The First Thanksgiving: Learning to Embrace Diversity

Students will learn about the first Thanksgiving feast. Discuss who attended and how they were different from each other, how they were alike. An in-depth look at how the Native Americans were different from each other and ways in which the Pilgrims were different from each other. Students will learn about how the feast has changed, customs and meanings and how it remains the same.

Preparation:

Choose books about Thanksgiving with a variety of viewpoints, find websites that discuss important facts about the first Thanksgiving, display a map to be used to highlight were attendees were from.

Timeline:

One or two class periods.

• Discuss with students what they know about Thanksgiving.
• Uncover facts/myths about the first Thanksgiving (who attended, when it was, the purpose, the outcome, etc.)

· Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4.

· Ask the class to utilize various methods to learn more about the first Thanksgiving (computer, in-class books, library, magazines, etc.)

· Have each group write a list of the similarities and differences between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims (at least 3 items on each list).

· Next assign or have each group choose two of the Native American tribes that attended the first Thanksgiving.

· Using similar research tools students should research each tribe and record items about each such as region where they lived, foods eaten, customs, dress, shelter, etc.

· Have each group create lists about the Native American tribes: one of similarities, one of differences.

· Ask each group to share their lists. Discuss as a class.

· Next have the class follow the same routine and learn more about the Pilgrims who attended Thanksgiving.

· Create lists of similarities and differences amongst them.

· Ask each group to share their lists. Discuss as a class.

· Using the four lists have groups create a new list of similarities and differences between the Native Americans and Pilgrims.

· Discuss how this second list is different from the first list of the same topic.

Conclusion:

Discuss what they found that was similar between the Native Americans and Pilgrims that they didn’t know about or that surprised them. Emphasize similarities but don’t ignore differences.

Finish the lesson by reading a book about the first Thanksgiving.

Suggested Books:

1) Barth, Edna. 1975. Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn: The Story of Thanksgiving Symbols. New York: Clarion Books.

2) Kamma, Anne. 2001. If You Were at the First Thanksgiving. New York: Scholastic.

3) Grace, Catherine O'Neill, and Margaret M. Bruchac with Plymouth Plantation. 2001. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving. Washington, DC: National Geographic.

4) McGovern, Ann. 1993. If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. New York: Scholastic.