This document discusses the first Thanksgiving, what it means to be thankful, and the meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday. It provides details on what was eaten at the first Thanksgiving compared to modern celebrations. The document explores how being thankful is about appreciating what you have, rather than material goods. It also examines how the lives of pilgrims and Native Americans differed from people today in terms of food sources and cooking methods. Students will keep a thankfulness journal and create a Thanksgiving placemat to express what they are grateful for.

1. Thanksgiving Friends By Elyse Fuchs

2. OVERVIEW We will be discussing the first Thanksgiving, what it means to be thankful, and the meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday. We will also talk about what it means to be thankful, focusing on things like family and friends, and not materials goods.

3. Questions to consider What did they eat at the first Thanksgiving? How is it different from what we eat? What does it mean to be thankful? What is the meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday? How are the lives of the pilgrims and Indians different from our lives? What are you thankful for?

4. Connection with Indiana Social Studies Standards K.1.1 -Compare children and families of today with those in the past. K.1.2 -Identify celebrations and holidays as a way of remembering and honoring people, events and America's ethnic heritage.

5. The First Thanksgiving “In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.“ “This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans.” Kathleen Curtin. (2008). The First Thanksgiving. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/content/thanksgiving/the-first-thanksgiving

6. What did they eat? Their Menu Venison Wild fowl More meat, less vegetables (vegetables were out of season) No sweets or pies Used spoons and knives (no forks) Our menu Turkey Pumpkin pie Mashed potatoes Stuffing Corn Green beans Sweet potatoes Gravy

7. What does it mean to be thankful ? To be happy with what you have To appreciate Feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative Dictionary.com, L.L.C. (2009). Thankful. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thankful

8. What is the meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday? It was when the pilgrims gave thanks for a bountiful harvest The pilgrims and indians became friends Giving thanks for the gifts of life, love, and joy

9. Compare and contrast our lives to the lives of the pilgrims and Indians of the first thanksgiving US More food available to us Buy our food at the grocery store No electricity to cook with Share with friends and family PILGRIMS and INDIANS Grew and hunted for their food Cooked by fire Share with friends and family

10. What are you thankful for? The students will be keeping a thankfulness journal throughout the month of November Each day they will write about the things that they are thankful for in their lives. This will keep them thinking positive and help them to get out their daily frustrations

11. Thanksgiving Placemat After writing in their journal throughout the course of the month, the children will make a Thanksgiving placemat. The students will write what they are thankful for on fall leaf cutouts and glue them to a paper placemat. The placemat will be laminated for safe keeping.

12. REFERENCES Kathleen Curtin. (2008). The First Thanksgiving. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/content/thanksgiving/the-first-thanksgiving Anna Daub. (2009). Thanksgiving Lesson Plans and Activities – Placemat. Retrieved from http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/thanksgiving/placemat.htm Dictionary.com, L.L.C. (2009). Thankful. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thankful Debbie Ghate. (November 15, 2007). An American Holiday: The Moral Meaning Behind Thanksgiving. Retrieved from http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=5057 Trish, Hoskins. (March 26,2009). Being Thankful: How to Feel Appreciative for all your Life’s Blessings. Retrieved from http://self-awareness.suite101.com/article.cfm/being_in_a_state_of_thankfulness Catherine Millard. (1999). Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? Retrieved from http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/ednkc002.html Stacey Schifferdecker. (2007). Teaching Children The Meaning of Thanksgiving. Retreived from http://www.more4kids.info/553/teaching-children-the-meaning-of-thanksgiving/