Overview:
Students will use literature to gain insight into the
lives of the Wampanoag people and their participation
in the first Thanksgiving celebration.
Students will present information on different aspects
of the Wampanoag lifestyle.
Materials:
- Chart paper for KWL chart
- Children's literature on the Wampanoag (see suggested
books in this lesson)
- paper for each group
- pencils and markers
Aim/Essential Question:
Why should we remember the Wampanoag people when we celebrate
Thanksgiving?
Background Information:
The Wampanoag have lived in the coastal area of Massachusetts
and Rhode Island for thousands of years. At the time that
the first European settlers arrived in Massachusetts in
1620, the Wampanoag lived off the land by farming, hunting,
and fishing. During the spring season, entire villages
moved to the seashore to fish and plant crops such as
corn squash, and beans. In the autumn, they moved into
the forest where they hunted wild game. Wampanoag homes
were made of woven mats that were stretched on wood frames
so that people were able to break camp by taking the mats
and leaving the wooden structures behind for their return.
The first group of European settlers, who are known
as the Pilgrims, set up their village on land that had
been abandoned by the Wampanoag. Several Wampanoag assisted
the Pilgrims during their first year in Massachusetts.
They instructed the Pilgrims on where to hunt for food
and how to grow crops. When the settlers’ crops
were harvested, approximately a year after they arrived,
the Pilgrims shared a meal with Wampanoag people who
had helped them. This is what is known as the first
American Thanksgiving celebration.
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