Thanksgiving Teaching Ideas for Elementary

November is a busy month! With holiday excitement in the air, you probably want to incorporate both fun and meaningful Thanksgiving resources to keep your kids engaged in learning. Here are my Top Five Thanksgiving Themed Teaching Resources that your students will love.

Woman on computer reviewing thanksgiving day teaching resources

1. Virtual Field Trips

Virtual Field Trips are a great way to celebrate the season while learning important social studies topics and practicing key skills. I have three different Virtual Field Trips that are perfect Thanksgiving teaching resources.

Students can go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade to learn about the history behind the parade and the science of balloons.

Take a historical trip to Plimoth Patuxet to learn about the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. This virtual field trip uses historically accurate resources and presents a balanced approach to this time period. Students will also learn to correct common misconceptions about Thanksgiving. 

In the Virtual Field Trip for Native American Heritage Month, students will learn about various Indigenous Peoples and their cultures, including topics such as the Sioux chef, “Molly of Denali,” the seed library, Dakota access pipeline, climate change, and more!

Thanksgiving Day Parade

  • Virtual Field Trip Thanksgiving Day Parade Google Slides Digital Resource SeeSaw
    Virtual Field Trip Thanksgiving Day Parade Google Slides Digital Resource SeeSaw
    $3.75

Plimoth Patuxet

  • Virtual Field Trip Plimoth Pilgrims Wampanoag Thanksgiving Google Slides Digital
    Virtual Field Trip Plimoth Pilgrims Wampanoag Thanksgiving Google Slides Digital
    $3.75

Native American Heritage Month

  • Virtual Field Trip Native Americans & Indigenous Peoples Google Slides Digital
    Virtual Field Trip Native Americans & Indigenous Peoples Google Slides Digital
    $3.75

2. Escape the Thanksgiving Day Parade Escape Room Teaching Resource

This reading comprehension escape room is a truly immersive experience and is the perfect Thanksgiving teaching resource. Students read passages and answer comprehension questions in order to escape the Thanksgiving Day Parade. In this escape room, students are asked to complete four unique challenges. Each challenge requires students to read passages and answer multiple choice questions. They come in three formats: printable, my new self-correcting Webscape™ format, and Google Slides.

  • Escape the Thanksgiving Day Parade Escape Room & Webscape™ - 2nd & 3rd Grade
    Escape the Thanksgiving Day Parade Escape Room & Webscape™ – 2nd & 3rd Grade
    $6.50
  • Escape the Thanksgiving Day Parade Escape Room & Webscape™ - 4th & 5th Grade
    Escape the Thanksgiving Day Parade Escape Room & Webscape™ – 4th & 5th Grade
    $6.50

3. Thanksgiving Feast Math PBL

Thanksgiving Feast is a project-based learning task that involves using 1st-5th grade math standards to plan for a Thanksgiving feast. Your students will be in charge of planning, preparing, and serving a magnificent and delicious Thanksgiving feast. This resource contains a standards-based unit in both printable PDF and Google Slides versions. Additional “challenge activities” engage students and develop further understanding of the concepts and skills. These PBL activities will engage your students in authentic learning situations.

  • Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning - 1st Grade Math - Print & Digital
    Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning – 1st Grade Math – Print & Digital
    $4.50
  • Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning - 2nd Grade Math - Print & Digital
    Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning – 2nd Grade Math – Print & Digital
    $4.50
  • Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning - 3rd Grade Math - Print & Digital
    Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning – 3rd Grade Math – Print & Digital
    $4.50
  • Thanksgiving Feast - Project Based Learning - 4th Grade Math - Print & Digital
    Thanksgiving Feast – Project Based Learning – 4th Grade Math – Print & Digital
    $4.50
  • Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning - 5th Grade Math - Print & Digital
    Thanksgiving Feast Project Based Learning – 5th Grade Math – Print & Digital
    $4.50

4. Plimoth Patuxet Online Exploration: You Are The Historian

Plimoth Patuxet created an online exploration that explores Wampanoag life before European settlement and leading up to the “First Thanksgiving.” The experience investigates the interactions between the Wampanoag people of Patuxet and the Pilgrims by investigating archaeological artifacts, primary source documents, and oral stories.

You can visit the site at https://plimoth.org/for-students/you-are-the-historian.

5. Social Studies Units on Indigenous Peoples and Colonization

I have a few social studies units that are focused on Indigenous Peoples of North America, colonization, and colonists’ way of life. These units are researched based, incorporate original videos, and include critical thinking activities.

Unit 2: Native American Regions

  • History Unit 2: Native American Regions in North America Social Studies Lessons
    History Unit 2: Native American Regions in North America Social Studies Lessons
    $12.00

Unit 3: Colonization in North America

  • History Unit 3: Colonization in North America Social Studies Lessons
    History Unit 3: Colonization in North America Social Studies Lessons
    $6.00

Unit 4: Colonial Life

  • History Unit 4: Colonial Life Social Studies Lessons
    History Unit 4: Colonial Life Social Studies Lessons
    $5.00

I hope you and your students enjoy these amazing resources!

Julie Magicore Signature

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