We’re focusing on American history this year in our homeschool.
I don’t waste my kids’ time forcing them to write gratitude journals or notebooking through thankfulness lists. We practice being thankful all the time. I write Scripture each month with the handy calendars from Sweet Blessings. We read the Bible together every evening and my kids do morning devotions and Bible workbooks together every day. So, I think I’ve got all that covered and don’t feel the need to squeeze anymore in for the month of November.
We live far from family, so we don’t really look forward to a huge meal and football with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. We used to spend Thanksgiving at church – a huge potluck dinner. Now, we tend to travel over the long Thanksgiving weekend. We often have turkey and fixings during Rosh Hashanah. The last couple years, we’ve traveled to Prague and Porto and Venice. Since Aaron is deployed, we might just eat ham and play games together during the quiet long weekend.
We like to learn about the reasons Europeans colonized the Americas.
It wasn’t all a pleasant experience during that time of history. We also learn about the tensions between colonists and natives with lots of books and documentaries.
Americans celebrate our national day of Thanksgiving with turkey and football, but millions of people were and are being treated so poorly around the world. I want my kids to understand real history and not some whitewashed version written by people who consider themselves the winners.
November is also Native American month, so we learn about the tribes who inhabited the land and area we now call home.
We snuggle up on the sofa and read together in the mornings and evenings. Hygge. With candles and kitties.
We get through these cold, dreary days when it gets dark at 4 PM with warm tea and cider, baking delicious cinnamon-scented goodies – like pumpkin scones, trying new soup concoctions, diffusing essential oils, and wearing fuzzy slippers
Books we Love:
I go to the library and request all the books I can on our topics of study.
Here is a list of our favorite Thanksgiving books!
Resources:
- FREE Thanksgiving Notebooking Pages
- Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii
- Favorite Thanksgiving Books
- Countdown to Thanksgiving eBook from Amy Peutz
- Redhead Mom Thanksgiving and Pilgrims Unit
- Early Elementary Unit from Ed Snapshots
- The Homeschool Mom Thanksgiving Resources
- Amanda Bennett Unit Study
- Thanksgiving Lessons from Meet Penny
- Thanksgiving Activities from Joy-Filled Life
- Real Life at Home PreK and K Thanksgiving Unit
- The History of Thanksgiving for Little Ones from The Modest Mom
- Pilgrim Unit Study from In All You Do
- First Thanksgiving Unit Plans from Scholastic
- Harrington Harmonies Jamestown Unit Study
- Blessed Beyond a Doubt Cultivating Thankful Hearts Unit Study
- Thanksgiving Build-a-Unit from Homeschooling in Detroit
- Oklahoma Homeschool Pilgrim/Thanksgiving Unit
- Bible Unit Study for Thanksgiving Week from Teaching Home
- Hubbard’s Cupboard The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving
- Moms with a Blog The Night Before Thanksgiving
- Just Mommies Pilgrims Unit Study
- Thanksgiving Turkey Unit Study by The Homeschool Scientist
- Give Thanks! A Unit Study About Gratefulness from Crosswalk
- Fields of Daisies Old Fashioned Thanksgiving
Videos:
We also have Draw Write Now Book 3: Native Americans, North America, Pilgrims and more on our shelf at home.We used to do fun crafts and activities when the kids were younger, but now that they’re older and no longer interested, we often just read and discuss and bake and watch movies together.
We practice being grateful and content in all circumstances.
Venice for Thanksgiving! How fun, I can’t wait to read about it. These are great resources, Jennifer. Thanks for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
I love how you’re spending your Thanksgiving traveling. My kids are older and are kind of getting tired of the traditional turkey dinners and I think they would love traveling and learning some new things.
Thanks for sharing and linking this!
I think Thanksgiving and Christmas should be a spirit we keep all the time. Good list of books, have a blessed holiday.
Jennifer, I like your perspective and how it transfers into homeschooling and family. I love what you said about practicing being thankful all the time. I believe that’s in line with what God is calling us to…gratefulness 365 days a year. Blessings!
Looks like some great books to learn about the history of Thanksgiving! Thanks for sharing!
I always think it’s a good time to travel! What a fun Thanksgiving tradition and thanks for the movie suggestions; there are a few on your list we haven’t watched yet. Pinned.
When i lived abroad, I loved inviting in others for our traditional Thanksgiving. And now, at home, I’m asking God, “Who needs my invititation?” which is a way of homeschooling our family in hospitality to strangers.
Thanks for sharing your Thanksgiving study unit on the #LMMLInkup this past week. I loved the list of books and am delving into them now. :)
I love how you stay cosy when it gets dark so early – what a lovely environment that would create. I enjoyed reading about your Thanksgiving, and do hope your husband will be home for Thanksgiving next year. I’ve pinned this post to my Homeschooling Board. It’s a wonderful resource. Thank you for sharing, Jen, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope to see you again this week. Have a great week ahead!
Thanks for sharing these thoughts and resources at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
Tina
Wonderful topic for unit study! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!