This document provides a lesson plan for teaching students about the real history of the first Thanksgiving. It includes 5 activities: 1) discussing what a Pilgrim is; 2) making paper turkeys and writing what they're thankful for; 3) trying to make butter as the Pilgrims did; 4) learning the song "Over the River"; and 5) acting out and discussing the interactions between Pilgrims and Native Americans before sharing a Thanksgiving meal. The goal is to educate students on Thanksgiving's origins and promote cultural understanding.

1. Thanksgiving
Pilgrims

2. Thanksgiving Lesson
Second Grade
ED 417
Done By:
Mary Maxwell
&
Missy Brindle

3. Rationale
• Thanksgiving is an
important part of American
Heritage. Students should
learn the real story of the
Pilgrims, Native Americans,
and the Thanksgiving Feast.

4. Objectives:
• To teach
students about
the real story of
Thanksgiving
• To eliminate
stereotypes
about Pilgrims
and Native
Americans

5. Objectives Cont…
• To allow students to
experience life and
food as they would
have during the first
Thanksgiving
• To allow students to
express what they
are thankful for

6. Materials Needed:
• Fill in book • Salt
• Chart paper • Whip cream
• Marker • Crackers
• Construction • Copies of the
paper song, “Over the
River”
• Scissors
• Fill in book
• Glue
• Food that was
• Crayons served at
• Baby food jars Thanksgiving

7. Websites:
• www.night.net/thanksgiving/s-over-
river.html
• www.teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/Tlreso
urces/longterm/LessonPlans/Monson
Units/amychr/index.htm

8. Websites Cont…
• www.everythingesl.net/lessons/
gobble.php
• www.theteacherscorner.net/sea
sonal/thanksgiving/songs.htm
• www.atozteacherstuff.com/less
ons/ThanksgivingQuilt.html

9. Activity One:
• What is a Pilgrim?

10. Activity Two:
• We are Thankful Turkeys

11. Activity Three:
• Making Butter

12. Activity Four:
• Learn the song,
“Over the River”

13. Activity Five:
• Thanksgiving Discussion
and Feast

14. Activity One:
What is a Pilgrim?
• Ask students what they think a
“Pilgrim” is.
• Record the students’
responses on chart paper.
• Read the book Molly’s Pilgrim,
by Barbara Cohen.
• After reading this book, ask the
students whether their
opinions about Pilgrims have
changed.
• Record their answers on the
chart paper.

15. Activity Two:
We are Thankful Turkeys
• Have the students make the
body of a turkey out of
construction paper.
• Give each student five different
colored paper feathers.
• Have the students write
something they are thankful
for on each feather.
• After the class is done, have
students take turns sharing
with their peers.
• Display turkeys in the hall.

16. Activity Three:
Making Butter
• Discuss with the class the differences of the
food that the Pilgrims ate and the food that
we eat in our daily lives.
• Explain that the Pilgrims could not just go
to the store and buy supplies, they had to
make all of their own food.
• Tell the class that they are going to try to
make butter.
• Fill the jars half full with whip cream.
• Screw the lid on and then shake the jar for
about five minutes.

17. Activity Three Cont…
Making Butter
• Check to see if lumps of butter
have formed, if not shake the
jar until lumps appear.
• The lumps will form a ball.
• Add a little salt to the ball of
butter.
• Spread the butter onto
crackers to taste.
• Ask students if that butter
tastes like the butter they have
at home.

18. Activity Four:
Learn the song, “Over the River”
Over the river and the through the wood
To Grandfather’s house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood—
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

19. Song Cont…
Over the river and through the wood,
Trot fast, my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground
Like a hunting hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river and through the wood—
Now Grandmother’s cap I spy!
Hurrah for fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

20. Activity Five:
Thanksgiving
Discussion and Feast
• Read the story Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende and
Harry Devlin.
• Assign the students either a Pilgrim or Native American.
• Have them act out a play about how they may feel in this
role.
• What would they think of the other group? How would
the Native Americans feel towards the new Pilgrims?
What would the Pilgrims feel about the Native
Americans?
• After discussion, have the students sit together and
enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

21. Happy
Thanksgiving!!!

22. The End