ESL Lesson on Thanksgiving

A fun lesson for ESL students to learn vocabulary and expressions to talk about Thanksgiving. Watch the ESL video about Thanksgiving, and use the ESL storytelling flashcards to retell the story and practice using new vocabulary and expressions. Get the downloadable PDF, digital flashcards, listening and reading exercises and everything you need for the perfect digital and remote English lessons when you subscribe.

Teaching your students about holidays and culture is important. No matter what country you live in or you’re from, it’s an essential element of teaching and learning English.

It’s nearly that time of year again. Between November and March there are lots of festivals, holidays and traditions.

This is a fun lesson plan for Thanksgiving. These are just ideas. There are hundreds if not thousands of ways to teach the exact same lesson.

Start your lesson off by pre-teaching the following vocabulary.

farmer, whole, die, enough, spring, pilgrims

thankful, grow, possible, fall, Native Americans

ESL Video on Thanksgiving

ESL Lesson on Thanksgiving Listening Questions

Ask your students to watch the video and prepare to answer the following questions:

1. Where did the Pilgrims come from?

2. Were they farmers? What didn’t they know how to do?

3. When did the Pilgrims have a very hard time?

4. Who made friends with the Pilgrims in the spring?

5. How did the Native Americans help the Pilgrims?

6. How did the Pilgrims say ‘thank you’ to the Native Americans?

7. How many days was the first Thanksgiving?

8. What did the Pilgrims and Native Americans do together on the first Thanksgiving?

ESL Lesson Thanksgiving Discussion Questions

1. Name 5 things that you are thankful for.

2. Have you ever tried a Thanksgiving meal? Do you like Thanksgiving food? What dishes do you like/dislike?

3. Have you ever been on a farm?

4. What are you most grateful for this year?

Matching

Match the words on the left with the words or expressions on the right with the same or similar meaning.

farmer	A. to stop living
whole	B. to increase in size or amount
die	C. all of, entire, 100%
enough	D. the season after winter and before summer
spring	E. able to do; able to happen
Pilgrim	F. people who live in America before Europeans came
thankful	G. as much or as many as needed
grow	H. the person who grows plants or animals for food
possible	I. the name for some of the first Europeans to come to America
fall	J. the season when the weather becomes cool and leaves on the trees turn color and fall
native Americans	K. happy for someone or something, grateful

Thanksgiving Words in Context

1. It is getting warm outside again.  I’m glad that winter is over and __________ is here.

2. My mom made a chocolate cake and my sister ate the _________ thing! I didn’t have any!

3. If I study very hard it is ____________ that I will pass the test. 

4. It is getting cold outside and the leaves in the trees are changing color and falling. I think summer is over and _________ is here. 

5. _______________ lived in America long before it was a country and before people from Europe came there.

6. If my brother doesn’t get __________ sleep, he will be in a bad mood all morning.

_______________ came from England to America a long time ago.  They wanted to make a new home in America.

Because my brother helped me with my homework, I was able to get a high score on the test.  I am very _______________ for his help!

He was very sick in the hospital for a long time before he ________.   

Bill is a great ____________  He is good at making delicious fruits and vegetables. 

This flower is very small but if you give it water every day it will _________ into a big beautiful flower.

You can get the answer key, downloadable lesson plan, worksheets, digital flashcards and lots more when you sign up: www.pocketpassport.com

Reference: AE8