This lesson follows a plan from The New York Times Learning Channel. I've adapted it a bit to suit the needs of our class.

NYTimes lesson plan overview:

What Really Happened? Comparing Stories of the First Thanksgiving

Articles:

1) Traditional views:

National Geographic for Kids

Plymouth Plantation

2) Some Native Americans & Historians

The True, Grim Story of the First Thanksgiving

The Real Story of Thanksgiving

3) Conservatives & Tea Party Followers

The Great Thanksgiving Hoax

The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving

4) Native American Critics of Thanksgiving

National Day of Mourning

1970s Protest

Procedure:

*Fold a piece of paper into a Shutter fold -- Draw your interpretation of the Thanksgiving story -- symbols, sketches -- in the first box

*Watch these 2 videos of my favorite Thanksgiving tv episode at my blog

--Jot down questions you've always had about Thanksgiving

*Read one article from each section & complete the handout

*After reading the article, continue your drawing in another section of the foldable

--What do you notice about the symbols/sketches? Jot down your thinking in your daybook