Teaching Themes
Thanksgiving: Everything You Need
Students will see beyond the kids table as they research the significance of Thanksgiving.
Articles
A Feast of Thanksgiving Ideas and Crafts
Grades: 1–2, 3–5
Go beyond Pilgrim hats and hand turkeys with these 22 fun activities that teach gratitude, charity, friendship, and community.
Articles
Why We Give Thanks
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
Learn about the origins of Thanksgiving, from Squanto and the Pawtuxet tribe to the Pilgrims and the Plymouth Colony.
Thanksgiving Day
Grades: Early Childhood, Infant, PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5
Check out these great books at the Teacher Store.
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 Interactive Whiteboard Activities The First ThanksgivingGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 These interactive activities, lesson plans, and virtual field trips to Plimoth Plantation help bring the history of Thanksgiving to life. |
 Online Learning Activities Milly and the Macy's Parade ActivityGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5 These activities and printables make the perfect accompaniments for students reading the Milly and the Macy's Parade holiday picture book. |
 Computer Lab Activities, Interactive Whiteboard Activities, Online Learning Activities Thanksgiving Web Quest: A First Thanksgiving ActivityGrades: 3–5 Students set off on fact-finding missions to learn about the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag people, and the famous harvest feast! |
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Book Resources, Books GuestsGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Moss and Trouble, an Algonquin boy and girl, struggle with the problems of growing up in the Massachusetts area during the time of the first... |
Book Resources, Books The Pilgrims' First ThanksgivingGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Full-color illustrations bring to life this historically accurate account of how the children of Plymouth Colony helped make the first... |
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Discussion Guides, Book Resources Guests Discussion GuideGrades: 3–5 A story about Thanksgiving from the point of view of the hosts: the Native Americans who were kind enough to share what they had with the Pilgrims... |
Activities and Games, Extension Activities, Book Resources Guests Extension ActivitiesGrades: 3–5 Extension activity for Guests by Michael Dorris. |
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Vocabulary Builders, Book Resources Guests Vocabulary BuilderGrades: 3–5 Vocabulary builder for Guests by Michael Dorris. |
Extension Activities, Book Resources Rabbit's Wish for Snow Extension ActivitiesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Extension activity for Rabbit's Wish for Snow by Tchin. |
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Discussion Guides, Book Resources The Mud Pony Discussion GuideGrades: 3–5 Discussion guide for The Mud Pony by Caron Lee Cohen. |
Discussion Guides, Book Resources The Legend of the Bluebonnet Discussion GuideGrades: 3–5 Tomie dePaola retells the folktale of how the blue bonnets, the state flower of Texas, came to be. |
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Extension Activities, Book Resources The Legend of the Bluebonnet Extension ActivitiesGrades: 3–5 What's In a Name? After reviewing why the heroine's name was changed in The Legend of the Bluebonnet, by Tomie dePaola, discuss how the names... |
Lesson Plans, Book Resources Books for Teaching the First ThanksgivingGrades: PreK–K Teacher created book list includes tips for classroom use. |
 Lesson Plans, Book Resources Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Using nonfiction the nonfiction book, Giving Thanks, students will learn about feasting days shared by English settlers and Wampanoag Indians in... |
 Lesson Plans, Book Resources Franklin's Thanksgiving Lesson PlanGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Franklin is sad that his grandma and grandpa won't be able to join his family for Thanksgiving. But, after Franklin and his family invite surprise... |
Activity Plan 4-5: Giving ThanksGrades: PreK–K Help children acknowledge community members in this ready-to-use teaching idea for four- and five-year-olds. Activity: Social Awareness. |
Tracing Our Own Family PilgrimagesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Students track their ancestors' voyages to America in this Thanksgiving lesson plan focused on diverse cultural heritages. |
Make an "I'm Thankful For..." PlacematGrades: PreK–K Teach students the meaning of Thanksgiving through poetry by helping them make placemats adorned with their pictures and lines from a poem. |
 Make a Mini MayflowerGrades: PreK–K Teach students about appreciation as they make a miniature model of the Mayflower and write a letter of thanks. |
