Holidays in November
November 11 Veterans Day honours men and women who have served in the U.S. armed services. Veterans Day, November 11th, is a legal federal holiday in the U.S. Great Britain celebrates November 11th as Armistice Day; it is not a legal holiday but special observances celebrate the armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. France also calls it Armistice Day. Canada has a legal holiday called Remembrance Day that is celebrated on November 11th. Veterans Day celebrations in the United States include parades and speeches. Special services are held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia; they begin with 2 minutes of silence, then after the playing of taps, a wreath is placed at the tomb which houses the graves of 3 unknown Americans who fought in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. In a ceremony in Washington, D.C., a wreath is placed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honour those who died in the Vietnam War. For more information about this holiday, please, http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/modern/veteran_1 visit
November 23 Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans take a day of vacation on the following Friday to make a four-day weekend, during which they may travel long distances to visit family and friends. The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, determined to practice their dissenting religion without interference. After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to neighbouring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the food served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion. http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/homepage.htm
Discussion Topics Today, many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by fixing a huge meal, complete with turkey, stuffing, cranberry, pumpkin pie, and all the works. But on that first Thanksgiving, diners hardly enjoyed such lush fare. We call the customs that have developed around the holiday traditions. How do you think these traditions came into existence? Why is it important for people to give thanks? Thanksgiving is a special day set aside for giving thanks. But each person has things to be thankful for all year long. What are some ways you can show your thanks on days other than Thanksgiving? Do you think the first Pilgrims would be pleased to see how Americans celebrate Thanksgiving today? Why or why not? Some people have called Thanksgiving "America's first holiday." Why might it have been given this title? Do you believe this is an appropriate way to describe the holiday? Why or why not? Does your homeland have a holiday similar to Thanksgiving? If so, when is it celebrated? How is it like the American Thanksgiving? How does it differ? Language Activities Grandmother's Cooking Build vocabulary and memory skills while dreaming of a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's House. Beginning with the letter "A," think of yummy things to have for the holiday meal. The first student might say, "I'm going to my grandmother's house, and I'm going to have apple pie." The second student repeats what the first one said and adds to it (i.e. "I'm going to my grandmother's house, and I'm going to have apple pie and bread.") See who can make it all the way to Z! Happy Thanksgiving Make as many words as possible from the phrase "Happy Thanksgiving" in the allotted time. Click here for a list of possible words. I'm Thankful For . . . Each player lists as many things as possible that he or she is thankful for in an allotted time period. If players cannot write, they may orally list as many items as possible in one minute. The player with the longest list wins.
Thankful Turkey Fashion a turkey out of colored paper, using the patterns available here. On each wing, write something to be thankful for. Younger children may write single words (i.e. "Mom," "Dad," "teddy bear," etc.), while older children should write in sentences or paragraphs. For added language practice, students may present their turkeys to the class and tell what each feather stands for. Thanksgiving Certificates List three or more people for whom you are thankful. Beside each person's name, write the things about that person for which you are thankful for. For example, you might write "Mother--She is kind. She loves me very much. She cooks delicious meals." Now, create a "certificate of appreciation" to tell each person how much you appreciate him or her. You may complete one of the certificates I've created, or you may make your own from scratch. Thanksgiving Mix-Up How many things to be thankful for can you spell using the letters in "Happy Thanksgiving?" For added fun, work in pairs. At the end of a predetermined time limit, compare your list to your partner's. See who has the most unique words. Web of Gratitude (requires yarn) The leader holds the end of a ball of yarn. The leader says, "I am thankful for __________," then, retaining the end of the yarn, tosses the ball to another player. The player who catches the yarn wraps it around himself or herself, says, "I am thankful for ___________," then tosses the ball onto another player. Play ends when a player receiving the ball cannot think of any additional items. This may be played in teams, with the winning team being the one that plays the longest. Thanksgiving Quotations U.S. Congressional Thanksgiving Proclamation (1777) Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with their gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence but also smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defence and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success: It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; ''that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor"; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessings on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders
both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its increase; to take school and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Other Notable Quotes And it is further recommended, that servile labor, and such recreation as, though at other times, innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion. This race is never grateful; from the first, One fills their cup at supper with pure wine, Which back they give at cross-time on a sponge, In bitter vinegar. --Elizabeth Barrett Browning The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits. --Francis, Duc de La Rochefoucauld Let independence be our boast, Ever mindful what it cost; Ever grateful for the prize, Let its altar reach the skies! --Joseph Hopkinson Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people. --Samuel Johnson One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay "in kind" somewhere else in life. --Anne Morrow Lindberg Swinish gluttony Ne'er looks to heav'n amidst his gorgeous feast, But with besotted base ingratitude Crams, and blasphemes his feeder. --John Milton A grateful mind By owing owes not, but still pays, at once Indebted and discharg'd. --John Milton Reading Comprehension The First Thanksgiving A picture and simple text describe the first Thanksgiving. For beginning readers and beginning ESL/EFL students.
The Pilgrims reached the New World in the fall of 1620. They landed at Plymouth Rock, in what is now Massachusetts. The first winter was very hard. They had little food. It was too cold to grow more. Many Pilgrims got sick. Many died. The next spring, they went to work. They planted seeds. They watched them grow. When fall came, they had plenty of food. They harvested the crops. They stored them for winter. Then they gave thanks. For one week, they prayed. They ate. And they played. Friendly Indians joined them for three days of the feast. A new tradition had begun. Answer the following questions: When did the Pilgrims reach the New World?
What happened during the first winter? Why did they have plenty of food the next fall? How did they celebrate?
Challenge Question: How do you think the Pilgrims traveled to the New World? Why?
Why do you think they celebrated the first Thanksgiving?
Talk about the following questions. There are no right or wrong answers. How do you think the Pilgrims felt during the first winter? Do you think more of the Pilgrims could have survived if they had landed in the spring instead of the fall? Why or why not? Why do you think the Pilgrims prayed? Write About It The Pilgrims left their homeland to travel hundreds of miles across the ocean to a strange new world. What would it take to make you leave your home, your family, and your friends? Write about it. The first winter was very hard for the Pilgrims. Imagine that you were one of them. List words that might describe your feelings. Research It Use a map and a history book to find the answers to these questions. Where is Massachusetts? Where is Plymouth Rock? Why did the Pilgrims travel to the New World?
How many words can you make out of THE SCARECROW?
T H E S C A R E C R O W
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
Did you find?
Something you drive. A drop from your eye. An animal with whiskers. One of the senses. A friend of the moon. A speedy competition. Summer weather. The opposite of throw. The opposite of peace. The opposite of column. Harry Potter’s mark. Look for something. www.bogglesworld.com
Difficult:
Imagine you are a turkey, and Thanksgiving is coming soon. Now, you really don’t want to be chosen for the dinner table. Write a speech explaining why your partner is a better choice for the dinner table:
Why I am a bad choice:
Why my partner is a good choice
______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
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How many words can you make out of THANKSGIVING TURKEY?
T H A N K S G I V I N G T U R K E Y
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
Did you find?
Go fast. Something to open doors with. Something on your finger. Fuel for your car. Painting and sculpting. The home of clouds. A kind of transportation. Begin. Receive. A war machine. The opposite of floated. Smelled bad. www.bogglesworld.com
Difficult:
Name: __________________ Find the Thanksgiving words below in the grid:
apple sauce baked potatoes beet broccoli butter carrot cauliflower corn on the cob cornucopia cranberries
dinner roll grapes gravy mashed potatoes onion pumpkin pie squash sweet potatoes turkey yam
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Across
2. A large orange vegetable. 6. The name of the pilgrims’ plantation. 8. A great dinner for celebrating. 9. The ship that brought the pilgrims to North America. 12. The season of Thanksgiving. 13. Where the pilgrims departed from. 14. A vegetable similar to a pumpkin. 15. Yellow vegetable that was grown by Native Americans.
Down
1. The governor of the pilgrims. 2. The religious group that many of the pilgrims belonged to. 3. The Native American tribe that shared the first Thanksgiving feast. 4. A place where food is grown. 5. The name of the first Native American who met the pilgrims. 7. Bird eaten at Thanksgiving. 10. Ocean that the pilgrims crossed. 11. The nationality of the pilgrims. www.bogglesworld.com
Fall Rhymes
What’s a big orange vegetable that rhymes with skin? Who guards the crops and rhymes with row? The color of leaves that rhymes with bed? The color of leaves that rhymes with hello? The color of leaves that rhymes with down?
What vegetable is yellow and rhymes with born? What is the wind that rhymes with fool? Where is food grown that rhymes with arm? What fall holiday rhymes with teen? What is another word for autumn that rhymes with ball? What do farmers harvest that rhymes with mops? What falls to the ground and rhymes with reef? What do students start that rhymes with cool?
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http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/story.html A Thanksgiving Story
Marcy
and Mathew
were both looking forward to Thanksgiving
dinner. They knew they would have baked
and a great big
of mashed
and
sauce and
on the cob. They knew they would have a
of cranberry sauce and
for dessert. BUT,
and
wanted to have a
like all their friends had for
Thanksgiving. So
and
put on their coats and took
their
and went out in search of a
to have for
Thanksgiving dinner. They walked past the
and past the
and finally
came to the
. They went inside. They saw a
and a
and a
and a
and even a
, but they did not see
a
anywhere. They decided to go on.
and
took
their
and went down the street. They went past the
and came to a
. They sat down on a
and looked for a
. They saw a
and a
and a
and a
,
but they did not see a
anywhere. They played a few minutes in a pile of
and then they went on.
and
took their
and
walked farther down the street. They went past the
and came to the
. They grabbed a
and went inside to look for
a
. They saw
and
and
and
and
, but they did not see a
so they decided to go on.
and
took their
and walked and walked. At the edge of town
they came to a
. They looked around and saw a
and a
and a
and a
! They put the
into
their
and headed back
.
and
and
the
in the
went past the
and the
and the
and the
and the
and the
and the
and at last came to
and
's
.
and
and
the
went inside the
. Mother was surprised to see
a
. She said that dinner was already done and she did not have time to
cook a
.
and
told their mother that the
was not to eat, it was a guest! So they set the
in a chair and gave
it THE END
and
and they all had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner!!