Lesson 4:  Thanksgiving Then

Grade Levels:  1-3

Subject:  Language Arts, Social Studies, Art and Music

Learner Outcomes:

• Students will list the foods that were eaten at the first Thanksgiving
• Students will tell why the pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving

Materials:

• The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern
• Food cards one, two, and three for matching game
• Paper to make booklets
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Markers
• Stapler
• Parent volunteers to bring in the food for the feast
• Construction paper

Teacher Notes:  Contact parents in advance to plan and organize the menu for the feast.

Procedures:

1. Read The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern aloud to the class.
2. Prepare and play matching food game (cards one, two, and three) .
3. Each child will make an "If I Were at the First Thanksgiving" booklet.
4. Have a tasting party which includes all the foods from the matching game.

Modifications:  Students who have difficulty matching the food cards may use few cards to play the game.

Enrichment Activities:

• Thanksgiving crossword
• Thanksgiving exercises
• Cornucopia color sheet
• The First Thanksgiving Feast color sheet
• For more information about the first Thanksgiving, go to http://www.night.net/thanksgiving/

Assess information presented in students' oral presentations and the completion of the K-W-L charts and on the boat writing activity.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:

Language Arts:  1.11, 1.18, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.24, 1.25, 1.27, 1.28, 1.30, 1.38, 1.58, 1.67, 1.68, 1.74, 1.76, 1.77, 1.96, 1.97, 1.99, 1.113, 1.115, 2.19, 2.25, 2.28, 2.35, 2.36, 2.46, 2.47, 2.50, 2.54, 2.70, 2.71, 2.72, 2.74, 2.77, 2.78, 2.81, 2.99, 2.100, 2.121, 2.125

Social Studies: 1.21, 2.22, 2.24, 3.5, 3.8, 3.30, 3.31, 3.37, 3.40, 3.42

Art: 1.4, 2.1

National Standards:

Language Arts
4.  Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
5.  Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
6.  Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational tests.
8.  Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.

History
1.  Understands family life now and in the past, and family life in various places long ago.

References:  McGovern, A. (1991). If You Sailed On The Mayflower in 1620.  New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Authors:  Lori VanScoy, Delphene Haddox and Susan Jones  
 
 

Unit Overview

Lesson 1: Journey to the New World

Lesson 2: Pilgrim

Lesson 3: Helpful Indians

Lesson 4: Thanksgiving Then

Lesson 5: Thanksgiving Now