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Video Roundups: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming up, and students, especially the younger crowd, may find difficulty in understanding where Thanksgiving came about. Luckily, there are plenty of short videos out there to grab their attention and teach them about the holiday throughout the month of November. 

EducationWorld has assembled a video-roundup of Thanksgiving videos teachers can use in the classroom. In addition to a description to each video, we include a suggested grade level and "cool factor", or level of engagement. 

The Story of Thanksgiving

Source: Youtube user Zebtoonz

Grade Level: K-3

Run Time: 3:10

Description: In this short video, a rock named "Plymouth Rock" gives his take on the first Thanksgiving. 

Cool Factor: High. Younger students will find this video funny and entertaining. It is also short, and gives the jist of what happened on the first Thanksgiving. 

 

History of Thanksgiving Day

Source: YouTube user Studies Weekly

Grade Level: 2-5

Run Time: 5:21

Description: This is a short educational video that explains the story of Thanksgiving and how it became a national holiday. The video also covers Pilgrims, the Mayflower, Squanto, and more. 

Cool Factor: High. The video is short, yet informative with an array of different visuals ranging from cartoon to paintings, to photographs and modern videos. 

 

History of Thanksgiving

Source: History.com 

Grade Level: 6-8

Run Time: 3:14

Description: In this video, students will learn the history of Thanksgiving and how Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national holiday. 

Cool Factor: Moderate. Students will be interested to hear that Thanksgiving wasn't a national holiday until 200 years later.

 

First Thanksgiving Meal

Source: History.com 

Grade Level: 6-8

Run Time: 2:38

Description: In this video, students will learn that the first Thanksgiving meal didn't include turkey, but a number of other foods. 

Cool Factor: Moderate. Students will be interested to see what foods were on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. 

 

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor