Come On, Let’s Learn About Pilgrims

This topic page is designed for all third graders to learn about the importance of Pilgrim’s, their symbols, and why we observe Thanksgiving. This page is also designed for all third graders to distinguish similarities and differences among children and families at different times and places

By Chasity Clodfelter of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Last Updated 12-7-02

Have you ever wondered who or what Pilgrims are? Read these sites to build your understanding of who they are.

Pilgrim Meal Do you know where Pilgrim’s came from? Read this site to find out!

What is the Mayflower? Read this page to find out about the Pilgrim’s voyage.

What did Pilgrim’s wear? Read and learn

more about what Pilgrim’s clothing looked like. Just

scroll down until you see the heading

“Historical Information from Plymouth Plantation Museum

website” and then click on Pilgrim clothing.

1621 Harvest Feast What is the Thanksgiving Harvest Feast? Think about what foods you eat at Thanksgiving; is it similar?

What jobs did Pilgrim’s have and what was life like? Are the jobs Pilgrims had similar to those of your parents?

Read this web site to find out what other clothes pilgrims wore. Continue reading about what Pilgrim children used to eat, what they lived in, what Pilgrim children learned, what chores they did, and what games they played.

What is meant by “The First Thanksgiving”?

What were Pilgrim children like? Reflect on how you would like to have lived as a Pilgrim child. Think about the things you have around your house and the things Pilgrim children had around their house to do.

What are some Thanksgiving songs? Listen and enjoy! Do they sound like the songs you like today?

Activity 1: Complete the Venn diagram or Similarity/Difference Chart based on information learned while exploring Thanksgiving web sites

1. Grade Level	These sites are appropriate for 3^rd graders who are learning about different families and places. Also, they are learning about the importance of selected persons, patriotic symbols, and public observances.
2. Approximate Time of Activity:	Students will spend 20-30 minutes exploring most sites. The completion of the Venn Diagram/Similarity-Difference Chart will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
3. Integrating Subject Areas	Students will integrate Social Studies, Reading skills, and Language Art skills from this activity. They will also be applying knowledge and understanding of topic.
4. Rationale for this Activity:	This activity is valuable because it requires 3^rd graders to apply knowledge learned about Pilgrim’s and about Thanksgiving.
5. NC Standard Course of Study Objectives:	2.1 Distinguish similarities and differences among children at different times and in different places. 2.2 Analyze similarities and differences among families in different times and in different places. 7.1 Identify and explain the importance of selected persons, patriotic symbols, and public observances.
6. Activity Sequence:	1. After students have visited the websites about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving, they will make a Venn Diagram/Similarity-Difference Chart using the one provided for them. 2. Students will compare and contrast how life was for the Pilgrim’s and how it differs from life today. The will list similarities and differences of families back then and life back then and how it is different from today. 3. Students should work individually. 4. The students should complete the Venn Diagram/Similarity-Difference Chart and have listed similarities and differences of Pilgrim life from today’s lifestyle including food, jobs, transportation, clothing, etc. 5. The completed Venn Diagram/Chart will be turned in to the teacher.
7. Assessment criteria:	Accuracy of information listed on Venn Diagram/Chart and spelling will be checked.

A: Life as a Pilgrim

Life Today
Middle - Similarities of both

Includes jobs, food, families, lifestyle, housing, games, etc. (all from web sites above)

Similarities	Differences

Activity 2: Imagine that you are a Pilgrim child. What is daily life like for you? Write a letter to a friend listing what life is like for you.

1. Grade Level:	This activity is for all 3^rd graders.
2. Approximate Time of Activity:	This activity will take approximately 30-45 minutes.
3. Integrating Subject Areas	Social studies is integrated with writing, spelling, language arts, and comprehension.
4. Rationale for this Activity:	This activity is valuable because it requires 3^rd graders to apply knowledge and understanding from what they learned about Pilgrims (their patriotic symbol, the pilgrim people, why Thanksgiving is an observance, and the similarities and differences of life then to today).
5.NC Standard Course of Study Objectives:	2.1 Distinguish similarities and differences among children at different times and in different places. 2.2 Analyze similarities and differences among families in different times and in different places. 7.1 Identify and explain the importance of selected persons, patriotic symbols, and public observances.
6. Activity Sequence:	Students will read all the above listed websites for information. Students will write a letter to a friend in this lifetime and explain what life is like.
7.Assessment criteria:	Accuracy of information listed in letter is required. Spelling and grammar must be adequate and correct.

Rubric for Venn Diagram/Chart & Letter	5 Excellent Has everything listed and correct	4 Good Has almost everything listed and spelling is ok	3 Average Has some information and letter does not contain all of the required elements	0-2 Poor Provides little information, spelling is incorrect, not all requirements were met
Has at least 4 similarities and differences listed
Grammar and Spelling is Correct
Letter contains an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Knowledge is apparent through work including Neatness & Correctness

Teacher Page

I selected the topic of Thanksgiving because often times, the holiday is overlooked by Christmas. Many times, people forget Thanksgiving and start looking forward to Christmas. Often, the case may be that people aren’t knowledgeable about what Thanksgiving is and how it came about. That is why I created this topic page, it is for my students to learn about Thanksgiving. I want them to learn what life was like for Pilgrim children and I want them to compare the similarities and differences of how that life compares to their life. I want them to compare and contrast their families. Most importantly, I want my students to learn the importance of Pilgrims and learn why we don’t have school for a couple of days. I want them to learn the true meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday and why we do observe it. What is patriotic about Thanksgiving? Why is it a symbol for today? All of these things are important and I want to take this opportunity to teach my students the importance to learn about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving.

Rationale:

Students are expected to read most of the sites in order to complete effectively a Venn Diagram or a Similarity-Difference Chart and a letter. This is important to complete so students will gain an understanding of the importance of Thanksgiving and Pilgrims. Students need to realize how Pilgrim life is similar and different from their own. It is important also for students to gain knowledge on how families are similar and different from their own. For example, in a Pilgrim family, a child may only have spoken when he/she was told to speak. In today’s ordinary family, a child is allowed to speak when he/she feels it is necessary or wants to. Another example may include the chores around the house that a family may ask their children to do. They are quite different from chores today that children are asked to do. For example, taking out the trash is a chore a child would do today.

Goal Statement: Students will learn similarities and differences between Pilgrim children and their own childhood, between a Pilgrim family and their family, and the importance of Pilgrims and the public observance of Thanksgiving.

Objective: Students will

2.1 Distinguish similarities and differences among children at different times and in different places.

2.2 Analyze similarities and differences among families in different times and in different places.

7.1 Identify and explain the importance of selected persons, patriotic symbols, and public observances.

Grade Level: 3^rd

Approximate Time: Venn Diagram/Chart 1 hour to read and complete information

Letter 30-45 minutes

Application:

Students will read the web sites provided. They may take notes along the way. Students will complete the Venn Diagram provided to list similarities and differences of Pilgrim life and life today which includes food, housing, jobs, clothing, songs, etc. Students will read about the holiday of Thanksgiving and about the importance of Pilgrims and their patriotic symbol.

Students will read the information from the web sites provided to complete a letter of what Thanksgiving means to them or they can imagine that they are a Pilgrim child and they need to write to a friend what daily life is like for them. They need to include what they eat, what they live in, what games they play, and their voyage on the Mayflower. They need to describe how Thanksgiving became a holiday and the importance of Pilgrim’s.

Example of Similarities/Differences Chart between life as a Pilgrim and life today

Similarities of Pilgrim Life and Life Today	Differences of Pilgrim Life and Life Today
Pilgrim’s and people today believe in fairies, witches, herbal remedies, folklore, seasonal festivals	Pilgrims took a 65 day trip, I have never been on a trip that long of a period
Pilgrims were courageous as I am today
Clothes were made of wool and linen as is today	Men clothing included ruffle, breeches, garters, stockings
Men were hats	Women clothing included a coif, waistcoat, petticoat
Women wear aprons	Job: barrel maker
Job: governor	Chores of Children: getting firewood, milking goats, picking berries, planting crops
Food: corn, vegetables, fruits, meats (fish)	Boys hunted
Taught to respect elders	Girls made soap and candles
Taught to read and write
Children played marbles, board games, and ball games	Music: Slower, sounds different

Example of Paper:

Hello, my name is Chasity. I am a thirteen year old pilgrim girl. I enjoy life very much. I love my family and we enjoy spending time with one another. My life has been somewhat of an adventure; let me tell you what happened.

My family and I, along with other Pilgrim families, founded the 1^st New England colony. We were escaping from problems with religion and economics. My family and I are Separatists. Separatists are Puritans. Once we arrived to the New World, we brought with us our culture and we established the English society. We also brought our customs which included an autumn harvest celebration and a Puritan religious Thanksgiving holiday. We Pilgrims have been the symbolic creators of what Thanksgiving is today.

To tell you a little bit about my daily life, I woke up in the morning; feed the hens while my brothers went on the fields to plan crops. I helped my mom make candles and soap for the family. After my brothers planted the crops for that day, they would milk the goats, get in firewood, pick berries, and hunt. When we had free time, the nearby children and I would play marbles. Sometimes, we would make a board game and play that too. Some people might think that Pilgrim’s have no education. Well, we do. I have been taught how to read and write by my aunt and uncles. The children were also taught at a very young age to respect the elders.

I feel that my parents are strict. I don’t mind though because I have learned how to behave and I have manners. I serve my parents meals and I can only speak when I am told to. I feel that I am lucky to have the parents and family I have. Coming in to the New World was different but, we have accustomed ourselves to the new ways of the world. We still have our culture and our customs that we will always have. I love being a Pilgrim!

In conclusion, I hope that you have learned how my daily life is. If I had more time, I would tell you more, maybe I can write to you next week. I hope you enjoyed reading about my life as a Pilgrim.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on knowledge and understanding of concepts and topic. They must complete the Venn Diagram/Chart with at least 4 similarities, differences, and what they both have (in the middle).

Students will be assessed on the letter by having an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. They must list needed points in their paper received from the information they read. The spelling and grammar must be correct.

Rubric for Venn Diagram/Chart & Letter	5 Excellent Has everything listed and correct	4 Good Has almost everything listed and spelling is ok	3 Average Has some information and letter does not contain all of the required elements	0-2 Poor Provides little information, spelling is incorrect, not all requirements were met
Has at least 4 similarities and differences listed
Grammar and Spelling is Correct
Letter contains an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Knowledge is apparent through work including Neatness & Correctness

Modifications:

For a visually impaired student, I would assign him/her a partner to work with. The visually impaired student would listen to their partner read information for the web site. Therefore, the students would gain knowledge auditorally.

For a hearing impaired student, I would write down all of the directions for him/her to follow. I would then allow him/her to complete the two activities and assist him/her as needed by corresponding with them through written communication.

For ESL students, I would assign them to a partner whereby they may gain knowledge with a peer. I would also be assisting them as needed. I could show pictures and say the item in the picture in Spanish (or other language) and then say it in English whereby they could learn and understand what it means.