Lesson Plan Info:

Title: Thanksgiving Then and Now

Created By: Cobi Solana Maya
Date Created: 10/21/09
Grade: 1st grade and 1st grade ESL students combined
Subject:
Topic of Lesson:
Type of Lesson Plan: Indirect Instruction
Class Submitted For: ED 520
Instructor:

CO Content Standards:
Reading and Writing
STANDARD 1:
Students read and understand a variety of materials.
make connections between their reading and what they already know, and
identify what they need to know about a topic before reading about it
use information from their reading to increase vocabulary and enhance
language usage.
STANDARD 2:
Students write and speak for a variety of purposes and
audiences.
• organize written and oral presentations using strategies such as lists, outlining,
cause/effect relationships, comparison/contrast, problem/solution, and
narration; and
• use handwriting and at the most appropriate time, word processing to produce
a product that is legible.
STANDARD 6:
Students read and recognize literature as a record of
human experience.
read literature to investigate common issues and interests;
read literature to understand places, people, events, and vocabulary, both
familiar and unfamiliar;

History
6.1 Students know the historical development of religions and
philosophies.
recognizing that people develop traditions that transmit their beliefs and ideas (for example,
marriage ceremonies, feasts, naming of infants).

TESOL ESL Standard

Goal 2, Standard 2
To use English to achieve academically in all content areas: Students will use English
to obtain, process, construct, and provide subject matter information in spoken and
written form

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NETS-T (Standards)
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students,
colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual
environments
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to
promote student learning and creativity

Overview
Objective:
1. Students (with teacher assistance) will discuss and list on a Venn Diagram Thanksgiving feast
then(first Pilgrim feast) and now(modern food traditions).
2. Students will discuss how people develop traditions that pass on their beliefs.
3. Students will write out the word Thanksgiving on their own.

Assessment Plan: Ask question once students have viewed The First Thanksgiving Feast
slideshow. On a whiteboard write out all the foods the Pilgrims ate on the first feast, then also
write down all the foods we eat today (write these words scattered, not in order). Next create a
Venn Diagram with students, using the wordlist. Talk to students about the word Thanksgiving.
Chunk the compound word and then break down the word further by each chunk (ie: thanks is
plural, root word is thank, "th" is a diphthong, etc.) At the end of this review of the work
students will be able to write the word Thanksgiving and be introduced to compound words.

Learning Context: Students have just completed a lesson on Why we celebrate Thanksgiving
and now we will further our study to the feast of Thanksgiving. Students have prior knowledge
of Thanksgiving and now then will use their own experience and Thanksgiving traditions to
contribute to the 1st objective

Time Allotment: 1 hour (2 sessions of 30 minutes each).

Instructional Materials:

Teacher Materials:
Paper
Blackboard
Access to Internet for virtual fieldtrip
Sentence Strips

Student Materials:
Pencils

Differentiation of Instruction: Student centers will be set up for students to further explore their
topic. 4 tables will be set up with 1 group activity on the computer that compares and contrasts
the facts of turkeys and chickens (through the virtual field trip website). 1 table will have a 1"
binder that has pictures and words that are in the theme of Thanksgiving. Students can look
through this binder to recognize words and pictures associated with Thanksgiving. 1 table will
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have drawing paper for students to create an interpretation of Thanksgiving (either modern
tradition or the first Thanksgiving). The last center will be a 2 person group station where
students can review the scholastic The First Thanksgiving approved website that will further
their investigation of the topic.

Sequence of Procedures
Opening
Gaining Attention: Tell the students they will be making a movie!
Prior Knowledge: Ask students if they remember what the 4 seasons are? [ask them to raise their
hand if they know.] Once a student names the 4 seasons. Tell them you want them to start
thinking about which season they like best.
Purpose (Objective) of Lesson: Tell the students that they will draw a picture of their favorite
season and they will have to describe why they like this season.
Body
Tell students they will be watching a movie that other students from another school made. Let
them know they will be doing the same project. Tell them many people will see their pictures so
it's important for them to concentrate and do their best.
Ask students to raise their hands if they got some ideas from the movie. Ask the students to also
think of their own ideas and think about what they want to draw.
Demonstrate: The teacher will use a dry erase board and tell them his/her favorite season and
why the teacher likes it. Tell students that you (teacher) will plan to make a picture of leaves
falling from the trees and a picture of you smiling and playing in the leaves. Now draw this to
show students how to transfer your thinking to a drawing.
Tell students that Ms. Yolanda will give them instructions on what they are to do next, and you
will call them to the table, 4-5 at a time, to make their art work.
Once students have completed their art projects have them rotate to their next routine they
normally would do.
Have the laptop setup on Windows Movie Maker© and call students one at a time to describe
their picture using a microphone. Time will probably not permit the teacher to complete all the
student narration, however this can be completed another day.
Assessment
Assessment will be done at the time students are completing their artwork.
Once students have finished their art project, ask them about what they have drawn. Allow them
to tell you, do not lead, ask open ended questions to gain understanding.
Closure
Once students have completed their artwork and described to you what they have drawn give
them a reward (I have animal stickers for this project).

Reteaching Activities
Students that are having a hard time making basic shapes may need additional instruction with
shapes. Below is a website that has printable worksheets for every shape.
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/early_childhood/shapes/
Students that are having a hard time will muscle control may need a weighted pencil or shorter
pencil to develop muscle control. Another option would be to have these children practice more
small muscle skills such as beading or practice doodling.

Extension Activities
Extent this activity with a homework assignment. The assignment is to talk to their parents
about recipes they use in their traditional Thanksgiving meal and create a recipe card. The
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teacher can then gather all the recipe cards and make a Thanksgiving recipe book for each
student.

Teacher References:
http://www.history.com/content/thanksgiving/the-first-thanksgiving/the-pilgrims-menu
Thanksgiving Food - Pilgrim's Menu - History.com

References:
http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/feast/index.htm
The First Thanksgiving: The Thanksgiving Feast

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