The First Thanksgiving
Web Quest

In this assignment, you will act like a detective and investigate the real facts surrounding what has come down to us as the first Thanksgiving story.

Real historians know the difference between fact and myth.  Often made-up stories or myths develop about famous people or events in our history.  One example involves George Washington.  Did he really cut down a cherry tree and tell his father the truth because "he could not tell a lie" or is this a myth to show how honest our first president was?  What do you think?


Parson Weem's Fable by Grant Wood (1939)
Click on the picture for a LARGER view.

Go to the web sites listed below and read about the English Pilgrim's
first months in the new world.
You are the Historian: Investigating the First Thanksgiving
  The Truth about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving

Before you begin to read, download into WORD this file: The First Thanksgiving: Fact & Fallacy.  As you find facts and fallacies add them to your list.  You may include more than three.  When done with your reading and writing, add your name to your WORD document, print it, and hand it in to your teacher.

Artists and illustrators create paintings of famous events and sometimes inaccuracies and errors in these pictures keep myths and fallacies alive.  Study these artists' illustrations of the first Thanksgiving...

#1  #2

#3  #4

#5

Which is the most accurate?  Why?  Download into WORD this file: The First Thanksgiving: The Most Accurate Illustration.  Write first the number of the picture you think best illustrates the real first Thanksgiving.  Then write your reasons why.  When done with your writing, add your name to your WORD document, print it, and hand it in to your teacher.

Study Norman Rockwell's painting of an American Thanksgiving in the 20th Century.  Now describe a painting you would create showing the real first Thanksgiving.  Download into WORD this file: The First Thanksgiving: My Illustration.  Describe the setting: Where are your characters?  Think of your painting as a stage; what is your stage setting?  What season is it?  What is the weather like? Describe the characters:  Who  will you include in your painting?  What do they look like?  What kind of clothes are they wearing?  What are they doing? Describe the expressions on your characters' faces: What are their emotions?  Why? Describe the details: What are they eating?  What kind of tables, dishes, etc. will you show in your painting?

If you study Norman Rockwell's Thanksgiving painting, you can easily catch the theme of the painting: "Thanksgiving is a time for Americans to be grateful for all of the good things we have in this great country of ours."  End your writing project with a concluding paragraph: What is the theme of YOUR painting?  Why?

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