Thanksgiving

Purpose: To give learners cultural and historical information about the Thanksgiving holiday. This is also an opportunity to talk about Native Americans and how their lives were changed by the arrival of the first Europeans. Many of our learners come from countries that have also been colonized. They may have a lot to say about it! The following are a few websites related to the culture and languages of the Wampanoag, the nation of native people that first had contact with the Pilgrims:

http://www.native-languages.org/wampanoag.htm
http://www.tolatsga.org/wampa.html

Prep time: 15-20 minutes

Materials: A calendar to situate the holiday, pictures of typical foods prepared for Thanksgiving, pictures of Pilgrims and Native Americans, a map to situate England and Massachusetts. The handout, “A Thanksgiving Story," and related activities, is for intermediate level learners.

Prep: Make a list of vocabulary related to the holiday. Plan on asking the students what they know first, then adding to the list, using realia and/or photos to help illustrate new words. 

Procedure:

1. Ask your student(s) if they know what holiday is coming soon. Have a conversation around the following questions and write vocabulary words on the board as they come up.
   1. When is Thanksgiving? Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
   2. Why did you come to the U.S.? Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
   3. Were you here in November last year? Did you celebrate Thanksgiving? What did you eat? Who celebrated with you?
   4. Do you have a special day or time when you give thanks in your culture?
2. Ask students to sit in a circle and share something that they are thankful for this year. Sentiments can range from gratitude for friends to love of a new pair of shoes. Go around several times if the group is small enough.
3. If possible, have students taste cranberries, pumpkin pie, wild rice, or any other traditional Thanksgiving foods.
4. Talk about what, if anything, they’re planning to do this Thanksgiving.

Extensions/adaptations:

• Lower level learners can express thanks for many things. They may need help with some vocabulary. Use picture dictionaries or ask them to draw a picture to get ideas across.
• Make a list of what everyone is thankful for and use this as the basis of a pronunciation and spelling lesson or a fill-in-the-blank activity.