The First Thanksgiving — True Story

In the early 1600s, life in England was difficult for a small Christian group called the Pilgrims. They wanted to practice their religion in their own way, but the English king did not allow it. The Pilgrims felt unsafe. Some were afraid they could go to jail. After many discussions, they decided to leave England and look for a new home where they could live in peace.

First, the Pilgrims moved to the Netherlands. The Dutch people accepted them, and they were free to pray in their own churches. But after several years, the Pilgrims worried again. Their children were learning Dutch and forgetting English. Many families worked long hours and were still very poor. The Pilgrims began to wonder if they should move again—this time to North America. They heard that they could have land there and build a new community.

In 1620, a group of Pilgrims traveled back to England and prepared to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. They found a wooden ship called the Mayflower. It wasn’t very big—only about 100 feet long—but it was strong enough for the dangerous trip. The Mayflower carried 102 passengers, including men, women, and children.

The journey was extremely difficult. The Pilgrims planned to leave in summer, but delays forced them to begin their trip in September. This meant they would face cold autumn storms. For more than two months, the ship was pushed by strong winds and big waves. People slept in crowded spaces. Many became sick. Several passengers almost fell into the ocean during storms. Still, the Pilgrims held on to their hope of building a better life.

In November 1620, the Mayflower finally reached the coast of North America. The Pilgrims didn’t land where they expected. Instead of Virginia, storms pushed them north to present-day Massachusetts. The Pilgrims explored the area and chose a place with fresh water and a small harbor. They named it Plymouth.

Winter arrived early, and it was harsher than anything the Pilgrims had experienced. Their wooden homes were not ready. People slept on the cold ground while the wind blew through their unfinished walls. Food was limited, and many people became sick. By the end of that winter, almost half of the Pilgrims had died. It was one of the darkest times in their history.

When spring came in 1621, something happened that changed everything. A Native man walked into Plymouth and shocked the Pilgrims by speaking English. His name was Samoset, and he belonged to the Abenaki tribe. He told the Pilgrims about the local Native people, the Wampanoag, who had lived in the area for thousands of years.

A few days later, Samoset returned with another Native man named Squanto. Squanto had an amazing story. Years earlier, he had been captured by English sailors and taken across the ocean. He learned English and later returned to North America. Because of this, Squanto could communicate easily with the Pilgrims.

Squanto taught the Pilgrims skills that helped them survive. He showed them how to plant corn by putting fish in the soil as fertilizer. He taught them how to catch eel, dig for clams, and find wild plants they could eat. He also helped the Pilgrims make peace with the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit.

By the end of summer 1621, the Pilgrims finally had enough food. Their corn, squash, and beans grew well. The weather was warm, and the new homes were finished. The Pilgrims believed they had survived thanks to help from the Wampanoag, especially Squanto.

To celebrate their successful harvest, the Pilgrims planned a thanksgiving feast. This was not the first time people had given thanks, but it was the first big celebration in their new home. They invited Massasoit and about 90 Wampanoag men to join them.

The feast lasted three days. The Pilgrims prepared food from their harvest, like corn and vegetables. The Wampanoag brought deer and other meat. There were games, friendly competitions, and long conversations. They did not have pumpkin pie or mashed potatoes yet, but they enjoyed roasted birds, venison, and fresh corn.

The first Thanksgiving was not just a meal. It was a moment of cooperation between two very different groups of people. The Pilgrims were grateful for the help they received, and the Wampanoag were open to friendship at that time.

However, the peace did not last forever. In the years and generations after the first Thanksgiving, conflict and unfair treatment greatly harmed Native peoples. This darker history is also important, and many people today remember both the cooperation and the later suffering.

Still, the story of the first Thanksgiving shows how kindness and shared hope helped two communities through a difficult year. Today, many families in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving as a time to be grateful for food, home, and each other—just as the Pilgrims and Wampanoag did in 1621.

Practice saying these words from the story. Each column has similar vowel or consonant sounds.

Match the word to the correct meaning. Choose from the list.

Match the word to the correct meaning.

Choose the best word from the list to complete each sentence. The choices are mixed.

1. The ________ left England because they wanted religious freedom.
   
2. The ship called the ________ carried 102 passengers across the ocean.
   
3. The ________ had lived in the area for thousands of years before the Pilgrims arrived.
   
4. ________ taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn with fish in the soil.
   
5. The first winter in ________ was very hard, and many people died.
   
6. The Pilgrims and Wampanoag leaders made ________, and there was no war between them at that time.
   
7. The Pilgrims celebrated their first ________ after they grew enough food in 1621.
   
8. The first Thanksgiving was a time of ________ between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag.
   

Instructions: Click a blank to select it, then click a word in the bank. Use the 🔎 button for a first-letter hint.

Mark each sentence T (True) or F (False).

Use for example, for instance, or such as to add details to each idea.

1. Many people are grateful on Thanksgiving.
   Example: Many people are grateful on Thanksgiving, for example, for having a safe place to live.
2. The Pilgrims needed help from the Wampanoag.
   Write: The Pilgrims needed help from the Wampanoag, for example, …
3. Squanto taught the Pilgrims important survival skills.
   Write: Squanto taught important survival skills, such as …
4. People celebrate Thanksgiving in many different ways.
   Write: People celebrate Thanksgiving in many ways, for instance, …

Discuss these questions with a partner or choose one or two to write about in complete sentences.

1. Why did the Pilgrims think it was worth the risk to move to North America?
2. What are some ways the Wampanoag helped the Pilgrims? Why were these things important?
3. What do you think was the most difficult part of the Pilgrims’ first year? Why?
4. In your opinion, what is the most important message from the first Thanksgiving story?
5. Do people celebrate a similar holiday in your country or culture? How is it the same or different from Thanksgiving?
6. Today, some people also remember the pain and injustice that Native peoples suffered later. Why is it important to remember both the good and the bad parts of history?

Work with a partner. Read the dialogue, then change some details and practice again with your own ideas.