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Roast Turkey dressed for dinner

Roast Turkey

Thanksgiving Theme Learning Ideas and Resources

"History is written by the victors."
~ Winston Churchill

When most of us were taught history in school, we were taught to memorize the dates of important events, learn a brief overview of certain characters, then recall this information for a test and promptly forget it. Only in light of my own history can I discern that history has many facets and many points of view, not all of them accurate. Much of what passed for history in my own school days was nothing more than myth and conjecture.

In order to gain a clear understanding of history, it is essential that the student delve into the events that lead up to the momentous event in question, then investigate the claims from both sides of the aisle (we all know there are two sides to every argument and often many points of view). If you approach history from multiple angles it will allow you a different perspective of events than would otherwise be possible.

Thanksgiving Resource Index

Below you will find many resources to assist you in expanding your children's knowledge of Thanksgiving, the events and circumstances that lead up to it and the people who lived it. These resources are a starting point and by no means should they be considered definitive. I have attempted to sort them according to grade level, but of course you know your children best.

Jr. & Sr. High School to Adult Thanksgiving Resources

Project Ideas

It may be difficult at first to engage your teen in the Thanksgiving spirit. Here are some ideas that you may find helpful in jump-starting the holiday:

17th Century Thanksgiving Menu

The table was loaded with native fruits like plums, melons, grapes, and cranberries, plus local vegetables such as leeks, wild onions, beans, Jerusalem artichokes, and squash.

Costumes

Many stories have been orally passed down to us from friends, family members, and local historians. A good storyteller knows that visuals can be very helpful in connecting with the listener. Whether you are simply telling a Thanksgiving story or putting on a play or skit, a good costume can illustrate the event to make a lasting memory. Below you find links and details about the clothing worn in the 1620's.

The First Thanksgiving dinner

The First Thanksgiving

"All real historians need to be detectives. Like a good mystery, new pieces sometime pop up that give you a fresh angle on an old story. I feel very passionate about the history of Thanksgiving because the real story is so much more interesting than the popular myth."
~ Kathleen Curtin at Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts

Online Books, Study Guides and Articles

Books to Read

The 1621 Thanksgiving

The tradition of the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Few people realize that the Pilgrims did not celebrate Thanksgiving the next year, or any year thereafter, though some of their descendants later made a "Forefather's Day" that usually occurred on December 21 or 22.

Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the instatement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday. Today, our Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. This was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941). [Learn More]

"History is a set of lies agreed upon."
~Napoleon Bonaparte

DVD's to Watch

Middle School Thanksgiving Resources

Did You Know?

Huge Carved Pumpkins at Black Oak Casino - Tuolumne City, CA

Huge Carved Pumpkin

Thanksgiving Trivia

Plan a Thanksgiving Dinner Lesson

Gather food ads from the local grocery store and markets. Give your student a budget to work from and the number of guests they will be serving. Then have them plan their Thanksgiving meal. This uses many math skills (especially multiplication, since turkey is sold by the pound). For a variation on this lesson, have them compare the cost of meal from two different grocery stores.

Printable Worksheets

How do you mend a broken Jack-o-lantern?
With a pumpkin patch!

Interactive Thanksgiving Puzzles and Games

Online Books, Video's, Study Guides and Articles

Why do jack-o-lanterns have stupid smiles on their faces?
You'd have a stupid smile, too,
if you had all your brains scooped out!

Learn About Traditional Pilgrim Clothing

Books to Read

Elementary School Thanksgiving Resources

Create a Diorama Pumpkin

Make a papier-mâché pumpkin, cut them open and insert a Thanksgiving scene inside. They last for years!

Instructions:

Start by blowing up an oval or round balloon. Next, cover the balloon with newspaper dipped in liquid starch; remove excess starch before applying it to the balloon. Apply multiple layers (3-4) of papier-mâché so that a hard shell can be formed. Don't forget to create a stem!

Stand your balloon on a flat surface so that the bottom will become flattened. When it dries (after a couple of days), paint the balloon orange.

Have an adult carefully, cut the desired size hole in the balloon with an Exacto blade or other cutting tool.

Creating your scene:

Start by painting the inside to create a background, and then make clay, or wood figures, or cut pictures of thanksgiving scenes from magazines and glue them in.

A pinecone turkey can go inside too!

Online Books, Study Guides and Articles

Thanksgiving Plays, Skits, and Puppet Plays

Costumes

Craft Ideas

History of Pudding

Food historians generally agree the first puddings made by ancient cooks produced foods similar to sausages. Medieval puddings were still mostly meat-based. The earliest Pudding recipe in the British Museum dates back to around 1420.

It is very likely the Indians introduced the Pilgrims to pudding and that it was served during their Thanksgiving feast. To be sure it was nothing like the puddings we eat today. Learn more about Indian Pudding. Then learn everything you ever wanted to know about Hasty Pudding and the Pudding Stick.

Did you know that pudding didn't always come in a box? Homemade Vanilla Pudding is fun and easy to make. This recipe can even be adapted to create a wonderful White Sauce to top Bread Pudding, Apple Dumplings and other tempting treats. To make a creamy white sauce, simply thin with milk during the cooking process, and pour over your favorite dessert. Try this recipe:

Homemade Vanilla Pudding Recipe

Ingredients:
  • 2 Cups milk
  • 3 Egg yolks
  • ½ C. white sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
Directions:

In medium saucepan over medium heat, blend milk and egg yolks, heat until bubbles form at edges. In a bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Pour into hot milk, a little at a time, stirring to dissolve. Add butter and vanilla. Continue to cook and stir until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Do not boil. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter. Pour into serving dishes. Chill before serving.

Make Vanilla Pudding from a box mix.

Compare and discuss the results.

Books to Read

My Thanksgiving Day Poem

Print picture, color border; then Write Your own Thanksgiving Day Poem.

Songs and Poems

DVD's to Watch

Preschool Thanksgiving Resources

The male turkey is called a tom.

Did You Know?

Preschool Craft Ideas

Online Books, Games and Articles

Wobble Wobble - Gobble Gobble

The turkey is a funny bird.
It's head goes wobble, wobble.
All it knows is just one word
And that is gobble, gobble!

Songs and Poems

Preschool Books to Read

DVD's to Watch

With special thanks to Fran Wisniewski
Founder of Natural Learner
Universal Preschool's Worldwide Ambassador

Thanksgiving Field Trip Ideas for Everyone

I've included links to living history settlements, such as pioneer villages, while they focus primarily on living in the 1800s, not the pilgrim's life of 1620, things changed at a much slower pace than they do today. You will find many similarities with which to draw comparisons. How was life the same? How was it different? So, take notes and ask your students how they believe life differed between these two time periods in history.