Pilgrims and Friends: A Thanksgiving Story

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 6:50 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore the story of the Pilgrims and their journey to a new land, focusing on friendship and sharing. We'll watch a fun video and learn about being thankful!

Video Resource

Best Backyard Pilgrim & Indian Story EVER!!!

jacksgotmyback

Duration: 6:50
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Pilgrims
  • Native Americans
  • Thanksgiving
  • Friendship
  • Sharing

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the Pilgrims and Native Americans as characters in a story.
  • Students will be able to describe one thing the Pilgrims and Native Americans might have shared.
  • Students will be able to express what they are thankful for.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know anything about Thanksgiving. Ask them what they are thankful for. Introduce the video: 'Today, we're going to watch a story about some people called Pilgrims and their friends.' Set expectations for listening.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Play the YouTube video: 'Best Backyard Pilgrim & Indian Story EVER!!!' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwQbMrqU-EA). Ensure all students can see and hear the video clearly.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, have a brief discussion about the characters and what happened in the story.
  • Activity: Thankful Turkey (10 mins)
    Each student will decorate a paper turkey. On each feather, they will draw or write (with help) something they are thankful for.
  • Closing (5 mins)
    Have students share one thing they are thankful for from their turkey. End with a Thanksgiving rhyme (Chorally recited): 'Turkey, turkey, big and stout, Thankful for my friends all about!'

Interactive Exercises

  • Thankful Turkey
    Students create a turkey and decorate its feathers with pictures or words of things they are thankful for. This encourages creative expression and vocabulary development.

Discussion Questions

  • Who were the people in the story?
  • Where did the Pilgrims travel?
  • What do you think the Pilgrims and Native Americans shared?

Skills Developed

  • Active listening
  • Story comprehension
  • Vocabulary development
  • Expressing gratitude

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Who were the people who traveled to a new land in the story?

Correct Answer: Pilgrims

Question 2:

What did the Pilgrims and Native Americans share?

Correct Answer: All of the above

Question 3:

What holiday is about being thankful?

Correct Answer: Thanksgiving

Question 4:

What is something you can be thankful for?

Correct Answer: All of the above

Question 5:

What did the children in the video do?

Correct Answer: Acted out a story

Question 6:

Where did the children in the video act out the story?

Correct Answer: In a backyard

Question 7:

What is a friend?

Correct Answer: Someone you play with

Question 8:

What is it called when you give something to someone?

Correct Answer: Sharing

Question 9:

If you are happy with what you have, are you?

Correct Answer: Thankful

Question 10:

Which animal is often associated with Thanksgiving?

Correct Answer: Turkey

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The _________ traveled to a new land.

Correct Answer: Pilgrims

Question 2:

We are _________ for our friends and family.

Correct Answer: thankful

Question 3:

The Pilgrims met the _________ in the new land.

Correct Answer: Native Americans

Question 4:

_________ is when you let someone use your toy.

Correct Answer: Sharing

Question 5:

It is nice to be ________ to others.

Correct Answer: kind

Question 6:

The Pilgrims went on a long __________.

Correct Answer: journey

Question 7:

A ________ is someone you like to play with.

Correct Answer: friend

Question 8:

________ Day is a time to be thankful.

Correct Answer: Thanksgiving

Question 9:

We eat __________ on Thanksgiving.

Correct Answer: food

Question 10:

The pilgrims and native americans lived ___________.

Correct Answer: together

Educational Standards

PK.1.L.1:Students will actively listen using agreed-upon rules with prompting. PK.2.R:Students will begin to retell or reenact major events or details from a read-aloud. PK.3.R.3:Students will identify characters in a story with prompting. PK.2.F.2:Students will chorally recite familiar texts (e.g., rhymes, songs, poetry, etc.).

Teaching Materials

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