Primary school teaching of first thanksgiving and U.S. customs

1. The story of
Thanksgiving

2. The first Thanksgiving
 In 1620, 102 Pilgrims sailed to the
“New World” by boat called the
Mayflower
 Pilgrims were English people who
wanted to separate from the
church of England
 They traveled for 66 days on the
Mayflower
 They arrived in what is now
“Massachusetts”

3. The first Thanksgiving
 They arrived in the Winter
 Half of the Pilgrims did not
survive
 Bad nutrition
 Disease
 By the next spring (1621)
those who had survive had
to find a proper place to
settle

4. The first Thanksgiving
 Pilgrims were helped by Indians
who knew English
 Some of those Indians had been
captured by English explorers in
previous years (that’s how they
knew English)
 They taught the Pilgrims how to
survive

5. The first Thanksgiving
 The first successful Harvest
was in November 1621
 Corn
 The Pilgrims leader called for
a celebration
 Deer were hunted and cooked
to eat
 The Indians were invited
 They celebrated for 3 days

6. When did Thanksgiving
become official?
 For more than 100 years after the
first Thanksgiving, no celebrations
 In 1789, George Washington (the
first president of the U.S.)
declared it was a holiday
 He said: Thursday the 26th of
November 1789 must be a day of
“public thanksgiving and prayer”
to God
 People started celebrating it in
different states and different time
 But this did not make Thanksgiving
official yet

7. When did Thanksgiving
become official?
 Abraham Lincoln was the
first president to order a day
off (no work) on Nov. 28 for
Thanksgiving
 In October 1863, during the
civil war, Lincoln said
“Everyone has to celebrate
Thanksgiving on the last
Thursday in November”

8. Thanksgiving is the most
important U.S. holiday
 Very important for family to be
together on this day
 Even more important than Christmas
 It’s a big tradition to watch the
Macy’s thanksgiving day parade
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=2FuoOWJvg8U
 Also, to watch the Football game
 http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20
13112802/2013/REG13/steelers@rave
ns#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3
A0ap2000000289787&tab=recap
 And to eat a large meal

9. What to eat on Thanksgiving?
 Main dishes
 Stuffed Turkey
 Corn
 Mashed potatoes
 Green Beans

10. What to eat on Thanksgiving?
 Side dishes
 Cranberry sauce
 Cornbread
 Macaroni and Cheese

11. What to eat on Thanksgiving?
 Desserts
 Pumpkin pie
 Apple pie
 Pecan pie

12. Other thanksgiving traditions
The president saves a turkey on
Thanksgiving
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L
Q961y0VKEk

13. Other thanksgiving traditions
Black Friday
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightl
y-news/53696345#53696345