Enjoy learning with your family about the Christian heritage of Thanksgiving,
as well as how it was celebrated and remembered in America's history. 

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Teaching Lessons

Free Thanksgiving Lesson from Answers Bible Curriculum for Pre-K through Middle School; included are teacher guides, posters, games, seasonal activities, and a take-home sheet - by Answers in Genesis 

Gratefulness Teaching Ideas from Institute for Basic Life Principles - Includes Gratefulness in Scripture, Bible lesson, memory verse, activities, coloring page, and related hymn.
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4 Thanksgiving Read-Aloud Stories from American History from Generations and Kevin Swanson

Historic Thanksgiving Meal Ideas (See specifically pages 3-4)

Thankful List - Challenge your kids (and yourself) to write down as many things as you can think of for which you are thankful. See if each of you can write 100 items by the time you are done. For younger kids, have them draw pictures of things of things for which they are grateful. It is amazing how counting your blessings can change a complaining attitude into a thankful one. When we did this activity with a group of kids it was amazing to see how many of them at first couldn't think of anything to be grateful for, but after some discussion, wrote long lists of things that they could thank God for in their lives. 

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Books and Articles

First Thanksgiving Proclamation by President Washington

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford - Bradford's history of the Plymouth settlement by his own pen (1608-1650).

Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey - Includes the journey of the pilgrims and their celebration of the first Thanksgiving, pages for your family to record God's blessings, and a CD of hymns that can be sung at Thanksgiving; a good book to read together as a family.​

William Bradford: Plymouth's Rock (Heroes of History Series) by Janet & Geoff Benge - Eye opening story for all ages of the life of William Bradford and his journey to America. Learn about his trials and perseverance, through which we are still being blessed today. Book -- CD --​ ChristianAudio ​

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas - "Your 4- to 8-year-olds will be amazed to discover that the real hero of the first Thanksgiving was not English or Indian---but God. The remarkable story of how he brings together the struggling Pilgrims and a lonely brave who knows their language and shares their faith is a true American history miracle."

The Treacherous World of the 16th Century & How the Pilgrims Escaped It: The Prequel to America's Freedom by William J. Federer - Discover the facts you've been missing from the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving story! 

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Replica ship Mayflower II at the State Pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts, US.

Front page of William Bradford's journal,
​Of Plymouth Plantation.

Statue of William Bradford, Plymouth Rock State Park, Massachusetts.

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Media

Movies

The Lost Secrets of Thanksgiving - by Bill Heid with Heirloom Audio - A 9 minute overview of the history of Thanksgiving.​ (To download the video, click on the blue link above and then click on the X in the top right corner of the YouTube video and it will take to a page where you can download the video.)

Monumental (Film)- Journey with Kirk Cameron as he retraces the steps of the pilgrims and seeks to learn the account of their life and Christian faith. Study guide for the movie also available. 

Music

• ​Count Your Blessings - by Johnson Oatman
• We Gather Together - Translated by Theodore Baker; Author is Anonymous.
• Come, Ye Thankful People, Come - by Henry Alford
• My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness - by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend
• 10,000 Reasons - by Matt Redman

Podcasts

Everything is Connected: William Federer - Hosted by Dr. Frank Turek with Cross Examined. - Enjoy almost 200 years of history in 50 minutes as you learn the fascinating history, not just of the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving but the background story going back to 1453!

The Story of Thanksgiving - Hosted by Child Evangelism Fellowship of Illinois and Telling Future Generations

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Other

A Time of Remembrance Quote Cards - Quotes by the Pilgrims and early founding fathers whose example of Christian faith and sacrifice continues to bless us, even today.

Thanksgiving Tracts from Living Waters

Thanksgiving Memory Verse Challenge from Scripture Memory Fellowship

Pilgrims' Thanksgiving to God from American Minute with Bill Federer
 
​WallBuilders

• Sermons (outline for pastors to use today and historic sermons)
• Proclamations giving by state governors, U. S. Presidents, and founding fathers on Thanksgiving.
• Articles

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​Pinecone Turkey Craft

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Photo Credit: First Thanksgiving Header: {{PD-Art|PD-old-auto-1936}}  --- ​Mayflower: wikitravel:user:OldPine [CC BY-SA 1.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons --- William Bradford Journal: {{PD-US}} --- First Thanksgiving: - A Time of Remembrance Quote Cards: {{PD-US-not renewed}}