Teacher’s Guide
Start here for historical context, teaching suggestions, links to online resources, and more:
Thanksgiving Teacher's Guide (PDF, 1.71 MB)
To help your students analyze these primary sources, get a graphic organizer and guides:
Primary Sources
Click the thumbnail for the original item, the caption for information on the item, or download a PDF or MP3.
Departure of the Pilgrim Fathers for America, 1620
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(129 KB)
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(188 KB)
Pilgrims Signing the Compact on the Mayflower, 1620
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(84 KB)
Signing the Compact in the Cabin of the Mayflower
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(117 KB)
Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, 1620
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(168 KB)
Landing of the Pilgrims (Massasoit and his Warriors)
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(83 KB)
Meeting of Governor Carver and Massasoit
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(1.2 MB)
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(175 KB)
A Proclamation for a Day of Fasting and Prayer, 1678
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(949 KB)
Proclamation for a Publick Thanksgiving, 1721
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(815 KB)
George Washington recommends a day of public Thanksgiving, 1789
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(80 KB)
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(110 KB)
Sarah Hale to Abraham Lincoln (Thanksgiving), 1863
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(337 KB)
Lincoln Thanksgiving Proclamation, Oct. 3, 1863 (images 735-736)
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(147 KB)
School Children’s Thanksgiving Games, 1911
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(951 KB)
Pilgrim Tercentenary Pageant, 1921
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(124 KB)
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(157 KB)
The resources in this primary source set are intended for classroom use. If your use will be beyond a single classroom, please review the copyright and fair use guidelines.
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