When it comes to teaching your kids about pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, there are a lot of ways to approach it. Some choose to start with teaching about native people while others may start with the national holiday itself.

If you’re looking for ways to teach your kids about this iconic moment in history, below are several ideas to help you get started.

Several years ago I released my first Pilgrim Unit Study. Just like the Thanksgiving Unit Study, it has remained a very popular item, but it was in desperate need of updating. I also expanded it to include a few extra printables like Montessori-inspired counting cards and notebooking pages!

But first… The Benefits of Unit Studies

If you’ve been homeschooling for any amount of time, then chances are you’ve heard of the infamous unit study method. This method comes in handy for many reasons. For starters, if you’re homeschooling a mix of young children and older students, unit studies can help you teach them both simultaneously.

The unit plan provides you with a great way (and fun way) to merge several subjects together. No matter the grade level, you can combine important subjects like language arts, math, science, and even art projects. Not to mention, most unit studies come with ideas for select books, creative writing, and free resources.

Why include a pilgrim unit study in your homeschool?

When the October and November months roll around, things become focused on native Americans, the Plymouth colony, Mayflower history, and the like. Very rarely will you find a complete focus on and the story of the pilgrims. Instead of stopping at the classical story of the first thanksgiving or native people, teach your children different perspectives by focusing on pilgrims and pilgrim life. This is why I wanted to create this unit study.

Practical Ideas for Teaching About Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving

Start with historical records.

As you begin searching historical archives, you’ll come across tons of information about pilgrims and how the first Thanksgiving may have happened. My best piece of advice is to start with a particular topic to study and go from there. Here are some topic ideas to help get your search started:

• English colonists
• English settlers
• Plymouth plantation
• Mayflower Compact
• First Thanksgiving feast
• First Thanksgiving celebration

These will help get you started as you look for historical information that can be used to piece together how Thanksgiving started and came about.

Learn about pilgrims

Using some of the search ideas above, you can find lots of information and resources about pilgrims. In short, they were the English settlers who came to North America on the Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony. Today, this is known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Learning about the first pilgrims paves the way about the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving. One of the most interesting facts I like to teach my kids is how the New Englanders were seeking religious freedom and I make connections to how that is important in our times today.

Highlight the Native Americans

It’s kind of hard to talk about pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving without touching the base about the indigenous people. If you’d like to look into the specific tribes, start with the Wampanoag Indians or the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. Your kids will easily be able to see the connections between the pilgrims and the local Indians (or local tribes). You may find a Thanksgiving myth or two along the way, but needless to say, there is a lot of correct information surrounding the days of Thanksgiving.

Teach the significant role of President Abraham Lincoln

Part of the reason why we have an official holiday is that on October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln announced that the nation will celebrate an official Thanksgiving holiday on November 26, 1863. In the speech written by Secretary of State, William Seward, it was declared that the fourth Thursday of every November would be considered an official U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving. 

Another interesting fact to tell your kids is that many years before, George Washington had actually called for an official celebratory “day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” Although Congress agreed, the holiday did not become an annual event until much later.

Learn about some of the foods that would have been cooked

Do your children ever wonder why certain foods are cooked for Thanksgiving day? It may have seemed like they didn’t have much then, but they were able to make some pretty big feasts. Some of the foods they cooked are still being cooked today. Take your kids on a feasting journey by learning about these foods and even having a go at cooking a few:

• pumpkin pie
• sweet potatoes
• cranberry sauce
• foods made with wheat flour

Resources to Teach about Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving

If you’re on the lookout for printable resources to use in your homeschool, I have a few for you! November is a busy month for many people, so thematic studies are perfect for mixing up the normal routine while still keeping up with schoolwork.

Pilgrims Printables – MEGA Activity Pack

When I originally created my Pilgrim Unit Study, I realized there were little to no pilgrims printables or studies just on the Pilgrims. Over the years, I have added to and updated the pack to what is now the Pilgrim MEGA Activity Pack. This study includes a brief history of the Pilgrims, vocabulary work, questions, mapping, counting, and so much more!

This 320+ page pack is designed for PreK-5th grades, but can easily be adjusted for older or younger kids. For my older child, I simply ask him to do more with the notebooking pages and research the Pilgrims and their lifestyle before and after arriving in America. My younger ones to do some fun sensory bins as well as sit with us as we read through the history and information pages.

More Activities about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving

Now that you’ve learned a little more about the Pilgrims, use our Thanksgiving MEGA Pack to teach them more about the holiday itself. In this unit study, students will learn about the history of the holidays through fun activities in a unit study style. It includes 85+ pages of activities designed to make learning fun!

Pilgrim Handprint

How to draw a Pilgrim

Counterfeit Foliage

Personal Pilgrim and Indian Placecards

Toilet Paper Tube Pilgrims and Indians

Paper Plate Pilgrims

Paper Plate Pilgrims and more

Kids love to make up silly stories when they’re little. Keep that imagination alive with these Thanksgiving Writing Prompts. These are perfect for elementary kids, but could be fun to help your older kids that might be “stuck” in their creative writing. With colorful Thanksgiving themed gnomes, students are sure to be inspired.

Don’t forget to follow our Thanksgiving Board on Pinterest for more great ideas.

These are just some of our favorite books about Pilgrims! We love reading them as we work through unit studies.

The Story of the Pilgrims (Pictureback(R)). . . If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim VoyageRush Revere and the Brave PilgrimsLittle Pilgrim’s Progress: From John Bunyan’s ClassicLand of the Pilgrims Pride: Ellis Discovers the 13 ColoniesThe Pilgrims’ First ThanksgivingThe Landing of the Pilgrims

Final Thoughts

As we head toward day of Thanksgiving, use these ideas and resources to teach your kids about pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. It is certainly part of our American history that shouldn’t be ignored. I’d love to hear from you. Tell me how you teach your kids the story of the pilgrims and Thanksgiving.

Download your Pilgrim Mini Activity Pack

The Pilgrim Mini Activity Pack is 4 activity-packed pages. Download and print these to use and as a simple introduction to the Pilgrims, or as placemats at any gathering in November! Want more? Don’t forget to check out the Pilgrims MEGA Activity Pack for a complete unit study!