The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Plantation in 1620 after a difficult journey from England on the Mayflower. The first winter was devastating, with half of the Pilgrims dying due to the harsh conditions. In the spring of 1621, a Native American named Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to survive by showing them how to plant corn, tap maple trees, and identifying edible plants. That fall, the Pilgrims had a successful harvest and celebrated with the Native Americans, including Squanto and the chief Massasoit. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday where people give thanks and share a meal of traditional foods from that first harvest.

1. Thanksgiving!

2. History
On Sept. 6, 1620 the Pilgrims set
sail for the New World on a ship
called the Mayflower. They
sailed from England to
Plymouth Plantation in the
United State (the New World).
There they set up a colony

3. • The first winter was devastating to
the Pilgrims.
• The cold, snow and sleet was
exceptionally heavy, interfering
with the workers as they tried to
construct their settlement.
• March brought warmer weather
and the health of the Pilgrims
improved.
• Many died during the long winter.
Of the 110 Pilgrims and crew who
left England, less that 50 survived
the first winter.

4. • On March 16, 1621 , a Native American
named Samoset walked into the Plymouth
settlement. The Pilgrims were frightened until
the Indian called out "Welcome" (in English!).
• He left and came back with a Native American
named Squanto.
• He knew English because he had traveled to
England.
• It was Squanto who taught the Pilgrims how
to tap the maple trees for sap. He taught
them which plants were poisonous and which
had medicinal powers. He taught them how to
plant the Indian corn by heaping the earth
into low mounds with several seeds and fish
in each mound. The decaying fish fertilized
the corn. He also taught them to plant other
crops with the corn.
Squanto:
• Without Squanto the pilgrims would not have
survived the second winter.

5. • The harvest that October was successful and the governor, William
Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the
colonists and the neighboring Native Americans.
• They invited Squanto and the other Indians to join them in their
celebration.
• Their chief, Massasoit, and 90 braves came to the celebration which
lasted for 3 days.

6. Present Day
Now it is a national holiday
celebrated the fourth
Thursday of November. On
this day we give thanks for
what we have.
Typical food that we eat on
this day of celebration come
from the food eaten at the
first successful harvest of the
Pilgrims:
- Corn
- Pumpkin (pumpkin pie)
- Turkey
- Green beans
- Cranberry salad
- stuffing
- Bread
- Gravy
- Mashed potatoes