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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP Jr. topic Thanksgiving, and supports the standard of understanding the historical significance of national celebrations. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.
Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Ask students:
- How does your family celebrate Thanksgiving? How are these traditions special to you?
Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE
- Play the Thanksgiving movie.
- Click the pause button each time a question appears in Annie’s Notebook and discuss it as a class. Then play to see how Annie answers it.
TIP: The pause button turns red to remind you to pause.
Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS
Students take the Easy Quiz or Hard Quiz, demonstrating what they learned about the topic while applying essential literacy skills.
Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND
Students express what they learned about Thanksgiving while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student or grade-level needs.
- Draw About It: Draw a picture of something you’re thankful for.
- Activity: Create a diary entry from the point of view of a Wampanoag in 1620.
- Talk About It: Write about who you’re thankful for and why.
- Write About It: Describe how you celebrate Thanksgiving.
More to Explore
Holidays Unit: Continue to build understanding around the history and importance of celebrations by exploring more BrainPOP Jr. topics.
Teacher Support Resources:
