Mini-Lesson

Build a Time Line

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Students will build a time line on the history of Thanksgiving.

1. Have students share what they know about the history of Thanksgiving. Record all answers to the following questions on the board: Where and when did the first Thanksgiving take place? Who was there? How is the date of Thanksgiving determined each year?

2. Pass out the timeforkids.com story, One Lucky Turkey. Tell students that they will be reading about the history of Thanksgiving. Explain that one way to organize information about history is to create a time line. As students read the article, ask them to underline each event for which the author provided a date. Then, have them create a time line on the history of Thanksgiving. Each underlined detail from the article should be included.

3. Compare students' initial ideas about the history of Thanksgiving with the information from the article. Ask: Which fact surprised you the most? How has Thanksgiving changed over time?

Extend Learning: Have students write about a family Thanksgiving tradition that is special to them.