The document provides information about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving in the United States. It explains that Thanksgiving commemorates the Pilgrims' harvest feast in 1620, which they shared with Native Americans after a difficult first winter. Key Thanksgiving foods like turkey and pumpkin pie are described. Popular activities on Thanksgiving include watching parades, American football games, and spending time with family and giving thanks.

1. Thanksgiving!
(El Día de Acción de Gracias)

2. Vocabulary!
Pilgrims
Indians
Winter and autumn
Sweet potatoes
Pumpkin pie
Parade
Float
Cook
Give thanks
Hunt
Football
grow
Peregrinos
Indios
Invierno y otoño
Batatas
Tarta de calabaza
Desfile
Carro/carroza/paso?
Cocinar
Dar las gracias
Cazar
Fútbol AMERICANO :)
crecer

3. What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a secular holiday that we celebrate in the United
States on the fourth Thursday in November.
We have vacation on Thursday and Friday of that week.

4. Why do we celebrate
Thanksgiving?
We celebrate Thanksgiving because of the history of
the Pilgrims, people who traveled from England to
live in the United States.

5. The History of
Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims were people who lived in England. In 1620, they
left England in search of religious freedom in America, or “The
New World”.
It took 66 days for the Pilgrims to reach America. They traveled
in a boat called the Mayflower. They arrived in Plymouth Rock,
Massachusetts.

7. The first winter was very hard for the Pilgrims. The had hardly any
food. They did not know how to grow more. Many of them got sick
and died.

8. In the spring, the Native Americans showed the Pilgrims how to plant
vegetables like corn, pumpkins, and squash. They watched them grow. The
Native Americans also showed them how to make medicines to stay
healthy when they got sick.
Pumpkins and
Squash
Corn
When autumn came, they all had plenty of food. They harvested the
vegetables. The Native Americans and the Pilgrims feasted together for
three days. They ate lots of food and gave thanks for everything they had.
A new tradition had begun.

9. Can you remember?
• Why did the Pilgrims leave England?
• When did they reach America?
• What happened during the first winter?
• Why did they have plenty of food the next autumn?
• How did they celebrate?

10. Thanksgiving Today!
Thanksgiving is a holiday that we spend with lots of family.
Everyone brings different kinds of food to a family member’s house
and we eat a very big meal together and give thanks for all we have.
I celebrate Thanksgiving every year with my dad’s side of the family.
We always have dinner at my uncle and aunt’s house.

12. Thanksgiving Food
There are many kinds of typical Thanksgiving foods, but the
most important food for Thanksgiving is the turkey.

13. Cranberry Sauce
(salsa de arándano)

14. Mashed Potatoes
(puré de papas)

15. Green Bean Casserole
(cazuela de judías verdes)

16. Sweet Potatoes
(batatas)

17. Pumpkin Pie
(tarta de calabaza)

18. Thanksgiving Day Activities
Macy’s Department Store
in New York City puts on
the biggest parade of the
year on the morning of
Thanksgiving. They have
huge floats, lots of music,
and sometimes famous
singers in the parade.

22. Cooking Dinner
We all cook the meal together before we eat.

23. After we make the food, we all eat together and give thanks.

24. After the Meal…
After we eat, someone has to wash all the dishes. Last year, my
mom and my uncle had to wash the dishes.

25. Hunting
During Thanksgiving, it is also very popular for people to go
hunting for deer. My dad, uncle, and cousins always go hunting
on Thanksgiving.

26. Football!
There is always an important (American) football game on
Thanksgiving Day. After we eat we watch our team play…and
win!

28. After the football game, my cousins and I always play
Scrabble. It is always a big competition!

29. We do lots of fun activities on Thanksgiving
and we have a lot of food and a big party, but
above all, Thanksgiving is about being
together with family.

30. Grammar Practice!
Use the correct form of the verb “be” to complete the sentence:
1. Turkey
is
the most important food on Thanksgiving.
2. The Pilgrims are people from England who came to America in
1620.
3. Green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie are popular foods on
Thanksgiving.
4. Watching football games is a popular activity on Thanksgiving.
5. The floats in the Thanksgiving parade are very big.
6. Usually, I am very excited for Thanksgiving. This year I ‘m not
because I won’t be with my family.

31. Making Sentences
Use the following words to make 5 sentences about Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
turkey
The family
hunting
Emily
The Pilgrims
My cousins and I
Sweet potatoes
likes
are
is
like
A time to give thanks.
To watch football
A popular activity
Very important
Watching the parade
From England
To play games

32. What secular holidays do
you have in Spain?
• How do you celebrate?
• Do you eat special foods?
• Do you celebrate with family or friends?
Or both?
• Do you have to go to school?
• Do you like these holidays?
• What are you thankful for? I am thankful
for…