First Thanksgiving Unit for Kindergarten and First Grade

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Did you survive Halloween in your classroom? I hope you did! All the parties and costumes and candy can make for some very excited kiddos…and one very exhausted teacher. 🙂

Hot off the heels of one holiday, it’s time to get ready for the next one: Thanksgiving! I recently finished creating a first Thanksgiving Unit for Kindergarten and First Grade that I can’t wait to show you. Students sail on the Mayflower and experience life as a Pilgrim and Wampanoag during the week-long unit. Here’s a peek at each day!

Day One: Journey on the Mayflower

The first day begins with the Pilgrims’ journey on the Mayflower. Before reading, students share about a long trip they’ve taken. Then, after reading the book, On the Mayflower by Mark Greenwood, students make a moving Mayflower craft. Click here to see the moving Mayflower craft step-by-step and download a free printable template to make it!

Day Two: Life as a Pilgrim

Sarah Morton’s Day or Samuel Eaton’s Day by Kate Waters are perfect books to read for learning more about life as a Pilgrim. Students display what they learned about Pilgrims with this cute lift-the-flap writing activity.

I’ve included several different options for this activity. There’s a picture-only version for pre- or beginning readers and writers, a short text option with pictures, a fill-in-the-blank option, and a blank version for students to make their own!

Day Three: Life as a Wampanoag

The Wampanoag played an important role in the Pilgrims’ survival that first year. Students learn more about their way of life from the book, Tapenum’s Day by Kate Waters. Students record what they learn about the Wampanoag on a lift-the-flap writing sheet similar to the one on day two. They make a woven paper mat or a flint corn craft.

First Thanksgiving Activities #firstthanksgiving

There aren’t many children’s books about the Wampanoag. If you need more information about them, I highly recommend the Plimoth Plantation website’s “Homework Help” section. The text is very kid-friendly and you could just read it in place of a book. Each section you click on includes information about the Wampanoag and Pilgrims.

Day Four: The First Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims’ bountiful harvest after the long, hard winter gave them a reason to celebrate. The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving by Anne Mcgovern recounts the three-day feast.

Students record what they learned about the first Thanksgiving in this mini-booklet. They color or draw pictures and write about what took place.

Day Five: How We Celebrate Thanksgiving

Conclude the week by discussing how we celebrate Thanksgiving today. There are so many fun activities to do with our Thanksgiving that I couldn’t just pick one or two! 🙂 Do what you have time for and what works best for your students.

Have students share things they’re thankful for and create an adorable stuffed paper bag turkey to display their answers. Students might draw and write about what they eat for Thanksgiving or eat turkey applesauce to end the week with a treat!