Five Ways to Bring Thanksgiving History to Life

While your child may not be able to travel back to 1621 this Thanksgiving, he can still get a feeling for what things were like at the time of the original historic gathering. Try a few of these ideas to help him understand the people in attendance and the reasons why they were so thankful.

The Long Journey

Most of us know that the Pilgrims came to America on the Mayflower. But did you know that the approximately 100-foot ship carried 132 passengers on a voyage lasting more than two months? That’s about 20-square feet per person. To get a sense of the overcrowded conditions, mark a four by four foot square on the ground with masking tape. Let each family member stand or sit on a square. Feeling squished? Now try getting into a sleeping position. Think about what it would be like if the person lying next to you had a cold or got seasick. Yuck!

A New Land

The travelers had little idea what to expect when they stepped onto the new land.

On a large piece of paper, have your child draw an imaginary place filled with unique animals and plants – without telling anyone which are harmful and which are safe. Then, using the illustration as a game board, let another family member “wander” the area in search of food and a place to build a house. (The family member can draw his journey onto the illustration, if your child allows this. Alternatively, you could find an object to serve as a game piece, and the player can narrate his journey.) If the traveler eats poisonous plants or encounters vicious animals, his turn is done and another person can try. How does the second person fare – having gained knowledge by watching the trial and error of the first explorer? How long does it take until someone gains enough information to survive?