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Thanksgiving
An Internet Activity on Thanksgiving
created
by Laura Hunter
Utah
Education Network
Introduction
Thanksgiving
brings turkeys, parades, football, and a break from school
. . . but so much more!
How does our Thanksgiving compare to the 'First Thanksgiving?'
Try the activities below to learn more about this favorite fall holiday.
(Teachers, these activities are designed
for a range of grade levels. Adapt as needed for your students.
You may want to print the questions on separate paper to assist the students
as they move through the Internet links. The first two activities require comparison/contrast.
A T-CHART
may help students record their ideas. This activity can be done in its entirety
over two/three weeks, or you may want to choose one or two activities which
fit your curriculum. Have fun!)
Then
and Now . . . Clothing
What did people wear at the first Thanksgiving dinner? Take a look at the diagrams on these links. How do they compare with clothing that you will wear to Thanksgiving? Discuss your ideas with another student OR write your ideas in a journal.
17th
Century Wampanoag Clothing -
http://web.ccsd.k12.wy.us/techcurr/Social%20Studies/05/0101nacostum.html
Pilgrim
Clothing -
http://web.ccsd.k12.wy.us/techcurr/Social%20Studies/05/0101pilcloth.html
Then
and Now . . . Dinner
Preparing a meal is very different now than it was in 1621. The Pilgrims did not have supermarkets to get their food, running water, or electric ovens. How do the meals described in the first two links compare to the meals described in the next two links?
1621
Thanksgiving Feast -
http://web.ccsd.k12.wy.us/Social%20Studies/05/0101firstt.html
17th Century Feast
-
http://pilgrims.net/plymouth/thanksgiving.htm
Roasted
Turkey Recipe -
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_17081,00.html
Cooking
A Turkey Directions -
http://www.butterball.com/en/index.jsp
Ten
Steps Activity
Read the "Ten Steps" to a picture perfect turkey in the link below. Choose an activity that you do well and write "Ten Steps" for that activity. For example, "Ten Steps to a perfect soccer goal." OR "Ten Steps to being a trustworthy friend." Your class may want to publish a collection of "Ten Steps" writing for your school library.
Ten
Steps to a Picture Perfect Turkey -
http://www.fortunecity.com/village/bernhard/183/turkey.html
Thanksgiving
Writing
- Try one or more
of these fun writing activities.
How
Children View Thanksgiving -
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2328/views.htm
Free Thanksgiving Greeting Cards -
http://www.123greetings.com/events/thanksgiving/
Thanksgiving
Reading
- Check out some
of these Thanksgiving books. Read one to your family while Thanksgiving dinner
is cooking...or as a way to avoid doing the dishes!
Thanksgiving
Books to Check Out
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/books.html
Whose
"First" Thanksgiving?
Did you know that many other groups claim that the Thanksgiving tradition started with them - not with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag People at Plimoth Plantation??? It's important to remember that there isn't always ONE version of history. Read these stories and judge for yourself.
Other
Claimants to First Thanksgiving -
http://www.infoway.lib.nm.us/bookshelf/2000/november/fyi.html
What
about those skyscraper balloons anyway?
For many families, Thanksgiving begins with watching the Macy's Parade (on TV or in person.) Read about the parade and how they inflate all those huge balloons. If you could be in New York City on Thanksgiving would you rather carry a balloon, play in a band, organize the parade, or be a spectator? Write your reasons in a journal entry. Your class could make a bar graph to show their choices.
Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade -
http://www.nyctourist.com/macys_menu.htm
Crafts
- Try one or more of these fun activities.
Color and Email a Thanksgiving Card -Using JavaApplet, select a Thanksgiving picture from the coloring book, color the picture online, then email it to your teacher, principal, or friend. This does not require a student email account to mail! http://www.cass.net/~rainiew/sarahbear/bigc2/colorbig.htm
Cornucopia
to Color -
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/color/cornc9.gif
Turkey
to Color -
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/color/turkey9.gif
Puzzles
and Games
Thanksgiving
WordSearch Puzzle -
http://www.billybear4kids.com/games/online/search/thanks.htm
Thanksgiving
Crossword Puzzle -
http://iteslj.org/cw/1/af-thanks.html
Turkey
Sticks Game -
http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/thanksgiving/pickup/turkstix.htm
Turkey
Tic Tac Toe Gameboard and Pieces -
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/pdf/c-t-43.pdf