younger Grade Mini-Lesson Topic and Activities
Lesson #1- The Mayflower: Narrated tableaus
Lesson #2- The First Winter: Pilgrim Charades
Lesson #3- Samoset & Squanto: Reader’s Theater
Lesson #4- Thanksgiving Feast: Venn Diagram Food Sort
Students also have a chance to play Three Men’s Morris (based on Nine Men’s Morris, which was very popular at the time of the first Thanksgiving) and is similar to tic-tac-toe.
4th-6th grade students will explore the history of Thanksgiving as they rotate in small groups through self-directed learning stations.
At each station, students read short informational texts (accompanied by visual picture cards) and take notes of their learning. Then, students complete an assigned group task related to the text.
Upper Grade Independent Learning Stations
Station #1- The Mayflower: Narrated group tableaus depicting the Pilgrims’ journey
Station #2- First Winter: Charades that demonstrate the hardships of the first winter in America
Station #3- Samoset & Squanto: Practice and perform a reader’s theater on planting crops
Station #4- Thanksgiving Feast: Venn Diagram Food Sort comparing the first feast with feasts today
(optional) Station #5- Pilgrim Games: “Three Men’s Morris” and “Blind Man’s Bluff,” popular at the time of the first Thanksgiving and were likely games the Pilgrim children would have played.
Your students will love to engage in these mini lessons or stations while learning about the history of Thanksgiving. These lessons are just perfect for the short week before the break!
You can pick up our lesson plans for 1st-3rd or 4th-6th by clicking on the images below.
Leave a Reply