Brief Description

The following is a Thanksgiving activity that includes hands-on technology research.  First, the students will research the topic of “The First Thanksgiving Dinner” through the Internet.  Then, they will write directions on how to make their favorite Thanksgiving food.  And finally, they will research to find a “real” recipe for their favorite Thanksgiving food.  This is a cross-curricular lesson integrating social studies, language arts, and technology. A cookbook will be created from the combined efforts of the students.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 1T-F2. Demonstrate functional operation of technology components
 PO 3. Access information sources
• 1T-F3. Use developmentally appropriate technology resources to access information and communicate electronically
 PO 1. Operate keyboard and other common input and output devices
 PO 2. Retrieve and save information
 PO 3. Print documents, text or image
• 3T-F1. Use prescribed technology writing or drawing tools for communicating and illustrating
 PO 1. Use word processing to create a document and, where  developmentally appropriate, use editing tools
 PO 2. Insert a graphic into a word processing document
• 4T-F2. Use technology tools for individual and collaborative communication activities to share products with audiences inside and outside the classroom
 PO 1. Plan, design, and present an academic product to classroom or  community
 
• 5T-F1. Recognize electronic information sources
 PO 1. Identify potential sources of information about a topic
 PO 2. Locate information in a resource selected by the teacher

• 1SS-F2. Describe everyday life in the past and recognize that some aspects change and others stay the same, with emphasis on:
 PO 3. how past cultural exchanges influence present-day life, including  food, art, shelter, and language
• W-F4. Gather, organize and accurately, clearly and sequentially report information gained from personal observations and experiences
 PO 3. Report events sequentially
• LS-F1. Use effective vocabulary and logical organization to relate or summarize ideas, events and other information

 
• LS-F2. Give and follow multiple-step directions

Academic

• Compare/Contrast the “First Thanksgiving” foods with their own
• Compose a clear set of sequential, multiple-step directions for a    recipe.

• Access, retrieve, and save information sources from the Internet.
• Use word processing to create a document.
• Insert a graphic into a word processing document.
• Create a page for a class cookbook.

• Students must be able to follow pre-selected links or an ability to navigate the Internet.
• Students need a beginning understanding of the use of Word.
• Students must have basic typing skills.

• Computer with Internet access and printer
• Paper
• Pencil
• Digital camera
• Floppy disk
• Rubric with criteria outlined

SEI and Special Education students:  Depending on individual needs, students may need to be partnered with a stronger reader, be allowed extra time to finish the task, be given a worksheet on which to take notes, or dictate their recipes instead of writing them.  Some may benefit from breaking the tasks into small parts and provide frequent feedback to ensure successful progress towards the completed project.

Gifted:  Gifted students can be encouraged to plan an entire Thanksgiving menu.  They may research recipes for the whole meal.  If they finish before their peers, they may take advantage of the extension activities.

Procedures

Part One:

Ask students: Have you ever thought about what the pilgrims and Indians ate at The First Thanksgiving?  Can you tell me something about The First Thanksgiving?  Today we are going to learn about The First Thanksgiving by visiting a website on the Internet.  I have made a special page on our classroom web site to help us learn about Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving foods. Show students how to access the page.

Imagine yourself as one of the first pilgrims to travel to America.  The year is 1621 and you, along with all of your family, friends, and neighbors, have worked long and tiring hours to harvest food this year.  You have invited everyone you know to a celebration feast.  You have decided to call this feast "The First Thanksgiving."  Write a paragraph describing your meal for the people who were not able to attend.  Visit this web site to help you figure out what would be served at your meal. This site also has information on their table manners and their common culture during that time. As you describe the foods that were served draw pictures of the food and anything else that you found interesting at the "First Thanksgiving Dinner."  Try to include at least five details. Also, list at least three differences or similarities to your Thanksgiving meal (at school or home). Show or print copies of rubric, so students are clear on expectations of assignment. You may choose to have the students do a self-evaluation to be turned in along with their paragraph and picture.

Part Two:

We are grateful for all the friends who will share a Thanksgiving feast with us at school. The third grade teachers have decided that our class will prepare a Pilgrim Stew, and the other third grade classes will bring side dishes and desserts to our feast.  At home, our parents may plan a meal to be shared with friends/family.  Everyone brings his/her favorite Thanksgiving food.  We know what foods were shared at the First Thanksgiving. We also know what we eat at school and home on this holiday.  But what I really want to know is… "What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?" and "How do you make that?"  Your task today is to write directions on how to make your favorite Thanksgiving food.
     Model, for students, how to use sequencing words (first, then, after that, next, finally) in students’ recipe directions. Students may want to hand write their rough draft before typing the recipe.  Show students how to open a new Word document and type the recipe directions.  They will also need to know how to save to a floppy. Show or print copies of rubric, so students are clear on expectations of assignment. You may choose to have the students do a self-evaluation to be turned in along with their floppy.

Part Three:
 
Let’s see how close our favorite Thanksgiving food directions were to a real recipe.  Where can we find recipes?  Students might mention a recipe file or box at home, in Mom’s head, cookbooks, magazines, the Internet.  Ask students to try to find a recipe for their favorite food.  They can get it from any of the sources discussed.  Show students how to access some of the online sources using links on the lesson web page.
The following sources will be listed for students:

Better Homes and Gardens
Come to Dinner with BlackDog
Family Fun Recipes
Food Geeks Newsletter
Home-schooled Recipes
Recipe Link
Thanksgiving Recipes
Turkey Recipes and More
Very Best Baking

Extensions for fast-finishers…

Assessment

Use the rubrics for each part of the lesson:

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III