Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. It is a time for people to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, while in Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday of October.

History

The first Thanksgiving is believed to have been celebrated by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans in 1621. It was a three-day feast to give thanks for the bountiful harvest. The tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving continued and became a national holiday in the United States in 1863, proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln.

Traditions

Thanksgiving traditions often include family gatherings, feasting on a traditional meal which typically includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, as well as expressing gratitude and reflecting on the things they are thankful for.

Study Guide

When is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States and Canada?

Answer: Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.

What is the historical origin of Thanksgiving?

Answer: The first Thanksgiving is believed to have been celebrated by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans in 1621.

What are some common Thanksgiving traditions?

Answer: Common Thanksgiving traditions include family gatherings, feasting on a traditional meal, and expressing gratitude.

◂Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Fifth Grade. First Americans

The resources above cover the following skills:

National Standards for Civics and Government (NSCG)

What are the foundations of the American political system? What values and principles are basic to American constitutional democracy?

Fundamental values and principles. Students should be able to explain the meaning and importance of the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy. To achieve this standard, students should be able to

Explain the meaning and importance of the following fundamental principles of American constitutional democracy

Constitutional government which includes the rule of law; representative institutions; shared powers; checks and balances; individual rights; separation of church and state; federalism; civilian control of the military

National Center for History in Schools (NCHS)

Historical Thinking Standards

Historical Comprehension

Reconstruct the literal meaning of a historical passage.

United States History Content Standards

Era 1: Three Worlds Meet (Beginnings to 1620)

Comparative characteristics of societies in the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa that increasingly interacted after 1450.

The student understands the patterns of change in indigenous societies in the Americas up to the Columbian voyages.