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The First Thanksgiving
Lesson Details
Grade Level
3-5
Duration (minutes)
1
Summary
A U.S. History lesson on the origin of Thanksgiving — the Pilgrims' harsh first winter, Squanto's help, the 1621 harvest feast with the Wampanoag, and how it became a national holiday in 1863.
Student Worksheet: The First Thanksgiving
Teacher Note: Students can watch the video lesson above and answer the questions. Click the “Teacher Answer Key” dropdown below when you are ready to review the solutions!
Key Concepts:
• A Hard Start: The Pilgrims arrived in 1620 unprepared for the harsh New England winter — nearly half of them died by spring.
• Squanto’s Help: Tisquantum (Squanto), a Wampanoag man who spoke English, taught the Pilgrims to plant corn and fish.
• The First Feast: In fall 1621, after a successful harvest, the Pilgrims held a three-day feast with the Wampanoag chief and about ninety of his men — but it wasn’t called “Thanksgiving” at the time.
• Becoming a Holiday: Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of thanks.
Instructions: Read each question carefully and write your answer in the space provided.
- Question 1: What happened to the Pilgrims during their first winter?
- Question 2: Who was Squanto, and what did he teach the Pilgrims?
- Question 3: Who did the Pilgrims invite to their harvest feast in 1621?
- Question 4: Was this 1621 feast called “Thanksgiving” at the time? What was it actually called?
- Question 5: Which president declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, and in what year?
- Question 6: In your own words, explain why the video calls the first Thanksgiving “a moment of cooperation.”
Click to reveal Teacher Answer Key
1. They were unprepared for the harsh winter, and nearly half of them died by spring.
2. Squanto (Tisquantum) was a Wampanoag man who spoke English; he taught them how to plant corn, where to fish, and how to survive.
3. The Wampanoag chief and about ninety of his men, who brought deer to share.
4. No — it was a traditional harvest festival, not called Thanksgiving at the time.
5. President Abraham Lincoln, in 1863.
6. Answers will vary — check that students connect it to the Pilgrims and Wampanoag working together and helping each other survive.
Disclaimer: This worksheet was generated with AI assistance based on original video content. It is intended for educational reference only. Teachers are encouraged to review and adjust questions to fit their curriculum standards before classroom use.
🎯 Extension Activity: Have students create a simple two-event timeline: the 1621 harvest feast and Lincoln's 1863 declaration, and write one sentence explaining what changed between those two dates (nearly 250 years apart).