Let's Give Thanks! First Thanksgiving WebQuest

To introduce the First Thanksgiving WebQuest share one of the many books available. The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh is a well written story about the difficult voyage on the Mayflower and how a Pilgrim family may have enjoyed this celebration.

After reading the book to your class discuss with them that the Pilgrims were celebrating a successful harvest. Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of an annual day of 'thanksgiving' in 1863.

Let us find out about the First Thanksgiving celebration by using information that we will be able to find on the computer or in books. These are the things we want to learn.

On chart paper print the questions that you would like the students to research:

What food was eaten at the First Thanksgiving?

Choose a vegetable that the Pilgrims grew and tell about it in words and pictures.

Where did the Pilgrims come from and how did they arrive in Plymouth?

Why did the Pilgrims put 5 kernels of corn on each plate?

How is our Thanksgiving celebration different from the First Thanksgiving? Did the Pilgrims go to the grocery store to buy their turkey?

Divide the students into small groups and give each group one of the questions to research. Provide each group with chart paper, crayons, markers and schedule computer time. Have books, pictures and magazines available for them to use. Ask your students to record their findings by pictures and printing.

Make use of these resources.

Books:

Sarah Morton's Day. by Kate Waters.

Giving Thanks;A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp

Useful websites:

First Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Story

The History of Thanksgiving

All About Corn

Invite each of the groups to share their findings with the class. They should report on their area of research, what resource they used, and what they found.

Ask them to tell how the group worked together and ask each member of the group how they thought that they worked - did they do their very best or could they have done better?

Add the students' reports to the original chart and discuss with them if there is need for further research. As a teacher you will be able to determine where there is a need for more assistance in future research assignments.

Making corn husk dolls is a very difficult activity for young children and takes a long time to properly prepare the husks. Visit this web site and introduce the students to a simple way to simulate the characters. Corn Husk Characters

Invite your students to share the way they and their families celebrate Thanksgiving. Distribute papers and crayons and markers and ask them to draw a picture of themselves with their family on Thanksgiving Day.

Give out table-mat sized papers and on them ask your students to draw a plate. On the plate either draw, or cut and paste from magazines, the food that they eat at Thanksgiving. Add pictures of cutlery to complete the picture.

The First Thanksgivng WebQuest will have your students engaged and learning!