November 17, 2015

THE BASICSTopic: Thanksgiving

Articles “Thanksgiving Weekend” (National Constitution Center) “The History of Thanksgiving” (National Constitution Center)

Questions to Consider What is the meaning of Thanksgiving in the United States? How does the history of the treatment of American Indians connect with a Thanksgiving

celebration? How and why do we teach students about this history? What was the purpose of President George Washington’s Thanksgiving celebration? How was

the Thanksgiving proclamation meant to remind Americans that they should be grateful for the successful conclusion of the War for Independence and the ratification of the new Constitution? How did President Lincoln add to the official Thanksgiving proclamation?

Do you agree with historian Jane Kamensky that “For these holidays say much less about who we really were in some specific then, than about who we want to be in an ever changing now”? If so, what does Thanksgiving say about us now?

Should we remember the Wampanoag people when we celebration Thanksgiving? How is gratitude for plentiful harvests expressed around the world? How is acknowledgement of human rights a part of a Thanksgiving celebration? How can civic

discourse be part of the Thanksgiving celebration? What, according to Washington’s proclamation, are the blessings for which the earliest citizens of

the United States should have been grateful? Which elements of our republic should we include in our expressions of gratitude?

What list of blessings would a modern-day proclamation include? Can the giving of thanks be commanded – should it be commanded – by governmental authority?

In the 18th century, thanksgiving days were observed by prayer and fasting; do today’s ritual feasting alter in any way the intended purpose of the holiday?

How does Thanksgiving Day matter to your identity as an American citizen? “The Real Story of Thanksgiving” – Great discussion questions! (History.com)

THE EXTRASPre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading

“Thanksgiving Proclamation” (What So Proudly We Hail) “Thanksgiving: A Native American View” (Alternet) “Thanksgiving History” (Plimoth Plantation) “The Founding Father really didn’t want the turkey as our national symbol” (Constitution Daily)

Lesson Plans

“The First Thanksgiving Celebration” (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History) “The First Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving Lessons for Grades 6-8” (Scholastic)

What’s the Connection? Constitutional

“Thanksgiving and the Constitution” (The Witherspoon Institute) “Treaties Between the United States and Native Americans” (Yale Law School)

Oregon “Is it selfish to shop on Thanksgiving? This Portland woman says yes.” (The Oregonian)

Students “Host an international student this Thanksgiving with OISS” (Yale News)

Oregon State Social Science Standards8.26. Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective. HS.7. Analyze the history, culture, tribal sovereignty, and historical and current issues of the American Indian tribes and bands in Oregon and the United States.HS.59. Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed to be a critical consumer of information.HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon form varied or opposing perspectives or points of view.

CCSS Anchor Standards2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. 8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

We the People Lesson ConnectionsMiddle School, Level 2

Unit 1, Lesson 2: Why do we need government? High School, Level 3

Unit 1, Lesson 5: What basic ideas about rights and constitutional government did colonial Americans hold?

Unit 6, Lesson 33: What does it mean to be a citizen?