Search form

Six pilgrim resources for the classroom

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, and teachers will be bringing lessons on the First Thanksgiving into their classrooms. 

EducationWorld has curated a list of six lesson plans and books teachers can use for teaching pilgrims in the classroom. 

  1. Proud pIlgrim hats: In this lesson plan provided by LessonPlans.com, students will learn about what the pilgrims wore when they came to live with the Wampanoag tribe in 1620. They can also research what kinds of hats were worn by men and women, and make their own replicas. 
  2. One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy: In this book, Amazon says, 

"Ten little Pilgrims and ten little Wampanoag boys and girls are getting ready for the harvest feast. In colonial Plymouth, the young Pilgrims hunt ducks and geese and dig up turnips and carrots. In a nearby village, the Wampanoag children dig for clams, fish for cod, and gather nuts and berries. Finally, it's time for the meal. Turkey, cornbread, cranberry stuffing, pumpkin, and Indian pudding are all on the menu-yum! First, everyone gives thanks, and then it's time to eat and celebrate."

  1. Pilgrim unit: In this seven lesson-unit, students will learn all about the pilgrims and native people who were there during the First Thanksgiving. In the first lesson, TeacherVision says students will be able to locate Plymouth, Massachusetts, Hudson River, Cape Cod, Holland, and England on a map. They will also be able to explain why the Pilgrims came to the new world. 
  2. The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann Mcgovern: In "The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving", Amazon says, "Ann McGovern's simple text introduces children to the struggles of the Pilgrims during their first year at Plymouth Colony and the events leading to the historic occasion we celebrate today."
  3. Packing the pilgrim's trunk: In this lesson, students will learn about who the pilgrims were, learn about their trip aboard the Mayflower, and think about what it was like to leave your home and travel to a new world. 
  4. The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross: In this story, Amazon says, "From the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic to the first harsh winter to the delicious Thanksgiving feast, all the excitement and wonder of the Pilgrims’ first year in America is captured in this vivid retelling that is perfect for the youngest historians."

copyright @ 2015 Education World

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor 

Updated 11/20/2015