Celebrating Thanksgiving

The year has turned its circle, The seasons come and go. The harvest is all gathered in And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards shared their treasures, The fields, their yellow grain. So open wide the doorway - Thanksgiving comes again!Enjoy, as we journey to

discover Thanksgiving!

A Postcard from a Pilgrim

Dear Friend,

Many years ago I came to America on a ship called the Mayflower. When we landed we needed food to eat. Our first winter was hard. Many of us died. Then in the spring we met Native Americans who taught us how to plant corn, hunt turkey. Soon we had enough food for the winter. We were so thankful that we invited the Native Americans for a huge feast. It was the first

Thanksgiving.

What do you think it felt like to be a Pilgrim?

The Pilgrims Journey to America

The Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1620.

What Did the Pilgrims Pack?

Packed Did not Pack

Friends

Native American

s

Clothes made of animal skin

Lived in wigwams

Learned stories and lessons from adults

Children used bows and arrows

Pilgrims

Clothes made of cloth or wool

Lived in house with roof

Learned to read and write from adults

Children played marbles

Ate corn and fish

Children respected adults

Played ball and ran races

This Venn Diagram shows how The Native Americans and Pilgrims were the same and different. Can you think of some other ways?

Thanksgiving Today

The Pilgrims were thankful for and .

What are you thankful for? Finish the poem with your own idea.

I think of sunshine, clear and bright.

I think of stars, twinkling at night.

I think of friends, family, and more -

I have so much to be thankful for!

I’m especially thankful for _________.

Cranberry Fun!

Cranberries are a traditional Thanksgiving food. Here are some fun activities that you can do with a few

fresh cranberries. Have fun!!!!!

?

Do you think a cranberry will sink or

float? Why? Give it a try.

What happened? To discover

the reason for your discovery

cut your cranberry in

half. What do you see?

Do the cranberry

bounce! To check to see if a cranberry is fresh drop it. Did it bounce

at least 4 feet? If not it

is old or

bruised. ?

Why do you think

cranberries bounce?

?

How many cranberries

are in a bag? Estimate the number you

think and then count by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s

Plimoth Plantation Scavenger Hunt

Do you wonder what it really was like to be a Pilgrim. Go back in time by visiting www.plimoth.org

Here you will discover answers to the following questions -

* How many passengers sailed on the Mayflower-

* How long the first Thanksgiving lasted-

* What Native American boys and girls did -

WHAT ELSE DID YOU DISCOVER?

Thanksgiving Story Starters

Now that you are a Thanksgiving expert use some of the words below to write your own Thanksgiving story!

Pilgrims thankful

Native Americans cranberries

feast winter

Thanksgiving fall

cranberriescornucopia

turkey harvest

MayflowerNovember

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Brave and courageous Pilgrims, You who knew no fears, How your words of thankfulness Go ringing down the years; May we follow after: Like you, work and play, And with hearts of thankfulness keep Thanksgiving Day.

-Annette Wynne

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!