Teach your Students to Give Thanks for the Past: A Guide to Incorporating Thanksgiving into your Social Studies Classroom

'Tis the season to give thanks, and we educators have a special role in helping our students gain an understanding of what lies at the heart of Thanksgiving. This holiday is bursting with more than just turkey and stuffing - it's also chock-full o' history! So, let's bring history, gratitude and a good dose of a-maize-ing learning into our social studies class this season.

 

First, you have to acknowledge the problematic aspects of Thanksgiving: Let’s be real, the way Thanksgiving has been celebrated in American culture has done a disservice to the Native American communities. We’ve simplified their culture, and disregarded their voices. It’s time to acknowledge the problematic aspects of Thanksgiving and delve deeper into the history of the holiday. Let your students know that Thanksgiving wasn’t a happy story until much later in history. Encourage them to read stories that describe the true Native American experience and share their own perspectives.

 

And since we are exploring people's perspectives, use primary sources, like letters or diaries, to help explain the real history of Thanksgiving. You can also find books, websites, and resources that offer first-hand accounts of what really happened during the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Another way to incorporate the history of Thanksgiving into your social studies classroom is by celebrating its diversity. Thanksgiving is a unique opportunity to highlight the contributions of different cultures to American society, and to teach your students about the different customs and traditions that have shaped our shared history. Instead of focusing solely on the traditional Thanksgiving meal or the pilgrims and Native Americans, why not explore other cultural dishes and celebrations that are celebrated in the fall? Ask your students to research and present their own traditional foods, holidays, and customs, and encourage them to learn from one another.

 

 

What is Thanksgiving without gratitude? As educators, we often emphasize the importance of being grateful, but how often do we put those words into practice? This Thanksgiving season, let's take the time to encourage our students to express their gratitude and appreciation for all the things they have in their lives. We can do this by having them write gratitude journals, creating gratitude posters, or even organizing a "thank-a-thon" where they can express their thanks to their friends, family, and teachers. By encouraging your students to embrace gratitude, you can help them build stronger relationships, improve their mental health, and foster a positive classroom environment.

 

Finally, Thanksgiving is more than just a history lesson or a cultural celebration - it's an opportunity for your students to understand the past to build a better future. By teaching your students about the different perspectives and experiences of those who came before us, you can empower them to become more conscious and compassionate citizens of the world. You can do this by encouraging them to think critically, analyze historical documents, and reflect on how they can take action to make a difference in their own lives and communities. By teaching your students to appreciate history and diversity, you can help them to create a better tomorrow.

 

Teaching the history of Thanksgiving isn't just another lesson - it's an opportunity to help your students become more grateful, compassionate, and culturally aware individuals. By understanding the origins of Thanksgiving, celebrating diversity, embracing gratitude, and working towards a better future, you can enrich your social studies curriculum and help your students to appreciate the true meaning of this national holiday. So this Thanksgiving, let's take a step back from the turkey and stuffing, and give thanks for the lessons that history can teach us.