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Mini-Lesson About Thanksgiving. ELL Spoken English Skills and Strategies. Video on Thanksgiving. The story goes like this. In early seventeenth century, many Europeans left Europe to go to other countries. They lived in new lands along with the local people there.
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Mini-Lesson About Thanksgiving ELL Spoken English Skills and Strategies
In early seventeenth century, many Europeans left Europe to go to other countries. They lived in new lands along with the local people there.
Europeans all went to different places. The Dutch went to Africa. The French went to eastern Canada. The Portuguese went to Macau. Britain was one of them. The English people went to a land known as America.
One big reason why the English people left Britain was because of religion. At that time, there were two groups of Christians in England: Roman Catholics and Protestants. Because people in England were mostly Catholics, many Protestants came together and left England because they wanted a place where they could practice their own religion.
A group of Protestants called Pilgrims landed in a place called Plymouth, which is now in modern day Massachusetts.
At the time when these people landed, it was winter in Massachusetts. The Pilgrims in the 1600s had no heaters or air conditioners. Winter in the American East was freezing and cold. There was hardy any food. Many English died because of hunger and cold.
Eventually, the American Indians, who were the local people there, saw the Pilgrims and decided to help them. One Indian leader named Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to fish and hunt as well as how to plant corn, pumpkins, and squash.
The Pilgrims were very grateful for Squanto and all the Indians that they became really good friends. The Pilgrims started to trade with the Indians, giving the Indians English jewelry and animals and the Indians gave the Pilgrims food and clothes.
One day, on the fourth Thursday of November, everyone just decided to celebrate. The English and the American Indians came together for a huge feast. Everyone ate until they were full. The Pilgrims and Indians were both happy and grateful.
This day came to be known as Thanksgiving. Both groups of people had things they were thankful for. The Pilgrims were thankful for leaving England and being able to have their own religion. They were thankful for the American Indians and Squanto, who saved their lives. The American Indians were thankful for being able to trade and exchange things with the English. Both groups of people were thankful for their friendship they had then!
Today, thanksgiving is celebrated in America, Canada, Puerto Rico, Grenada, and Liberia. In Canada, the national holiday takes place on the second Monday of October.
In those countries, government offices, businesses and schools close on Thanksgiving Day and usually the Friday afterwards as well, giving people a four-day weekend.
In New York City in the United States of America, there is an annual Thanksgiving parade from 9am to 11am. Numerous famous people and attractive sights make their way through the streets of New York.
Many people eat turkeys on the day of Thanksgiving. In America, there is a tradition. Every year on the day of Thanksgiving, the President of the United States of America will pardon at least one turkey. To pardon the turkey means giving the turkey its freedom instead of letting it be cooked. That one lucky turkey will end up in a farm instead of someone’s plate.
However, the coolest tradition in Thanksgiving is definitely coming home and being with family and friends. Everyone knows a big feast will come.
On the table of a Thanksgiving feast, there are usually turkey, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, and vegetables and stuffing.
It is also the tradition of many families to talk about things they are thankful for. One by one, each family member would take turn to give thanks.
Now, even though the place where we live may not have a big celebration for Thanksgiving. What are some things you are thankful or grateful for?
Can you list three things you are thankful for? You are invited to either stand up or come up to the front to share with everybody these three things.
The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday! It is a day when everywhere in America there is going to be discounts, both in actual shops, stores, and also online! Things could be 10% off. 20% off. 50% off. Or even more!
If you are coming to America at this time, you need to be very prepared. Some stores in America can be crazy with people trying to grab the things they want to buy.
The good thing is, you can also buy discounted products online on Black Friday. However, international shipping from America to other countries can be a big cost. It is only worth it if you are buying a lot of things.
