The First Thanksgiving
Teacher Guide
Designer: Charisa Dickson
Fall 2014
The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Overview:
Rationale and General Content:
The Social Study standards require 2nd grade students to: identify reasons
for immigration, recognize that American colonists and Native American
groups lived in the area of the Thirteen Colonies, retell historical stories to
describe past events/people/places, and organize historical events in
chronological order on a timeline.
Within this lesson, students will learn these standards through The First
Thanksgiving. This builds upon other Social Study standards they will
continue to learn throughout 2nd grade, such as the cause of the
Revolutionary War and United States Independence, and the events
leading up to these.
Students will put the basic events that happened, in order, leading up to
the historical holiday we know today as “Thanksgiving.” Students will use a
timeline to order these historical events.
Students may also use text-to-self and text-to-world connections when
asked to describe their Thanksgiving holiday and traditions, and in the
optional writing activity about what they are “thankful” for on this holiday.
Intended Users:
The targeted users for The First Thanksgiving is 2nd grade students. For the
purpose of this lesson The First Thanksgiving is broken down into two, 30-45
minute instruction times. Students in the K-2 age range appreciate fun,
hands-on, and engaging activities tied to instruction; these activities will
help students “show what they know” from the instructional lesson. A
formal assessment will be given at the end of the two-day lesson.
Instructional Objectives:
1: Students will identify and explain who the pilgrims were and their reason
for immigration. (AZ 1.5.1-Reasons for Immigration to the U.S.)
2: Students will be given a map with names of the original 13 Colonies and
will be able to identify where the Pilgrims settled. (AZ 1.4.1—Thirteen
Colonies)
3: Students will be able to tell who helped the Pilgrims survive and name 3
ways how. (AZ 1.1.5—Historical Stories)
4: Students will be able to put events in order leading up to the first
Thanksgiving. (AZ 1.1.2—Timelines)
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Organization:
For the purpose of this lesson The First Thanksgiving is broken down into
two, 30-45 minute instruction times. Students in the K-2 age range
appreciate fun, hands-on, and engaging activities tied to instruction;
these activities will help students “show what they know” from the
instructional lesson. A formal assessment will be given at the end of the
two-day lesson.
Materials:
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Pre-Instructional Motivation Thanksgiving pictures
Brainpopjr.com Thanksgiving video
Multi-Colored Beads
Pipe cleaners
Thanksgiving Retell Bracelet activity:
o Directions for Instructor
o Thanksgiving Retell Poem for Students
o Sample Picture
Paper and Pencil for each student
The First Thanksgiving read aloud picture book
Thanksgiving Jeopardy game
Unit Planning:
The First Thanksgiving is designed to be taught in two, 30-45 minute
sessions.
Day 1: Students will watch a BrainPOP Jr. video on The First Thanksgiving.
Students and teacher will discuss whole group. After discussion, students
will complete a timeline ordering the events leading up to the First
Thanksgiving. Students will then complete an individual hands-on and
engaging activity.
Day 2: Students will listen to read aloud story The First Thanksgiving by
Linda Hayward. Teacher and students will talk about the story, answering
specific questions about the read aloud and the First Thanksgiving.
Students will play Thanksgiving Jeopardy game after read aloud
discussion. Students will then take the post assessment on instructional
objectives.
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Background Information:
Thanksgiving source BrainPOP Jr:
http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/lessonplan/thanksgiving-background-information-for-teachers-and-parents/
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Day 1:
Preparation:
1. Make copies of poem—Thanksgiving Story Bracelet—for each
student.
2. Prepare beads and pipe cleaners; make sure students have easy
access to materials when it comes time to make retell bracelet.
3. Cut out pre-instructional Thanksgiving pictures to show under
document camera.
4. Upload BrainPOP Jr. Thanksgiving video to show to class.
Materials:
1. Document Camera, Computer/Laptop, Projector
2. BrainPOP Jr. Thanksgiving video
3. Paper and pencils for students to create timeline with teacher
4. Thanksgiving pre-instructional pictures (optional extension activity)
5. Thanksgiving retell bracelet teacher instructions (optional extension
activity)
6. Thanksgiving retell bracelet student poem (optional extension
activity)
7. Multi-colored beads and one pipe cleaner per student for retell
bracelet (optional extension activity)
Procedure:
Begin the activity by showing students the previously prepared and
cut out Thanksgiving pictures (as seen above) under the document
camera.
Ask students, “What do you notice about these pictures? Do they have
anything in common?” Teacher wait for student responses about
Thanksgiving. (If no response regarding Thanksgiving, give leading
questions such as: “What holiday do we celebrate in November? Is it a
holiday that is coming up very soon?” Or clues such as: “We usually eat a
lot of food during this holiday. It is a day to give thanks.”)
After a few responses ask, “Why do celebrate Thanksgiving today? Where
does this tradition and holiday come from?”
Teacher wait for student responses; after a few student’s respond, introduce
the BrainPOP Jr. video on Thanksgiving. You may use some or all of the
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
following information from BrainPOP Jr when introducing the video
“Thanksgiving” to students.
After introducing the video, play Thanksgiving BrainPOP Jr. video. Pause at
certain points of video when prompted, and ask the questions and discuss
with students:
• Who were the pilgrims?
• Where did the pilgrims land?
• Who were the Wampanoag?
• What do you think happened at the first Thanksgiving?
• How do you celebrate Thanksgiving now?
After watching and discussing the Thanksgiving BrainPOP Jr. video, create
a Thanksgiving flow map with students. Write all the events leading up to
the first Thanksgiving that were seen and discussed in the video. This flow
map will be used to help students create a timeline.
Example:
Flow map: the First
Thanksgiving
Pilgrims leave
England
Squanto and
Wampanoag
people help
Pilgrims
Pilgrims land and
settle in Plymouth
(Massachusetts)
Pilgrims have
harsh winter
and many die
Autumn brings
a bountiful
harvest
Pilgrims give
thanks to the
Wampanoag
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
After the flow map is created with students, instruct students to take
out a paper and pencil. They will create a timeline using the events you
ordered in the flow map.
Example:
Day 1 Optional Extension Activity:
Create Thanksgiving Retell Bracelets (timeline bracelets).
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Day 2:
Preparation:
1. Make copies of post-assessment. Will be given after students finish
day 2 activities.
2. Make copies of pilgrim boy and girl masters (for optional extension
activity)
Materials:
1. Projector, computer/laptop
2. Thanksgiving Jeopardy PowerPoint game
3. Book: The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward
4. Easel or Whiteboard and marker to list Thanksgiving facts
5. Paper, Pencils, scissors, colored paper, glue, crayons (for the
optional extension activity)
Procedure:
Begin day 2 with students on the carpet in front of you. Introduce
the lesson by telling students “Yesterday, we watched a video about
Thanksgiving. After watching the video, we created a flow map and
timeline of the important historical events that happened leading up to
Thanksgiving. Do you remember some events or facts about Thanksgiving
from yesterday’s lesson?” You may list any accurate information students
give you about day 1 on the whiteboard/easel next to you. If you still have
the flow map from day 1 available, you may refer back to that as well.
Continue by explaining to students that you will now read a story
aloud titled The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward. Remind students to
listen/pay attention to the order of events that lead up to the first
Thanksgiving.
Read The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward. Ask comprehension
questions throughout the story. Allow time for students to “think, pair,
share” if needed.
Some question examples to ask during read aloud:
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Why did the pilgrims leave England?
§ (They wanted to practice their own religion)
What was the name of their ship?
§ (the Mayflower)
What was life like on the Mayflower as they sailed to the New World?
§ (long, choppy waters, hungry, boring, etc.)
Where did the pilgrims finally land/settle?
§ (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
What was the name of their new colony?
§ (Plymouth Colony)
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
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What state is Plymouth in today?
§ (Massachusetts)
What season is it when the pilgrims arrived in Plymouth?
§ (winter)
What did the pilgrims need to do before they could leave the Mayflower?
§ (build shelter, build houses, find food, etc.)
Who helped the pilgrims survive the harsh winter?
§ (Wampanoag, Squanto)
What did the Wampanoag do to help the pilgrims?
§ (how to grow crops, hunt, gather, etc.)
What was the first Thanksgiving for?
§ (to give thanks to the Wampanoag, to celebrate their first fall
harvest, etc.)
After reading and discussing The First Thanksgiving by Linda
Hayward, have students go back to their seats to play Thanksgiving
Jeopardy. Break students into teams of 4-5 students per team.
Explain Thanksgiving Jeopardy game rules:
1. Teams choose a captain. (If this cannot be done in a timely
manner, teacher can choose captain for them.)
2. One team will be selected at random to begin.
3. Every team will get opportunities to answer questions—will go
in a clockwise motion.
4. When it is your team’s turn, the team captain may select any
topic and any point amount the team agrees upon.
5. The teacher will read the question once to your team. Your
team will get 30 seconds to agree upon an answer. (teacher
start the timer after the question is read) Team captain will tell
the teacher the agreed upon answer.
6. If your team cannot agree upon an answer within 30 seconds
or you do not know the answer, the team with their hand
raised first will get the opportunity to answer the question and
steal the points.
7. Continue the clockwise motion until all questions are
answered.
8. Teacher will tally the points to determine the winner!
After playing Thanksgiving Jeopardy (a review of all the objectives),
please tell students to “get their thinking caps on” and have students take
out a pencil for the First Thanksgiving post assessment.
Complete Instructor and Student Surveys.
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Day 2 Optional Extension Activity (after post assessment and survey
completion):
Use text-to-world connections when completing the
compare/contrast assignment: Now and Long Ago, with students.
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The First Thanksgiving: 2nd Grade
Dear teacher,
Thank you for all that you do! You are appreciated!!
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