Thanksgiving!

(El Día de Acción de Gracias)

Vocabulary!PilgrimsIndiansWinter and autumnSweet potatoesPumpkin pieParadeFloatCookGive thanksHuntFootballgrow

PeregrinosIndiosInvierno y otoñoBatatasTarta de calabazaDesfileCarro/carroza/paso?CocinarDar las graciasCazarFútbol AMERICANO :)crecer

What is Thanksgiving?

We have vacation on Thursday and Friday of that week.

Thanksgiving is a secular holiday that we celebrate in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November.

Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?

We celebrate Thanksgiving because of the history of the Pilgrims, people who traveled from England to live in the United States.

The History of Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims were people who lived in England. In 1620, they left England in search of religious freedom in America, or “The New World”.

It took 66 days for the Pilgrims to reach America. They traveled in a boat called the Mayflower. They arrived in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.

The first winter was very hard for the Pilgrims. The had hardly any food. They did not know how to grow more. Many of them got sick and died.

In the spring, the Native Americans showed the Pilgrims how to plant vegetables like corn, pumpkins, and squash. They watched them grow. The Native Americans also showed them how to make medicines to stay healthy when they got sick.

When autumn came, they all had plenty of food. They harvested the vegetables. The Native Americans and the Pilgrims feasted together for three days. They ate lots of food and gave thanks for everything they had. A new tradition had begun.

Corn

Pumpkins and Squash

Can you remember?• Why did the Pilgrims leave England?

• When did they reach America?

• What happened during the first winter?

• Why did they have plenty of food the next autumn?

• How did they celebrate?

Thanksgiving Today!

Thanksgiving is a holiday that we spend with lots of family. Everyone brings different kinds of food to a family member’s house and we eat a very big meal together and give thanks for all we have.

I celebrate Thanksgiving every year with my dad’s side of the family. We always have dinner at my uncle and aunt’s house.

Thanksgiving FoodThere are many kinds of typical Thanksgiving foods, but the most important food for Thanksgiving is the turkey.

Cranberry Sauce

(salsa de arándano)

Mashed Potatoes(puré de papas)

Green Bean Casserole(cazuela de judías verdes)

Sweet Potatoes(batatas)

Pumpkin Pie(tarta de calabaza)

Thanksgiving Day Activities

Macy’s Department Store in New York City puts on the biggest parade of the year on the morning of Thanksgiving. They have huge floats, lots of music, and sometimes famous singers in the parade.

Cooking Dinner

We all cook the meal together before we eat.

After we make the food, we all eat together and give thanks.

After the Meal…

After we eat, someone has to wash all the dishes. Last year, my mom and my uncle had to wash the dishes.

HuntingDuring Thanksgiving, it is also very popular for people to go hunting for deer. My dad, uncle, and cousins always go hunting on Thanksgiving.

Football!There is always an important (American) football game on Thanksgiving Day. After we eat we watch our team play…and win!

After the football game, my cousins and I always play Scrabble. It is always a big competition!

We do lots of fun activities on Thanksgiving and we have a lot of food and a big party, but

above all, Thanksgiving is about being together with family.

Grammar Practice!Use the correct form of the verb “be” to complete the sentence:

1. Turkey the most important food on Thanksgiving.is

2. The Pilgrims people from England who came to America in 1620.

are

3. Green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie popular foods on Thanksgiving.

are

4. Watching football games a popular activity on Thanksgiving.is5. The floats in the Thanksgiving parade very big.are6. Usually, I very excited for Thanksgiving. This year I not because I won’t be with my family.

am ‘m

Making SentencesUse the following words to make 5 sentences about Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

isare

Sweet potatoes

huntingA popular activity

Watching the parade

likes

Emily

The family

Very important

turkey To watch football

The PilgrimsFrom England

My cousins and I

like

To play games

A time to give thanks.

What secular holidays do you have in Spain?

• How do you celebrate?• Do you eat special foods?• Do you celebrate with family or friends?

Or both?• Do you have to go to school?• Do you like these holidays?• What are you thankful for? I am thankful

for…