For many, Thanksgiving is a day for us to remember what we’re thankful for, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the food and festivities that make this time of year special.
As we reflect on what we are grateful for, and celebrate our families’ traditions in familiar or new ways, let’s also consider the beginnings of this holiday. Incorporating ways to honor and learn about the true story of Thanksgiving, and the authentic stories and histories of Indigenous people in America, is a powerful way to give your family a new perspective.
Continue below for educational resources about the history of Thanksgiving, activities and books for encouraging thankfulness and gratitude, and tips on creating new family traditions.
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Learn About Thanksgiving
Explore these resources, for families and educators alike, to incorporate culturally responsive lessons and historical context into your holiday activities.
Thanksgiving: Practicing Gratitude and Honoring the Real Story
Grades PreK-3
This Thanksgiving, help your child build critical thinking skills and give them a true understanding of all there is to be thankful for. Check out this article from PBS KIDS for Parents with strategies for teaching about and honoring the true story of Thanksgiving without losing our family traditions.
The First Official Thanksgiving
Grades 3-8
Most people think Thanksgiving was first observed by the Pilgrims in 1621. Explore remote learning-friendly resources that offer evidence that this story is more myth than historical fact.
An Authentic Look at Thanksgiving| PBS Teachers Lounge
Grades 4-8
On PBS Teachers Lounge, Edwin Schupman, an educator from the National Museum Of The American Indian, shares how modern retellings of the first Thanksgiving are mostly fiction and shares resources that help students learn the authentic stories and histories of Indigenous people in America. For additional resources to help you teach more accurately and think more broadly about the Thanksgiving story, check out these featured resources from NK360° and the museum’s Thanksgiving resources.
Thanksgiving Through the Lens of Native Americans Today: Lesson Plan | PBS NewsHour
Grades 6-12
Is it possible to celebrate Thanksgiving while learning about the effects of colonization on Indigenous people? Ask students to discuss the meaning of Thanksgiving through the lens of today’s Wampanoag people, the descendants of Indigenous tribes who welcomed the Pilgrims at Plymouth.
The Surprising Origins of Thanksgiving Foods | Be Smart
Grades 6-12
Ever wonder where your favorite Thanksgiving foods come from? Well the truth may be closer to home than you think.
Celebrating Together
Thanksgiving can be a wonderful time for families to share traditions and spend time with each other – but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. These resources can help you navigate, adapt and celebrate this holiday season.
Simple Family-Friendly Thanksgiving Traditions
Grades PreK-3
Thanksgiving offers the perfect opportunity to take a moment and be grateful. Learn how these families made special traditions of their own.
Ways Kids Can Help Prepare for a Family Gathering
Grades PreK-3
Before a big event or family gathering, there’s much to do! Finding ways to include your kids in the event can make it more meaningful for everyone.
From the Classroom to the Holiday Table: Students Bring Civility and Respect
Grades 6-12
With Thanksgiving dinner debates just around the corner, many of us are apprehensive about political discussions at the holidays. Learn how teacher Rebecca Lewis encourages students to practice having civil conversations about current events and exploring multiple perspectives — skills they can bring to the dinner table!
Activities, Books & More
Make a Grateful Garland With Your Family
Grades PreK-3
Create a colorful garland of autumn leaves to remind you and your family of all you’re grateful for. Spend time together crafting a meaningful decoration everyone can enjoy.
Thanksgiving Tales
Grades PreK-5
Thanksgiving is about more than the turkey! Here are ten recommended books for kids ages 0-9 that celebrate sharing, community, and family.
An Elwood City Thanksgiving Game
Grades K-5
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Arthur, his family, and some of his Elwood City neighbors in the digital game An Elwood City Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Time Capsule
Grades K-5
Teaching young children about being thankful can be tricky! Thankfulness is an abstract concept and kids thrive with concrete ideas. This hands-on activity is a great way for kids and families to learn about and model the idea of thankfulness.
Create Your Own “My Family Traditions” Book
Grades K-8
Explore family and culture by making a book about your family’s activities and traditions. Read the book together to remember special family memories, and add to the book when you start a new tradition.
StoryCorps: The Great Thanksgiving Listen
Grades 6-12
The Great Thanksgiving Listen is a national movement that empowers young people—and people of all ages—to create an oral history of the contemporary United States by recording an interview with an elder, mentor, friend, or someone they admire. Interviews become part of the StoryCorps Archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Explore classroom-ready resources, including an Educator Toolkit, on PBS LearningMedia with the StoryCorps: The Great Thanksgiving Listen Collection, or visit StoryCorps’ educator resource hub.