Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand the history and significance of Thanksgiving, including its traditions and foods, and will create a fun Thanksgiving-themed craft to celebrate the holiday.

Materials and Prep

• Paper (any color)
• Crayons or markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Optional: Items from nature like leaves or acorns for decoration

Before the lesson, it’s helpful to review the basic history of Thanksgiving, including who the Pilgrims were and what they celebrated. Be prepared to discuss this in a fun way!

Activities

• Thanksgiving Story Time:

  Read a simple story about the first Thanksgiving. Discuss the main characters, the Pilgrims, and Native Americans, and what they did to celebrate. Ask the student what they think about the story.

• Thanksgiving Craft:

  Create a Thanksgiving turkey using paper. The student can cut out feathers and decorate them with drawings or words of things they are thankful for. This will help them think about gratitude!

• Thanksgiving Recipe Talk:

  Discuss traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Ask the student if they have ever tried these foods and which one they would like to try or help make.

Talking Points

• "Do you know why we celebrate Thanksgiving? It's a time to be thankful for what we have!"
• "The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans. They shared a big meal together!"
• "What is your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving? Mine is pumpkin pie!"
• "Let's think about what we are thankful for. Can you name three things?"
• "Making a turkey craft is fun! What colors do you want to use for the feathers?"
• "Thanksgiving is about family and friends coming together. Who do you like to spend time with?"
• "Do you know any Thanksgiving songs? We can sing one together after our craft!"