Thanksgiving Lessons

Are you looking for some clever ways to teach your students about Thanksgiving this year? This major American holiday is only two weeks away. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to plan out a lesson! There are many methods you may choose to use when it comes to teaching about this holiday. Read on for some ideas you may not have considered before.

One:  Separate the myth from reality when it comes to Thanksgiving. There are a lot of common “facts” about Thanksgiving that are not true, such as the “First Thanksgiving” being the first feast of its kind. Use this opportunity to teach about similar harvest feasts around the world, and teach students what types of food were actually served at this celebration. Make sure to emphasize how Native Americans were the ones who helped the pilgrims to survive. Perpetuating myths only leads to your students being ignorant.  

Two: Give an unbiased lesson on Thanksgiving. There is contention about the holiday of Thanksgiving and many Native Americans have come forward to speak out against the holiday. The traditional Thanksgiving history taught in schools is accurate in the sense that the pilgrims and Native Americans (Wampanoag) had a feast together. However, the lesson usually ends there. What is not often taught is that within the next fifty years, the Wampanoag ceased to be free. How you approach this depends on the age group, as with older students you may assign readings, but with younger students you’ll want a more delicate approach. There are many resources out there that detail how colonists damaged Native American’s way of life to help guide you.

Three: Give a lesson on Native Americans in the USA, today. Younger children may not realize that the Native American population is still in modern-day America. This is a great time to combat negative Native American stereotypes. Teach students about modern customs and Indian reservations. There are millions of Native Americans in the USA today, some on reservations and some not. Take time to give your students some perspective.

Four: Give back to the community. Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks and being grateful for what you

have. It is also a time to reflect on what others in the community do not have. Poverty is a big problem in the United States. There are many people who must choose between having a home and having a meal, and people who do not have a home at all. Encourage students to help out by volunteering their time to the community. Another great idea is to hold a food drive. Your donation can go to a larger organization, or to a smaller, local one. Teaching students about helping those in need is important as it will give them a new perspective and help them understand problems in our society more easily.

Five: Do some fun activities as well! Give students a balanced day of educational and fun, particularly for younger students. In addition to teaching them about Thanksgiving, complete a Thanksgiving craft! Maybe give a creative writing assignment. A great example is to have students write from the point of view of a turkey, trying not to be eaten. Don’t be afraid to add a bit of silliness to your lesson plan.

We hope that some of these tips have given you some ideas for giving a well-rounded lesson about Thanksgiving. Enjoy the upcoming holiday, and never forget to be thankful for everything that you have.