What do you know about Thanksgiving?
In October 1621, the English settlers had their first Thanksgiving feast. Today Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the USA. It is a time for sharing good food with family and friends. Tisquantum (1585 – 1622) was a Native American who taught the English settlers how to grow corn and helped them through a hard winter. He also told the English how the Native Americans celebrated the harvest of corn.
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After reading
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a How did Tisquantum help the English? b Describe the people in the painting. What are they doing? c Do Norwegians have a similar festival?
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Corn was very important to the Native Americans. In their different languages the word corn meant “life”. The Native Americans made popcorn.
The First Thanksgiving
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Before reading
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930): The First Thanksgiving (oil on canvas).
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Wo rkbook 3: 3 3 – 3:34
