Thanksgiving Lesson Plans

1. A Pilgrim Conversation- Students will reinforce their use of quotations by writing an imaginary dialogue between pilgrims as they land at Plymouth.
2. America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty (Elementary Edition) Pt. 9: The History of Thanksgiving Day- Students discover the historical setting, origin, and meaning behind the first Thanksgiving holiday and, in the process, learn about the contributions of different people in the appreciation of unified, national blessing.
3. Coffee Filter Turkeys- A great craft idea!
4. Creating a Multicultural Thanksgiving Celebration- In this lesson, students will create a Thanksgiving menu and pre-dinner blessing or ritual that is sensitive to five different imaginary Thanksgiving guests from a variety of backgrounds.
5. Let's Talk Turkey: The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner- How does your family celebrate Thanksgiving? Are you joined by friends and/or family for a special feast? What do you eat?

1. Life at Plimouth Plantation- "The student will be able to recognize that children in Plimoth Plantation had daily responsibilities and work to do."
2. Make a Dried Bouquet- Students will learn about the hobbies of Colonial women. Students will learn how to make bouquets of dried flowers and peppers.
3. Mayflower- "Students will view a film and look at various sites on the web.
4. Musical Turkeys- "Students will paste specified colors on their turkey, in accordance with the song."
5. Myth and Truth: The “First Thanksgiving”- Did the Wampanoag bring the pilgrims popcorn on the first Thanksgiving, as some versions of the story would suggest? Or is that just a myth?
6. Packing the Pilgrim’s Trunk: Personalizing History in the Elementary Classroom- This theme exploration helps students explore who the Pilgrims were, learn about their trip aboard the Mayflower, and discover how they adapted and built new lives at Plymouth Colony. But more importantly, it helps students discover connections between their own life experiences and those of the Pilgrims, making history interesting, meaningful, and relevant.
7. Paper Weavings- Students will learn how to weave using paper and/or cloth. Students will learn about the tasks performed by women during Colonial times.
8. Pilgrim Unit- This unit will lead students towards an understanding of the Pilgrims and native people who inhabited the area of present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts in the 1620's.
9. Stuff the Turkey Tag- A PE activity.
10. Textured Turkeys- "To learn that Texture is an Element of Art."
11. Thankful List- The students will learn to free-associate. The students will use their lists to write a poem or descriptive piece. Students will find commonality among their lists.
12. Thanksgiving- 12 wonderful poems.
13. Thanksgiving- "Students will appreciate Thanksgiving and understand the meaning and origins of the holiday."
14. Thanksgiving Bargain Shopping - Let's talk turkey about Thanksgiving grocery shopping! Students work in groups to compare grocery store prices to shop for Thanksgiving dinner.
15. Thanksgiving in American Memory
16. Thanksgiving Friends- You need to find a class that will exchange email with you. I have found that many teachers are willing to do this. It can be friends or someone new.
17. Thanksgiving Quilt - Begin the lesson by brainstorming a class list of things your students are thankful for.
18. Thanksgiving Placemats- Students will list the things for which they are thankful. Students will practice their fine motor skills.
19. Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives- Students will explore multiple perspectives about Thanksgiving celebrations in Plymouth, MA. Students will create a landmark that commemorates both the European Settlers and the Native American viewpoints concerning the Colonizing of America.
20. Thanksgiving Stations- To pre-assess younger students abilities in three areas--in particular throwing.
21. The Mayflower Passengers and Their First Year In America- "The student will be able to understand the reasons why the Pilgrims and other passengers came to America."
22. The Telling: A Thanksgiving Story - With the use of literature, students compare and contrast different points of view on the first Thanksgiving.
23. The Ten Little Indians Count - Did you ever have fun blowing feathers in the air? This activity is a fun, hands-on activity that uses a Thanksgiving theme to incorporate one-to-one counting to 10.
24. The Wampanoag Indians Helped the Pilgrims- "The student will be able to recognize the hardships the Pilgrims faced when trying to adjust to a new and different environment and lifestyle."
25. Turkey for Thanksgiving Anyone?- Students read the story and answer the questions by performing the necessary mathematical calculations.
26. Turkey Hand Puppets- "The glove is going to be the Turkey."
27. Turkey Pins- "These Turkey Pins are nice to make in the classroom, or as gifts for room volunteers!"
28. Turkey Time- The purpose of this activity is to give students the opportunity to use their chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills in a fun holiday situation.
29. Turkey Trot- "A PE game idea called Turkey Trot that integrates Social Studies and Thanksgiving."
30. Why Did the Plimoth Settlers Celebrate Thanksgiving?- Helps students understand why Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims.
31. William Bradford's Mayflower Passenger List- A list of all the passengers.

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Lesson Plan

Our entire staff sat down for this one. Over 500 years of teaching experience! The goal was to create the components of a thanksgiving feast lesson that reinforces as many core curriculum areas as possible. Of course, it has to be a fun and engaging activity for students. Play video now...