Do you have the whole week of Thanksgiving off, or do you have to teach for a few days? I’ve got this week and one and a half days next week to get through before Thanksgiving break, so I’ve been jam packin’ my days with everything and ANYTHING Thanksgiving!
Our Social Studies resources are pretty shaky (which only adds to the stepchild syndrome) So I did a little Google searchin’ and I found that Scholastic.com has an AMAZING week long interactive lesson online for FREE (yes folks, FREE!)
Starting with Books
We took a tour of the ship and learned more about the Mayflower’s rough journey through the interactive map.
Scholastic also has a downloadable PDF of the Mayflower Compact, so we took a gander at that as well!
On Tuesday, we were ready to learn more about life for the Pilgrims after landing in the new world. We read a few more chapters, then explored the “Daily Life” section of Scholastic’s website.
After discussing the similarities and differences between the English and the Wampanoag, we filled out a mini Venn diagram and used it as a basis for a compare and contrast paragraph.
You can find this sweet little Venn diagram as part of Lori’s pack, from the blog, Lori’s Page, here!
Thanskgiving Turkey Writing Craft
No Thanksgiving lesson plans aren’t complete without at least one turkey craft, we read the book, “Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving”.
Don’t have the book? You can check out a video of the book right here!
After reading the book, we brainstormed other foods we would like to have other than turkey for Thanksgiving.
Remember folks, I teach real children in a real classroom, so most of our brainstorms are written on my trusting whiteboard while I’m doing the lesson. Don’t you just love the suggestions of ding dongs and cheesecake?!
After we brainstormed, I sent students back to their seats and had them use this little graphic organizer from my, “No Turkey? Persuasive Writing” pack.
Once the brainstorms were ready, we were ready to write a persuasive piece convincing our reader NOT to have turkey on Thanksgiving, but some other delectable dish instead.
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When they were done, the kiddos checked over their writing using a little self checking rubric.
and it was time to publish!
This little diva wrote about having asparagus for Thanksgiving instead of turkey. Don’t you love the little asparagus in the wing? Um… and how cute is that zinger?! #proudteachermoment
Who doesn’t love mom’s mashed potatoes?
You can grab this cutie craft here at my TpT Store
Tomorrow we’re learning about how Thanksgiving became an actual National Holiday thanks to Sarah Hale.
The First Thanksgiving Reading Assessment
Now, later this week, we have to take a mid-term reading assessment. Florida recently changed over from FCAT to FSA and testing resources are scarce (probably because the tests haven’t been officially written yet!) But, to get a summative grade for reading comprehension, I made this little 16 question FSA style assessment.
Of course, the main theme is Thanksgiving! Please note this file is not “locked” and can be edited. All articles are pulled from the website, “ReadWorks.com”. Some questions are pulled from there as well, while others are ones I created based upon the FSA specs we were shown at the beginning of the year. Please feel free to use this assessment as you wish!
Like this assessment? Check out my third-grade reading assessments here!
