Thanksgiving Lesson Plan

1.     Purpose

Clearly and concisely describe the purpose of your lesson:

The purpose of this lesson is to teach the students the history of Thanksgiving while dispelling any myths that they may have learned through school about the origins of Thanksgiving.  They will learn why and when the traditional feast in November takes place and when it was given the name “Thanksgiving.”  This lesson will also give the students an opportunity to use technology in the classroom by using various programs on the computer.

2. Description

Describe the target grade level, target subject areas, and the overall steps involved in your lesson:

          This lesson plan is designed for fourth grade children.  The target subject area is history/social studies, as well technology in the classroom.  The overall steps in this lesson are separated into four class periods (four days).

·         Day 1: Introduce the topic of “Thanksgiving” and tell the students the time period of this lesson.  Using the student’s text, have students take turns reading out load history of Thanksgiving and about the first Harvest Festival.  It may be a good idea as well to include additional information, as textbooks usually don’t include enough information about the history of Thanksgiving.

          Web Sites that have great resources and information include:

          http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html

          www.historychannel.com/exhibits/thanksgivng/thnkmyth.html

·         Day 2: Activity One:  Students will type a report answering questions given

     to them by using the Microsoft Word program.

·         Day 3: Activity Two:  Students will use Microsoft Publisher to create a menu

     of foods that the Pilgrims and Native American may have eaten at their first Harvest

     Festival meal.

·         Day 4: This day will be a catch up day!  Some students may have been

     absent and others may not be as fast as others, so this day is to be used to finish up

     activities.  For students who have already written their report and made their menu

     this can be time for them to hang their menus around the classroom, as well as a

     chance play games that young Native American and Pilgrim children played in the

     time of the first Harvest Festival.

  3.Activities

Describe in detail the activities involved in your lesson—(this section should be written so that other teachers could conduct your lesson by following the activities you describe):

    Activity One: Ask students to imagine if they were either a pilgrim of a native American at the time of the first harvest festival.  It’s a good idea to give the students a set questions to follow in writing their report.  They will need to type their report using Microsoft Word, or whatever typing program is available.  * Here is a set of questions that students can use in their reports:

·         As a Pilgrim: How would you feel living in a strange new world with strange animals, weather that you’re not used to, and a whole new environment?  How do you think you would react to seeing strange people who don’t speak your language or even look or dress like you?  What do you think everyday life would be like for you as a kid?  What do you think your house would look like?

·         As a Native American: How would you feel or react to strangely dressed people coming to your land who don’t look a thing like you or even speak your language?  Do you think that you would help them?  Why or why not?  What do you think your daily life would be like?  What kinds of foods do you think would be available for you to eat?

* Report should be at least half a page long and be turned in at the end of class or on “catch  up” day

Activity Two: In this activity, using Microsoft Publisher, design a “Thanksgiving” menu with foods on it that the first Pilgrims and Native Americans may have eaten at their dinner.  Must have at least five different food items.  Use what you’ve read in the text and additional information that you find in other books or the Internet to decide which foods may have been eaten.

          * Menu should be turned in at end of class or on “catch up” day.

  4.     Standards

List the NETS standards that your lesson will incorporate:

     This lesson plan will incorporate many of the NETS for students but there will be an emphasis on a certain few of the Nets including:

·         Basic operations and concepts

·         Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.

·         Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

·         Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas.

  5.     Resources

List both Web and non-Web resources you used for preparing this lesson:

    ·         http://teacherlink.ed/usu.edu/Tlresources/longterm/LessonPlans/Byrnes/back.html

·         http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html

·         www.historychannel.com/exhibits/thanksgivng/thnkmyth.html

·         Microsoft Word

·         Microsoft Publisher

6.     Assessment

Describe in detail how students would be evaluated for this lesson:

  ·         Students will be graded on day two’s and day three’s activities. The report will be worth 25 points, depending on weather it is the required length of at least half a page and that all questions are answered thoroughly.  The Menu activity will also be worth 25 points.  Menu should be fully completed at contain at least five different food items.

                         Total:  50 points

  7.     Note to teachers

Provide ideas for how other teachers can adapt this lesson for different grade levels and subject areas:

  ·         For older students: Teachers can lengthen the requirements for the report as well as add more questions for the students to answer. Teachers can also add another activity to the lesson to make it longer such as: using the Power Point program (in groups) to create a slide show with facts and pictures about the first the Harvest Festival.

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