Thanksgiving Then and Now
Grade Level: K-2
Duration of Video: 40 seconds
Themes:
History and Traditions
Gratitude and Sharing
The Past and the Present
Thanksgiving
US History
The First Thanksgiving, 1621, painted by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (c. 1912–1915), depicts an imagined gathering between Pilgrims and Native Americans. Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
Description:
Students will carefully observe a famous painting of the First Thanksgiving, learn a few basic historical facts, watch a short video clip from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and create a poster comparing Thanksgiving long ago with Thanksgiving today.
Lesson Plan:
🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT)
Carefully observe a historical painting and describe what they see.
Listen to and discuss basic facts about the First Thanksgiving.
Compare Thanksgiving long ago with Thanksgiving today.
Create a poster showing Thanksgiving then and now.
🧰 MATERIALS:
SMART Board or computer and projector
Video clip from: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Large paper or posterboard for each child, folded into two equal sections
Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
📋 LESSON FLOW
Hook: Look Carefully at this Painting!
Say:
I am going to show you a beautiful painting of the First Thanksgiving in the year 1621.
Click:
Using your SMART Board click this link to display the painting: The First Thanksgiving, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris
Say:
In 1621, at this First Thanksgiving, there were no cameras, so they couldn't take a picture of it.
Instead, an artist who lived more than 250 years later used history and his imagination about what the feast looked like. The artist's name was Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930).
Say:
Let's look carefully at this painting about the First Thanksgiving.
Ask:
What do you see in this picture?
Who do you see?
What are the people wearing?
What do you think they are eating?
How do you think the people are feeling?
Tell students these simple facts:
These are English colonists at Plymouth sharing a harvest, with members of the Wampanoag people.
After that day in 1621, Thanksgiving was celebrated in the fall at harvest time.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday every November.
Question Before the Video
Say:
I will be showing you a Peanuts video about Thanksgiving. Linus talks about the First Thanksgiving. As you watch the video, try to remember who was there. We'll talk about it after the video.
Play the Video
Show this video clip from: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Discussion
Ask students:
1. Who were some people Linus named as being at that First Thanksgiving?
Teacher information: People Linus mentions
Chief Massasoit: The leader of the Wampanoag people at the time.
90 Wampanoag men: Historical accounts describe 90 Wampanoag men (or braves) who joined the gathering.
William Bradford: An English colonist who later became the governor of the Plymouth colony.
Miles Standish: A military leader who helped protect the Plymouth colony.
Elder William Brewster: A religious leader who helped guide the community of English colonists.
2. What foods did Charlie Brown and his friends eat?
3. Was their meal like a Thanksgiving meal you have at home? How was it different?
4. Who did Charlie Brown share his meal with?
5. What did Linus think was important to think about on Thanksgiving?
6. What are some things you are thankful for?
Tell students:
The Wampanoag people lived in this land before the English colonists arrived and they still live in America today.
Activity
Keep the painting of The First Thanksgiving, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris displayed on the SMART Board throughout the activity.
Give each child a piece of posterboard folded into two equal sections.
Say:
Now you are going to be history artists!
On the left side, draw a picture of the harvest gathering in 1621. Look at the painting on our SMART Board for ideas.
On the right side, draw how you or other families celebrate Thanksgiving today. You might draw a family meal, friends, favorite foods, or something you are thankful for.
Share
When students finish their posters, invite each one to share their posters with the class.
After each share, have students wiggle their fingers in the air for a silent applause.
Classroom Artifact and Home Share
Hang up the posters in the classroom under the title “Thanksgiving Then and Now.”
Before Thanksgiving, give the students their posters to take home and share with loved ones.
© 2025-2026
All materials on this website are available for educational use under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Educators may download and share the content with attribution, for non-commercial use and instructional purposes, and without modification. Embedding any materials within any website-whether educational, institutional, public, or private-is prohibited without prior written consent of Balanced Learning Resources. Unauthorized embedding or redistribution may violate copyright and licensing terms.
