Non-fiction: The First Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving
“[Many] historians believe that most of the story of ‘The First Thanksgiving’ is a myth that people
started telling more than 200 years after the event is said to have occurred.” – Plimoth.org
Illustration by Lynn M. Hanousek
The first Thanksgiving was a huge celebration1 for the Pilgrims and their
Native American neighbors. There were actually more Native Americans than
Pilgrims at the feast!
The first Thanksgiving lasted three days. Many meals were served. All of
the cooking and eating happened outside. They ate goose, duck, and seafood2.
Did they eat turkey? No one knows for sure.
They also ate a lot of deer meat, or venison. With all of this meat, they ate
corn, cabbage, onions, and squash. They might have had fresh berries and dried
fruits for dessert.
Today’s Thanksgiving is actually a lot like the first one. The greatest joy of
Thanksgiving isn’t the food. It’s the companionship3 and celebration with loved
ones, family, and friends.
1
celebration- party
seafood- animals to eat that come from the sea
3
companionship- friendship
2
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Questions: The First Thanksgiving
Name: ____________________________
Date:______________________
1. Which of these was eaten at the first Thanksgiving?
a. seafood
b. mashed potatoes
c. pie
d. all of the above
2. How long did the first Thanksgiving last?
a. an afternoon
b. three days
c. a week
d. all fall
3. Which of these is an opinion?
a. The first Thanksgiving lasted three days.
b. Native Americans outnumbered the pilgrims.
c. The greatest joy of Thanksgiving isn’t the food.
d. They ate venison.
4. How is Thanksgiving today a lot like the first Thanksgiving?
a. We celebrate by eating a big meal.
b. We always eat fish on Thanksgiving.
c. We always eat the Thanksgiving meal outside.
d. We bake a lot of pies.
5. Based on the passage, it is likely that the Pilgrims and Native Americans
a. did not get along very well
b. did not have enough food for everyone
c. were friendly with one another
d. really liked to bake pies
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: The First Thanksgiving
6. How is the picture related to the passage?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. Based on the passage, why do people still celebrate Thanksgiving today?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
The Pilgrims and Native Americans had goose, duck, and seafood, _______ no
one knows if they actually had turkey.
a. since
b. so
c. because
d. but
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
During the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated for
days because there were many meals served.
Who? the Pilgrims and Native Americans
What? ___________________________________________________________
When? __________________________________________________________
Why? ___________________________________________________________
10. Vocabulary Word: celebration: party.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: The First Thanksgiving
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 570
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines or illustrates
a concept or topic
Passage Summary: This passage describes the first Thanksgiving meal shared
between Pilgrims and Native Americans, including the types of foods eaten.
1. Which of these was eaten at the first Thanksgiving?
a. seafood
b. mashed potatoes
c. pie
d. all of the above
2. How long did the first Thanksgiving last?
a. an afternoon
b. three days
c. a week
d. all fall
3. Which of these is an opinion?
a. The first Thanksgiving lasted three days.
b. Native Americans outnumbered the pilgrims.
c. The greatest joy of Thanksgiving isn’t the food.
d. They ate venison.
4. How is Thanksgiving today a lot like the first Thanksgiving?
a. We celebrate by eating a big meal.
b. We always eat fish on Thanksgiving.
c. We always eat the Thanksgiving meal outside.
d. We bake a lot of pies.
5. Based on the passage, it is likely that the Pilgrims and Native Americans
a.
b.
c.
d.
did not get along very well
did not have enough food for everyone
were friendly with one another
really liked to bake pies
4
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: The First Thanksgiving
6. How is the picture related to the passage?
Suggested answer: The picture shows some of the details discussed in
the passage, such as who was at the first Thanksgiving and what they ate.
7. Based on the passage, why do people still celebrate Thanksgiving today?
Suggested answer: People still celebrate Thanksgiving because it is
about celebrating companionship with family members and friends.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
The Pilgrims and Native Americans had goose, duck, and seafood, _______ no
one knows if they actually had turkey.
a. since
b. so
c. because
d. but
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
During the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated for
days because there were many meals served.
Who? the Pilgrims and Native Americans
What? celebrated for many days
When? during the first Thanksgiving
Why? because there were many meals served
10. Vocabulary Word: celebration: party.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.