Objectives: The student will be able to:
1. recognize the hardships the Pilgrims faced when trying to adjust to a new and different environment and lifestyle.
2. describe some of the natural resources the Wampanoag Indians showed to the Plimoth Settlers.
Description of lesson/activity:
Activity 1
1. Based on Thanksgiving Day from Lesson 1, discuss what life was like for the Pilgrims that first year when they arrived in Plimoth. On chart paper list the children's responses. Ask guiding questions when necessary to help children think about shelter, food, clothing, feelings, health, etc. Remind the children that the Pilgrims had been living in cities in London where there were shops, doctors, and other goods and services.
2. Discuss the role the Wampanoag Indians played in helping the Pilgrims adjust and learn to use the resources around them.
3. Read the book Squanto and the First Thanksgiving , by Teresa Celsi. On the same chart listing the hardships the Pilgrims faced, record the children's responses to the question, "What did the Wampanoag Indians teach the Pilgrims?"
4. Use pictures from resource books to show children what the various vegetables, fish, and seafood, and game animals look like, as well as homes, means of cooking, etc.
5. Try to bring in some vegetables, seeds, tools, and utensils for children to explore.
Activity 2
1. Have the children work in groups to create murals showing the Wampanoag Indians teaching the Pilgrims ways of using natural resources. Some examples could include hunting, gathering clams and mussels, fishing, and planting corn.
2. Have each group dictate a description of their mural. These descriptions should be written on chart paper and displayed with each mural.
Activity 3
1. Read the poem, "The First Thanksgiving," by Jack Prelutsky, found in It's Thanksgiving (New York: William Morrow and Co., 1982)
Have the children look at pictures and posters showing the first Thanksgiving at Plimoth. What were the Pilgrims thankful for? List the children's responses, (i.e., the Indians' help, a good harvest, and good health) on a chart.
2. Give each child a 12" x 18" piece of drawing paper. Fold the paper in half, creating two 9" x 12" halves. Tell the children that they are going to draw two different pictures, one on each side of the fold. On the left side they are to draw a picture of something the Pilgrims were thankful for and on the right side they will draw a picture of something for which they are thankful. When finished, have the children describe their pictures. Their statements should be written down under each picture.
3. Discuss with the children the actual Thanksgiving Feast. Explain that the first Thanksgiving in Plimoth was a party celebrating the successful harvest. Using pictures, posters, and resource books, describe for the children what the three day feast was like. Include descriptions of food, clothing, utensils, responsibilities of adults and children, and games. Detailed information about the first Plimoth Thanksgiving and life on Plimoth Plantation can be obtained from: The Research Staff, Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, MA 02360.
4. Have the children plan and prepare a small harvest feast. This can be integrated into a theme on food and nutrition. Some suggested foods might include corn bread, homemade butter, popcorn, or something made from pumpkin. Any cooking project can be used in planning a feast.
5. Play some of the games that were played during the first Thanksgiving at Plimoth, such as different running races.
Celsi, Teresa. Squanto and the First Thanksgiving . (Austin, Texas: Steck Vaughn, 1992) (ISBN 0817235116).
de Paola, Tomie. The Popcorn Book . (New York: Holiday House, 1978) (ISBN 0823403149).
Gibbons, Gail. Thanksgiving Day . (New York: Holiday House, 1983) (ISBN 0823404897).
Kalman, Bobbie. We Celebrate the Harvest . (Cabtree).
Prelutsky, Jack. It's Thanksgiving . (New York: Scholastic, 1982): pp 12-15. (ISBN 0590415719).
Ziefert, Harriet. What is Thanksgiving? (Singapore: HarperCollins Publishers, 1992).