Thanksgiving Day Story

Transcription

1 Crafts Games Recipes and the Truth! Thanksgiving Day Story Preschool Unit Study for Little Learners

2 Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of each year. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day and when did it become a National holiday? Let's explore together.

3 The Mayflower The Mayflower was a small ship in Plymouth, England. It left Plymouth with 102 passengers on board. The people on the Mayflower were followers of God. They did not follow the same beliefs as the King of England. They wanted to find a place where they could freely practice their faith and not be afraid of what would happen to them for not following the King's beliefs. The passengers were excited about finding a new home with their own land that they could own. They wanted to go to the New World! The boat ride over to the New World was not easy. The water was very cold and sometimes the weather was bad. They just did their best and persevered.

4 Write the Word Ma y f l o w e r

5 Mayflower

6 Plymouth Rock Finally, they crossed the Massachusetts Bay and began building a community called Plymouth. They landed at large rock known today as "Plymouth Rock." The first winter was very cold and most of the passengers stayed on the Mayflower. Many of the people became sick during that first winter. In fact, only half of the people lived once springtime started. The passengers, known as Pilgrims, were working at building their new colony. They received a visit from an Indian. The Pilgrims did not know there were any other people around the area so it scared them. The Indian was named Squanto. The Indians in the New World were known as Native Americans.

7 P Plymouth Rock became a home. The Pilgrims found they weren't alone. Native Americans helped them through. Thanksgiving is a now a holiday for me and you! l ym ou t h

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9 Laminate. Cut out the images. Glue a magnet strip to the back of each image. Use a cookie sheet to make a scene.

10 Surviving in a New World Squanto could see that the Pilgrims were not getting enough to eat because they were thin and sickly. He taught the Pilgrims how to harvest corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. Squanto also helped the colonists become friends with the other Native Americans. Help the Pilgrim harvest his crop!

11 The First Thanksgiving In November 1621 the Pilgrims had their first corn harvest. The governor held a big feast. The first Thanksgiving was to thank God for helping them through the first year in the New World. They invited the Indians because they are the ones God put in front of the Pilgrims to help them survive and prosper. They wanted to thank God and let the Indians know how much they appreciated their help. The second Thanksgiving was held in 1623 and others followed almost yearly. Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a National Holiday in He scheduled it for the fourth Thursday of November, which is still when we celebrate it today.

12 What's on the Menu? What are Your Favorite Things to Eat on Thanksgiving Day? Circle what you like to eat and write other foods on the lines.

13 What Was on the Pilgrims' Menu? The things we eat for Thanksgiving dinner are much more fancy than what the Pilgrims and Indians ate at the first Thanksgiving. They more than likely had turkey and other wildfowl. Corn was definitely there. All other food, if any, is not documented anywhere. It is documented that the first Thanksgiving lasted three days! Read More First Thanksgiving Day Smithsonian Institute

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15 Cut out the turkey and feathers on heavy cardstock. Use glue dots to place the feathers behind the turkey. Place in picture frames or on a plastic easel stand for decorations at your Thanksgiving dinner. 12 Plastic Easel Stands for $ Click here!

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19 Cut out the pilgrims and hats on heavy cardstock. Use glue dots to place the hats on the pilgrims' heads. Place in picture frames or on a plastic easel stand for decorations at your Thanksgiving dinner. 12 Plastic Easel Stands for $ Click here!

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23 Easy Thanksgiving Craft Treats Pilgrim Hats These Pilgrim Hats are a fun craft for kids to make on Thanksgiving Day. They are yummy and adults will enjoy them, too! Ingredients: - Fudge Stripe Cookies - Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - Orange Reese's Pieces - Yellow Piping Icing Directions: 1. Turn fudge stripe cookies over so the chocolate coating is face up. 2. Make an icing ring around the hole of the cookie. 3. Place the peanut butter cup over the hole. 4. Make an icing ring around the peanut butter cup. 5. Place a Reese's Pieces on the front of the peanut butter cup. Muffin Top Pumpkins Cute little pumpkins made with few ingredients. Kids will love making and eating them, as well as the rest of the family! Ingredients: - Any prebaked light colored muffins with the tops carefully cut off. - Pretzel sticks. - Orange colored sugar sprinkles. - Green Piping Icing. - Honey. Directions: 1. Use a knife to make subtle pumpkin line indents in the muffin tops. 2. Brush tops with honey very lightly. 3. Sprinkle with orange sugar sprinkles to make pumpkins the color you like. 4. Place a pretzel stick to make the pumpkin handle. 5. Pipe a leaf with green icing.

24 Let's Talk Turkey What are the things you are most thankful for?

25 Glue colored beads to the corn to make a colorful piece of Indian corn! Glue green pipe cleaners to the skin!