Here’s a story that tells the history of Thanksgiving in a fun way for a classroom setting:
The First Thanksgiving Feast!
Long, long ago, even before your grandparents or great-grandparents were born, a group of people called the Pilgrims lived across a big, wide ocean. They wanted to live in a new place where they could be free to practice their own beliefs. So, they packed up their belongings and sailed on a ship called the Mayflower! Imagine being on a ship for many, many days!
Finally, they landed in a new land we now call America. But this new land was very different from what they were used to. It was a cold winter, and it was hard to find food. Many Pilgrims got sick, and they were very worried.
Luckily, some amazing people were already living in this land – the Native Americans! They had lived there for a very long time and knew all about the plants, animals, and how to survive. One very special Native American man named Squanto became friends with the Pilgrims.
Squanto was like a super-teacher! He taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, which was a new food for them. He showed them how to hunt for turkeys and deer in the forest, and how to find yummy berries and nuts. Thanks to Squanto and his people, the Pilgrims learned how to grow their own food and prepare for winter.
When the next autumn came, the Pilgrims had a wonderful harvest! Their fields were full of corn, pumpkins, and beans. They had plenty of food, and they were so thankful for the help they received. To celebrate their first successful harvest and their new friendships, the Pilgrims decided to have a giant feast!
