Curated OER
No Choice!
Students explore the concept of democratic freedom. In this service learning instructional activity, students investigate the freedom the Pilgrims sought as they moved from England and write a journal from their point of view.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Quilt
Students discuss what they are thankful for this year. They create their own quilt square to illustrate what they are most thankful for. They use the quilt after it is sewn together by their teacher.
Curated OER
Number Song
Students sing a song (to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas) that helps reinforce their counting skills.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Word Search
In this Thanksgiving word search worksheet, students locate and identify 14 Thanksgiving-related words in the word bank within the word search puzzle.
Curated OER
My Book of Thanksgiving Words
In these mini-book activity worksheet, students create a Thanksgiving word mini-book that includes the words stuffing, Mayflower, Pilgrims, corn, Native Americans, and turkey. Students also write their own Thanksgiving word and draw a...
Curated OER
General Knowledge of American History #67
In this general knowledge of American history #67 instructional activity, 6th graders interactively answer 10 multiple choice questions with immediate online feedback.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Friends
Students listen to teacher read alouds of books that include facts about Thanksgiving. They discuss what they are thankful for and share this discussion with another class through e-mail.
Ancestry
The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620
Study guide with loads of information about the pilgrims. Details everything from the religious beliefs of the pilgrims to what the Mayflower looked like, to the dogs on the ship, furniture, clothing, descriptions of medical practices on...
Read Works
Read Works: American Government the Mayflower Compact
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Mayflower Compact, why it was written, and how it paved the way for democracy. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
A&E Television
History.com: Why the Wampanoag Signed a Peace Treaty With the Mayflower Pilgrims
The peace accord, which would be honored on both sides for the next half-century, was the first official treaty between English settlers and Native Americans, and a rare example of cooperation between the two groups. On the orders of...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: New England Colonies: The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony
Read a brief description of the Pilgrims' journey to North America. Find out how many travelers on the Mayflower were actually Pilgrims, and find out why a mistake in navigation led to the first written constitution in the New World.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Mayflower Compact 1620
Read the actual words of these earliest Americans and their attempt at self-government with the writing of the Mayflower Compact. Link directly to other colonial charter pages.
Scholastic
Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving
This is a site covering every aspect of the first Thanksgiving ever celebrated. There is a picture timeline, an interactive trip on the Mayflower, and wonderful descriptions of what the lives of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians...
Open Door Team
Open Door Web Site: The Mayflower and the Mayflower Compact
Although brief, this article gives information about the Pilgrims and "strangers,", size of the Mayflower, and the reason for the Mayflower Compact.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Settlement of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies
For this lesson, 5th graders learn about the people who founded the New England colonies and the role that religion played in shaping them. Includes background information for the teacher. Students explore primary resource readings on...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: The Plymouth Colony Archive Project
This resource presents a collection of searchable texts, including court records, Colony laws, seminar analysis of various topics, and biographical profiles of selected colonists. It also includes a search engine and images.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: The Pilgrims
Provides an illustrated overview of the history of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower voyage.
Other
Who Were the Pilgrims?
A good general overview of who pilgrims were and how they came to America. Includes the journey over on the Mayflower and the Native Americans who helped them.
Read Works
Read Works: The Story of the Pilgrims
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the colonists' journey on the Mayflower and their first year in Plymouth. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Plimoth Plantation: Mayflower Ii
This resource gives a detailed history of both the first Mayflower and the current Mayflower II that sits in the harbor of Plimoth Plantation.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Us History: Plymouth Colony
The story of how Plymouth Colony came to be. Looks at the Puritan movement with its roots in England, the sailing of the Mayflower, and the progress of the settlers in their first years in New England. Describes their first encounters...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Lesson Plan: The First Thanksgiving
Teachers deepen young scholars' understanding of the first Thanksgiving as they discuss the Mayflower voyage, life in the colonies, the Wampanoag traditions, and an extensive look into this time period.
Mayflower History
Mayflower history.com: Tisquantum ("Squanto")
A detailed biography of the life of Tisquantum, known as Squanto. Covers some history of the Plymouth Colony and of relations between the colonists and the native peoples.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: New England Colonies: William Bradford; The First Thanksgiving
Plymouth Colony did not suffer the same problems as the English colony farther south, Jamestown. Read about the leadership of William Bradford, and the relationship between the settlers and the Native Americans who helped those who lived...