Thanksgiving on the Web

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 14 November 2017 > Webpicks


If you want to discuss Thanksgiving with your class, there are some really useful sites and online resources.

This site has lots of pictures and information about the first Thanksgiving in the U.S.A., in 1621, when British colonists, or Pilgrims, invited the Wampanoag Native Americans to a big meal to thank them for teaching them to grow food and survive in the new country. Take a virtual visit of The Mayflower, the ship the Pilgrims arrived on. Learn about daily life for the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims, and about the Thanksgiving meal or feast. And follow the Thanksgiving timeline.

The Plimoth Plantation is a reconstruction of the original Pilgrim village in Massachusetts. They have a great interactive activity for Thanksgiving, but you have to download it. Most of it is usable for pupils from A2+, except the section called The Evidence, which uses a letter written at the time as a primary source. The language of it is difficult even for native-speaking children.

The interactive looks at the points of view both of the Native Americans and the settlers, and focuses on children.

The last section, "Share What You’ve Discovered", is an easy language activity. Pupils can choose an image and write a caption from what they’ve learned, or choose several images for a themed presentation.

SN_BRN_logoThere are several videos and audio recordings with interactive comprehension activities about Thanksgiving in the Banque de ressources anglais cycle 4.


Thanksgiving with the Presidents
Every year, the U.S. President participates in a bizarre ceremony before Thanksgiving. He pardons a turkey: that means that it can have a nice life on a farm, and not appear on the Thanksgiving dinner table. Here is Donald Trump pardoning the turkey with his son Barron.

Volunteering
Many Americans contribute to helping all Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, by spending part of the day preparing or serving food in a soup kitchen. This article about Thanskgiving Day volunteering is suitable for use from B1.

Touchdown!
Another Thanksgiving tradition is watching (or playing) an American football match. If you'd like to use this opportunity to introduce the sport, these two videos are useful.

Understanding American football with lemons and tangerines – a simple explanation. You have to watch an advert first.

There’s lots of exciting game action in this short explanatory film.

 

 

 



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