The Thanksgiving Story in 2nd Grade

The Thanksgiving Story in 2nd Grade

Friends~Take your class on an unforgettable Thanksgiving journey.  Bring the story of the pilgrims and their Mayflower journey to life in your classroom.

Every November, I turn my class into the Mayflower and my students into pilgrims and native americans.  Check out their cute hats below!  We also make Native American hats during the journey.

I begin by passing out their boarding passes.  Some are for the Speedwell and others for the Mayflower. I have them sit on the floor in my classroom on 2 pieces of bulletin board paper.  One labeled the Speedwell and the other The Mayflower. 

We even make these neat log books!

 I begin reading The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh.  It is a great story that carries us through the journey on the Mayflower.

My students soon find out that the Speedwell takes on water and some decided to stay in England. (Those students play the part of the Native Americans later in the book.) 

Below is a video recording of the book:)

 On the backs of their tickets,  they are able to see if they are staying or moving to the Mayflower.  They are always amazed at how tight it gets when they try to squeeze more on to the Mayflower.  The tickets are labeled throughout the story.  Some students get sick.  Some go an hunt for corn.  Some wash clothes.  Their tickets guide them through the journey. 

Even a baby is born.  I use a doll from my childhood and the student with the ticket A Baby is Born gets to hold her.

I love to use ocean sounds that I download from the computer and I also spray them with a misting water bottle during the storm.  I am telling you this is an unforgetable day.  It takes some prep but it is sooooo worth it!

Below is my The Thanksgiving Story file.  It has all the parts and pieces you need to make this happen in your classroom.  Let me know if you have any questions.  

This is a MUST DO for November!

Here is the great news!  

I am giving away one FREE copy of this file to one of my Facebook follwers.  

All you have to do is click the word Facebook and leave a comment telling what your 

FAVORITE November actitiy is. 

 I will pick a winner on November 4, 2013!