Thanksgiving Lesson Plans from a Native American Perspective

A friend of mine shared this resource on Facebook recently and I think it’s great, whether you are in a classroom teaching about Thanksgiving or just want to give a broader perspective to your kids.

This PDF is from the Oklahoma City Public Schools Native American Student Services, and it’s aimed especially at pre-K to 4th grade, but the facts and activities are great for a range of kids (and adults if you didn’t learn this stuff when you were in school).

It includes facts about the Wampanoag and the English settlers, myths and stereotypes around their relationships and the first Thanksgiving, activities and crafts that are more appropriate than paper bag vests and headbands with feathers sticking out.

There are book recommendations, links to other resources and more.

[Photo: Oklahoma City Public Schools.]

Looking for more Native American Resources? Check these out.

Next Plan Idea:

Learn about Indigenous People Who Made a Difference

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

Next Plan Idea:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply