Activity One: Thanksgiving Timeline Activity Two: Thanksgiving Quizzes and Riddles

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620 The First Thanksgiving 1621 President Lincoln 1863 A Legal Holiday The Council of Charlestown, Mass President George Washington

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620

The Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower were members of a church. Seeking a better life, they negotiated with a London stock company to finance the voyage to America.

Most of those aboard the Mayflower were hired to protect the company ’ s interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Puritans.

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, By fall, they had lost 46 of the 102 people who sailed on the Mayflower.

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620 The First Thanksgiving 1621

In 1621, the remaining colonists decided to have a feast to celebrate their first harvest. The celebration included 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive. The Pilgrims would not have lived through the year without their help.

The feast was a traditional English harvest festival that lasted three days. We don’t know if they ate turkey since “turkey” meant any kind of fowl at that time. We do know they didn’t eat pumpkin pie. They ate boiled pumpkin and made fried bread from corn.

There was also no milk or butter, since there were no cattle for dairy products. And because the newly discovered potato was thought to be poisonous, they ate no potatoes. The rest of the menu was made up of fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620 The First Thanksgiving The Council of Charlestown, Mass.

On June 20, 1676, the council of Charlestown, Mass, announced June 29 the day for Thanksgiving.

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620 The First Thanksgiving The Council of Charlestown, Mass President George Washington

George Washington proclaimed National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789.

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620 The First Thanksgiving 1621 President Lincoln The Council of Charlestown, Mass President George Washington

In 1863, President Lincoln changed it to the last Thursday of November.

Pilgrims and the Mayflower 1620 The First Thanksgiving 1621 President Lincoln 1863 A Legal Holiday The Council of Charlestown, Mass President George Washington

And in 1941, Thanksgiving was made a legal holiday observed on the fourth Thursday of November.

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Thanksgiving Quizzes & Riddles There are 5 quizzes on some Thanksgiving trivia. Besides, we prepare 5 riddles, or brain twisters, to challenge your wits! Enjoy all of them!!!

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Plymouth colony, which is now part of what state? –Rhode Island. –Maine. –Massachusetts. –Virginia. Quiz #1

What food was probably NOT on the Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving menu? –Fish. –Potatoes. –Dried Fruit. –Corn. Quiz #2  Potatoes were considered poisonous at that time.

How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last? –One day. –Three days, –Five days. –One week. Quiz #3

Which of the following is NOT a symbol of Thanksgiving? –Turkey. –Corn. –Pumpkins. –Witches. Quiz #4

What are male turkeys called? –Tom. –Jack. –Peter. –Tim. Quiz #5

Q. What’s the key to a good Thanksgiving dinner? The tur KEY ! Riddle #1

Q. If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims! Riddle #2

Q. Why didn’t the turkey eat dessert? Because he was stuffed! Riddle #3

Q. What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving? The letter “ g ”! Riddle #4

Q. When the Pilgrims landed, where did they stand? On their feet! Riddle #5

HA! HA! HA!

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