The document summarizes the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday celebrated in America. It describes how in 1620, 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower traveled from Europe to start a new life in America. After a difficult journey, they arrived in December and many died from disease over the winter. In the spring, the remaining settlers were helped by native Americans who taught them farming techniques for crops like turkey, squash and potatoes. After their first successful harvest, the settlers and native Americans held a celebration that included a huge feast, which has inspired the modern American Thanksgiving tradition of cooking the same foods.

1. THANKSGIVING

2. THE THANKSGIVING STORY
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faUYJ9fMiGg
• Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in
America (not in Britain).
• It commemorates the first harvest of settlers in America.
• On 15th August 1620, 102 people set sail from Europe in a boat called
‘The Mayflower’ to start a new life in America. They were among the
first Europeans to settler there.
• The didn’t know what they would find there and so they took
everything they needed to live for a few months. This included
furniture, clothes, tools, food and drink. They also took guns to
protect themselves from the native Americans who they called
‘Indians’.
• After a long and dangerous journey, the settlers arrived on 25th
December. Due to the lack of houses and resources they lived on ‘The
Mayflower’.

3. THE THANKSGIVING STORY
CONTINUED…
• The weather was very cold and many people caught the Plague and
died. By Spring only 54 people were left to start building houses
and growing things to eat.
• The native Americans didn’t attack the newcomers but instead
helped them – they taught them where to plant wheat, to catch fish
and showed them which animals and vegetables to eat that didn’t
exist in Europe at the time e.g. Turkeys, squash, potatoes.
• One native American in particular helped them. He was called
Squanto and acted as an interpreter as he could speak a little
English.
• After their first harvest they gave thanks to God and celebrated.
They cooked a huge meal for themselves and the natives.
• Nowadays, at Thanksgiving, Americans remember the harvest by
cooking the same thing as the natives did years ago.

4. VIDEO CLIP & FOOD QUIZ
• FRIENDS CLIP…
“JOEY’S THANKSGIVING PANTS”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R_rDXDZ
_uc

5. Pork Pie
Toad in the Hole
Bagels
Afternoon Tea
Crumpets
Apple Crumble & Custard
Yorkshire Pudding

6. Summer pudding
Scotch egg
Victoria Sponge
Shepherd’s Pie
Beef Wellington
Full English Breakfast
Fish & Chips
Trifle

7. TOAD IN THE HOLE

8. SUMMER PUDDING

9. YORKSHIRE PUDDING

10. CRUMPETS

11. FISH, CHIPS & MUSHY PEAS

12. AFTERNOON TEA

13. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• Is there any food that you wouldn’t eat as a child that you eat now?
• Is there a certain food which you eat every day?
• What food do you like the most/the least?
• Should fast food restaurants serve healthier food?
• Does your family have any special recipes that are passed down through the
generations?
• What food would you like to see in a restaurant in your country?
• Do you think it is good to count calories when you are eating?
• Have you ever eaten something which has made you ill? What was it? What
happened?
• Which food is overpriced, in your opinion?
• Do you think schools should ban junk food to fight obesity?
• Do you enjoy trying new foods?
• Is there any food that bring back special memories for you? What are they? Why?
• Is obesity a disease or a choice?