Thanksgiving/Fall/Black Friday Resources
General
Little Known Facts About ThanksgivingA weekly show where knowledge junkies get their fix of trivia-tastic information. This week, John takes a look at some little known facts about Thanksgiving (the American one).
|
Thanksgiving Word Searches |
Holidays Around the World Crossword |
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Facts
Fun facts about the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!
http://www.amny.com/lifestyle/macy-s-thanksgiving-day-parade-fun-facts-1.9629749 http://mentalfloss.com/article/31575/11-facts-about-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-balloons%E2%80%94and-what-it-takes-inflate-them |
Science
Cranberries - How Does it Grow?Go underwater and high overhead to see cranberries as you've never seen them before. We unlock the secrets — and bust some myths — of this truly American fruit.
|
Survivor - Cranberry BogIn this lesson, students learn about cranberry farming in Massachusetts and the rest of the nation. They work in groups to research and give presentations on challenges facing the cranberry farming industry and then write reflection papers on optimum pest control methods from the perspective of a small farm owner.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/survivor-cranberry-bog/ |
Gobble, Gobble, and Gobble Some More?In this lesson, students reflect on holiday eating habits and create cartoons that explain the body’s physiological responses to overeating.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/gobble-gobble-and-gobble-some-more/ |
Science Supersized Your Thanksgiving DinnerMost everything on your plate has undergone tremendous genetic change under the intense selective pressures of industrial farming. Pilgrims and American Indians ate foods called corn and turkey, but the actual organisms they consumed didn’t look or taste much at all like our modern variants do...
http://www.wired.com/2008/11/turkeytech/ |
Thanksgiving and Chemistry: What's the Connection?Does tryptophan really cause the bleary-eyed daze after a Thanksgiving meal? Why does that timer pop up from the Thanksgiving turkey at just the right moment? What causes bloating after eating?
For the answers to these questions and more, we're serving up a Bytesize classic: an entertaining holiday lecture from Diane Bunce, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at The Catholic University of America, that uncovers the chemistry behind Thanksgiving. |
What If I Double It?: Cooking a TurkeySince the 20-pound turkey is twice the size of a 10-pound bird, at first the answer might seem obvious: Simply double the cooking time suggested for a 10-pound turkey. But is that really the right thing to do?
The way I see it, there are three ways to answer this question:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/turkey/index.html |
Math
Thanksgiving OrigamiLearn to make turkeys, scarecrows, pilgrim hat, wagons and more with the art of origami!
http://www.origami-make.com/howto-origami-thanksgiving.php |
MIT Student Makes Origami ThanksgivingA great article explaining how a student from MIT created amazingly intricate origami shapes with a Thanksgiving theme. Discusses the use of math, geometry and tessellations.
http://www.wired.com/2013/11/a-thanksgiving-scene-made-entirely-out-of-folded-paper/ |
Shopping SavvyIn the course of this lesson and participating in the
classroom activity, students will •comparison shop. •determine what steps they should take to be smart credit card users. •evaluate the importance of getting good shopping advice before entering the marketplace. http://www.scribd.com/doc/42670959/Black-Friday-Lesson |
Social Studies
Thanksgiving Articles Through HistoryRead pieces and see pictures about Americans celebrating Thanksgiving even as they coped with Great Depression, World Wars I and II, the war in Afghanistan, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/throwback-thursday-thanksgiving-at-times-of-national-turmoil/ |
Declarations of IndependenceIn this lesson, students will examine what they know about American Indians past and present, then research key issues facing American Indian tribes today. To synthesize their learning, students will write letters taking the perspective of an American Indian examining questions of tribe recognition.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2002/11/25/declarations-of-independence/ |
The United States of ThanksgivingWe’ve scoured the nation for recipes that evoke each of the 50 states (and D.C. and Puerto Rico). These are our picks for the feast. Dig in, then tell us yours.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/11/18/dining/thanksgiving-recipes-across-the-united-states.html |
ConsumedIn this lesson, students consider the phenomenon of Black Friday and then research and debate the idea that Americans are “programmed” to shop.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/consumed/ |
English
If These Objects Could Talk...In this lesson, students consider American Indian art and the Smithsonian Institute’s newest tribute to this culture. They then study various American Indian artifacts through an artistic lens and write creative pieces from the perspective of these artifacts.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2004/08/20/if-these-objects-could-talk/ |
William Bradford: The Pen and the PersonThe focus of the unit, both the readings and the supporting activities, is to impart the ability to follow and absorb historical accounts so as to reflect thoughtfully upon them. Students will explore the writings of William Bradford for insights into the nature and limitations of primary source materials and for insights into Bradford’s character and the nature of personal leadership.
http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/edu_wm_bradford_pen_person.htm |
Thanksgiving Writing Prompts |
Mass Consumerism Writing ExercisePurpose of Lesson: To give students an opportunity to analyze their opinions on stuff and how to craft their opinions into an essay.
Includes surveys, videos and more! http://www.stageoflife.com/education/NotestotheTeacher/MassConsumerismLessonPlan.aspx |
Fine Arts
Charles Ives - Thanksgiving Ives started writing it as two organ pieces, a prelude and a postlude, in 1887 for a Thanksgiving church service.
“The middle section has a folklike simplicity and grace that Ives rarely allowed himself in orchestral music.”[16] Ives tried to incorporate Puritan qualities into the music. Major and minor chords a step apart were meant to “represent the sternness and strength and austerity of the Puritan character.”[17] The piece also contains “a scythe or reaping harvest theme which is a kind of off-beat, off-key counterpoint.” |
Thanksgiving Paintings and CoversPaintings throughout the years including Life Magazine, Norman Rockwell, Time Magazine and more!
http://www.frugal-cafe.com/public_html/frugal-blog/frugal-cafe-blogzone/2009/11/26/thanksgiving-art-artistic-tributes-to-thanksgiving-america-and-our-military/ |
An Alternative Thanksgiving PlaylistEnter "The Thanksgiving Playlist That Will Get You Through Hours of Cooking." That's right, we've put together a hefty list of songs that is guaranteed to last all the way through your turkey-cooking experience (as long as said turkey is roughly 12 pounds or less). It's hours of pure holiday entertainment -- Thanksgiving themed, of course -- that we hope will make waiting on that golden bird that much more enjoyable.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/27/indie-thanksgiving-playli_n_6226478.html |