The First Thanksgiving Live Chat

Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET

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A Pilgrim Interpreter and a Native American from the Plimoth Plantation will answer your questions about colonial times, tribal life, and the first Thanksgiving.

Ahead of Time: Get Ready to Chat!

1. Log on to our sample chat room ahead of time to make sure that your district Internet filter does not block your access. If your access is blocked, contact your tech support department. Tell the tech department that the Web address for the chat will be http://www.scholastic.com/community/
   index.asp?category=kidChats&
   finalSuccessURL=http://community.
   scholastic.com/scholastic/chat?chat.id
   =Thanksgiving. Please keep in mind that if you are using a Mac, you will not be able to join the chat through Firefox. Instead, please use a different Web browser, such as Safari or Internet Explorer. If you are using a PC, you should be able to join the chat through any Web browser.
   
   
2. Encourage your class to draft and submit questions ahead of time. Anyone can still submit questions during the chat itself, but submitting them ahead of time often allows students to formulate more thoughtful and creative questions.
   
   

On the Day of the Chat: How to Join

1. Don't forget that if you are using a Mac, you will not be able to join the chat through Firefox. Instead, please use a different Web browser, such as Safari or Internet Explorer. If you are using a PC, you should be able to join the chat through any Web browser.
   
   
2. Go to The First Thanksgiving. Click "Thanksgiving Chat." to enter the chat room.
   
   

During the chat, type questions for the Pilgrim Interpreter and the Native American from the Plimoth Plantation into the text box at the bottom of the chat screen. To submit your questions, click the "Send" button. The interpreters will do their best to reply to as many questions as possible, but due to high volume, we cannot guarantee every question will be answered. We can't wait to hear from you!

Plimoth Plantation Thanksgiving Chat 3
Read the chat with modern-day Manomet Plymouth Wampanoag Native American, Randy Joseph and Pilgrim interpreter, Patience Morton. For Patience, it is the year 1627 and she is 12 years old. Both Randy and Patience spoke to us from the Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts.

Why We Give Thanks
The origins of Thanksgiving can be traced back to a Native American called Squanto and the settlers of Plymouth Rock, known as the Pilgrims.

Teaching About the First Thanksgiving
Resource lists and lesson plans for celebrating Thanksgiving in classrooms of all grades.

UNIT PLAN	Clifford Learns About the First Thanksgiving and So Do We! Students pose as pilgrims and reenact the thanksgiving feast in this playful approach to learning. Topics include the pilgrims' reasons for...
ONLINE ACTIVITY	Compare & Contrast: Pilgrims & Wampanoag Listen and read as you compare the housing, clothing, food, chores, school, and games of these two groups in history.