New Perspectives on Thanksgiving - An Elementary Lesson Set (Keepunumuk)
Let's learn about Thanksgiving!
An artist and a historian have teamed up to create this revolutionary Thanksgiving lesson set, designed to unpack the U.S. origin myth of the first Thanksgiving and provide opportunities for elementary students to learn new perspectives on the event in the fall of 1621. The result is a compelling, creative, and inspiring 30 page lesson set packed with beautifully designed activities. Pick and choose lessons that work best for your students or try them all!
The lessons in this set are divided into two sections. For the first section, read Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten, and Garry Meeches Sr, which offers elementary students a new perspective on the meaning and context of the 1621 harvest feast, with windows into the Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) world view. Then, expand student understanding with five lesson plans that have been designed to complement this beautiful book plus a discussion guide. The second section of the lesson set offers students opportunities to think critically about how "The First Thanksgiving" is commonly portrayed and separate fact from fiction through five coordinated myth-busting activities.
This lesson set includes:
Recommended readings, videos, and discussion prompts
The Three Sisters Activity - Learn more about the harmonious relationship between beans, corns, and squash and how they (and we!) are stronger together. Weave a placemat with colors chosen to remind us of the three sisters. Templates, instructions, and a materials list included.
Bonus Natural Weaving Activity - based on the Wôpanâak weaving traditions outlined in Linda Coombs’ new book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story.
Be A Seed Saver Activity - Learn how to save seeds from common grocery store produce items, then make seed envelopes with the provided template to store the seeds until they can be planted.
The Animals Activity - Research the dietary and habitat requirements of the five animals in the story (Rabbit, Duck, Fox, Turkey, and Deer), and then design an environment that incorporates all of those elements into a single scene. Research handout and illustration handout included.
The First Peoples Activity- The Wampanoag people in our story heard the plants and animals speaking to them in their dreams and acted accordingly. Think about what messages today's plants and animals would communicate to us if we could hear them. Use the handout provided to write or illustrate their message.
The Great Dying Discussion Guide - Add important context to the world the colonizers arrived in in 1621 with this discussion about The Great Dying- the plague that swept through native communities in 1616.
The Honorable Harvest Activity Guide - Learn about the Indigenous practice of the Honorable Harvest with a recommended reading and video, then build on that understanding with a discussion prompt and two-page coloring page designed to help students apply the protocols of the Honorable Harvest. This original illustration is based on descriptions of the pre-contact Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) world in Linda Coombs’ book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story. When completed, the illustration would make a fine placemat and could inspire conversation about foraging, the principles of the the Honorable Harvest, and the history of the Wôpanâak people.
What's Wrong With This Picture Activity - Think like a historian and study the choices artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris made in his painting, The First Thanksgiving, 1621. Activity sheet included.
Who Was There? Mythbusting Activity - Read through a list of common perceptions about who attended the event in 1621 and indicate whether each statement is correct. Worksheet included.
Who Was There? Fact Sheet - Once students have finished the previous activity, they can use this fact sheet to review their selections, or you can have a class-wide or group discussion about it. Handout included.
What Was It? Mythbusting Activity - Read through a list of common perceptions about what happened at the event in the fall of 1621 and indicate whether each statement is correct. Worksheet included.
What Was It? Fact Sheet - Once students have finished the previous activity, they can use this fact sheet to review their selections, or you can have a class-wide or group discussion about it. Handout included.
Mythbusting Exercise - Once students have reviewed some of the common misconceptions about the event of 1621, they can apply that understanding to a critical analysis of a popular kids video about the history of Thanksgiving. Two-page worksheet included.
The U.S. Origin Myth Worksheet - Unpack the elements of the popular version of the U.S. Thanksgiving story by answering questions on the provided worksheet.
Additional Resources Page - More websites, videos, and documents to continue learning new perspectives about Thanksgiving.
This 33 page lesson set was designed for a wide range of elementary-aged learners.
Let's learn about Thanksgiving!
An artist and a historian have teamed up to create this revolutionary Thanksgiving lesson set, designed to unpack the U.S. origin myth of the first Thanksgiving and provide opportunities for elementary students to learn new perspectives on the event in the fall of 1621. The result is a compelling, creative, and inspiring 30 page lesson set packed with beautifully designed activities. Pick and choose lessons that work best for your students or try them all!
The lessons in this set are divided into two sections. For the first section, read Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten, and Garry Meeches Sr, which offers elementary students a new perspective on the meaning and context of the 1621 harvest feast, with windows into the Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) world view. Then, expand student understanding with five lesson plans that have been designed to complement this beautiful book plus a discussion guide. The second section of the lesson set offers students opportunities to think critically about how "The First Thanksgiving" is commonly portrayed and separate fact from fiction through five coordinated myth-busting activities.
This lesson set includes:
Recommended readings, videos, and discussion prompts
The Three Sisters Activity - Learn more about the harmonious relationship between beans, corns, and squash and how they (and we!) are stronger together. Weave a placemat with colors chosen to remind us of the three sisters. Templates, instructions, and a materials list included.
Bonus Natural Weaving Activity - based on the Wôpanâak weaving traditions outlined in Linda Coombs’ new book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story.
Be A Seed Saver Activity - Learn how to save seeds from common grocery store produce items, then make seed envelopes with the provided template to store the seeds until they can be planted.
The Animals Activity - Research the dietary and habitat requirements of the five animals in the story (Rabbit, Duck, Fox, Turkey, and Deer), and then design an environment that incorporates all of those elements into a single scene. Research handout and illustration handout included.
The First Peoples Activity- The Wampanoag people in our story heard the plants and animals speaking to them in their dreams and acted accordingly. Think about what messages today's plants and animals would communicate to us if we could hear them. Use the handout provided to write or illustrate their message.
The Great Dying Discussion Guide - Add important context to the world the colonizers arrived in in 1621 with this discussion about The Great Dying- the plague that swept through native communities in 1616.
The Honorable Harvest Activity Guide - Learn about the Indigenous practice of the Honorable Harvest with a recommended reading and video, then build on that understanding with a discussion prompt and two-page coloring page designed to help students apply the protocols of the Honorable Harvest. This original illustration is based on descriptions of the pre-contact Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) world in Linda Coombs’ book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story. When completed, the illustration would make a fine placemat and could inspire conversation about foraging, the principles of the the Honorable Harvest, and the history of the Wôpanâak people.
What's Wrong With This Picture Activity - Think like a historian and study the choices artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris made in his painting, The First Thanksgiving, 1621. Activity sheet included.
Who Was There? Mythbusting Activity - Read through a list of common perceptions about who attended the event in 1621 and indicate whether each statement is correct. Worksheet included.
Who Was There? Fact Sheet - Once students have finished the previous activity, they can use this fact sheet to review their selections, or you can have a class-wide or group discussion about it. Handout included.
What Was It? Mythbusting Activity - Read through a list of common perceptions about what happened at the event in the fall of 1621 and indicate whether each statement is correct. Worksheet included.
What Was It? Fact Sheet - Once students have finished the previous activity, they can use this fact sheet to review their selections, or you can have a class-wide or group discussion about it. Handout included.
Mythbusting Exercise - Once students have reviewed some of the common misconceptions about the event of 1621, they can apply that understanding to a critical analysis of a popular kids video about the history of Thanksgiving. Two-page worksheet included.
The U.S. Origin Myth Worksheet - Unpack the elements of the popular version of the U.S. Thanksgiving story by answering questions on the provided worksheet.
Additional Resources Page - More websites, videos, and documents to continue learning new perspectives about Thanksgiving.
This 33 page lesson set was designed for a wide range of elementary-aged learners.
Let's learn about Thanksgiving!
An artist and a historian have teamed up to create this revolutionary Thanksgiving lesson set, designed to unpack the U.S. origin myth of the first Thanksgiving and provide opportunities for elementary students to learn new perspectives on the event in the fall of 1621. The result is a compelling, creative, and inspiring 30 page lesson set packed with beautifully designed activities. Pick and choose lessons that work best for your students or try them all!
The lessons in this set are divided into two sections. For the first section, read Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten, and Garry Meeches Sr, which offers elementary students a new perspective on the meaning and context of the 1621 harvest feast, with windows into the Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) world view. Then, expand student understanding with five lesson plans that have been designed to complement this beautiful book plus a discussion guide. The second section of the lesson set offers students opportunities to think critically about how "The First Thanksgiving" is commonly portrayed and separate fact from fiction through five coordinated myth-busting activities.
This lesson set includes:
Recommended readings, videos, and discussion prompts
The Three Sisters Activity - Learn more about the harmonious relationship between beans, corns, and squash and how they (and we!) are stronger together. Weave a placemat with colors chosen to remind us of the three sisters. Templates, instructions, and a materials list included.
Bonus Natural Weaving Activity - based on the Wôpanâak weaving traditions outlined in Linda Coombs’ new book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story.
Be A Seed Saver Activity - Learn how to save seeds from common grocery store produce items, then make seed envelopes with the provided template to store the seeds until they can be planted.
The Animals Activity - Research the dietary and habitat requirements of the five animals in the story (Rabbit, Duck, Fox, Turkey, and Deer), and then design an environment that incorporates all of those elements into a single scene. Research handout and illustration handout included.
The First Peoples Activity- The Wampanoag people in our story heard the plants and animals speaking to them in their dreams and acted accordingly. Think about what messages today's plants and animals would communicate to us if we could hear them. Use the handout provided to write or illustrate their message.
The Great Dying Discussion Guide - Add important context to the world the colonizers arrived in in 1621 with this discussion about The Great Dying- the plague that swept through native communities in 1616.
The Honorable Harvest Activity Guide - Learn about the Indigenous practice of the Honorable Harvest with a recommended reading and video, then build on that understanding with a discussion prompt and two-page coloring page designed to help students apply the protocols of the Honorable Harvest. This original illustration is based on descriptions of the pre-contact Wôpanâak (Wampanoag) world in Linda Coombs’ book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story. When completed, the illustration would make a fine placemat and could inspire conversation about foraging, the principles of the the Honorable Harvest, and the history of the Wôpanâak people.
What's Wrong With This Picture Activity - Think like a historian and study the choices artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris made in his painting, The First Thanksgiving, 1621. Activity sheet included.
Who Was There? Mythbusting Activity - Read through a list of common perceptions about who attended the event in 1621 and indicate whether each statement is correct. Worksheet included.
Who Was There? Fact Sheet - Once students have finished the previous activity, they can use this fact sheet to review their selections, or you can have a class-wide or group discussion about it. Handout included.
What Was It? Mythbusting Activity - Read through a list of common perceptions about what happened at the event in the fall of 1621 and indicate whether each statement is correct. Worksheet included.
What Was It? Fact Sheet - Once students have finished the previous activity, they can use this fact sheet to review their selections, or you can have a class-wide or group discussion about it. Handout included.
Mythbusting Exercise - Once students have reviewed some of the common misconceptions about the event of 1621, they can apply that understanding to a critical analysis of a popular kids video about the history of Thanksgiving. Two-page worksheet included.
The U.S. Origin Myth Worksheet - Unpack the elements of the popular version of the U.S. Thanksgiving story by answering questions on the provided worksheet.
Additional Resources Page - More websites, videos, and documents to continue learning new perspectives about Thanksgiving.
This 33 page lesson set was designed for a wide range of elementary-aged learners.