Thanksgiving

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/thanksgiving

1. What is the primary observance dates?
2. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving in November?
3. How did the first Thanksgiving between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people happen?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary observance dates?Fourth Thursday in November (United States), Second Monday in October (Canada)
2. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving in November?In the U.S., President Lincoln chose the last Thursday of November during the Civil War to remind everyone of blessings and to bring people together. Congress later fixed it as the fourth Thursday in November.
3. How did the first Thanksgiving between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people happen?In 1621, the colonists and the Wampanoag shared a feast to celebrate a good harvest and show cooperation after a hard time. It was more like a harvest celebration than a formal holiday.

Secular Holiday: A holiday observed without religious affiliation, emphasizing cultural or national significance.
Colonial Settlements: Early communities established by people from one country in a new territory, often with distinct social and political structures.
Bounty: An abundant supply of good things, particularly agricultural produce, signifying prosperity and sustenance.
Social Cohesion: The degree to which members of a society are connected and share common values, fostering a sense of unity and belonging.