Fall Favorites (The First Thanksgiving vs. Today's Thanksgiving)

Introduction

Welcome: What's Cooking Grandma? Fall Foods From Around the World

Description: This Webquest offers the students the opportinuty to examine the relationship between a shared holiday season in the United States and a plethora of foods that different cultures eat during this season.
Grade Level: 6-8 
Curriculum: Social Studies 
Keywords: Fall Foods, Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, England, Plymouth, Farmer's Market, Tradition, Family Favorites, Recipe
Author(s): April Ouellette

The Pilgrims, in search of religious freedom, left England and came to America in 1920. That first year in Amercia was brutal, especially the fall and winter months, and many did not survive. The first Thanksgiving was in the fall of 1921, and was held in order to celebrate their first year in America. 

Task

You are a food photographer and you have just been given the opportunity to submit your work to a segment in Holiday Magazine called  "Foods My Grandma Loved". Your job is to research what different cultures who have migrated to the United States eat during the fall holidays You must pick one culture that is provided below, find fall foods that these cultures eat, find the prices of these foods during this time, and find photographs using the web. You can also choose to submit some of your own photographs if you desire, and may have to visit grocery stores, farmer's markets, specialty stores, and maybe even your own Grandma's kitchen. Finally, you are to submit a family favorite fall recipe from your own family's kitchen. Use the following website to choose a recipe template to your liking. 

Recipe Template: http://www.tipjunkie.com/tutorial/recipe-card-template-2/

Process

Watch these two videoes to get background information on the Pilgrims coming to America as well as what the first Thanksgiving feast was composed of: 

Video 1: http://www.history.com/topics/pilgrims

Video 2: http://www.history.com/topics/pilgrims

Day One Activity: (American  History) After viewing the videoes, name five items on the "First Thanksgiving Menu" and create a recipe that one could make with those five items. 

Day Two Activity: (World History) Peruse the following websites and then make a list of what traditional English food looked like, and then compare and contrast it to what the Pilgrims ate after making the move to America. 

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/british

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/british-food-and-recipes.html

http://britishfood.about.com/od/traditionalbritish/

Day Three Activity: (Civics/Government) Write a one page essay on why you believe the Pilgrims felt the need to leave England and travel to a new part of the world. Hit key topics such as "separation of Church and State" and "did the struggle begin in England or another part of Europe?". Make sure to discuss living situations, what food was available on the ship, and the survival rate. 

Day Four Activity: (Geography) Create two maps. The first will be a map of the path the Pilgrims took to get from England to America. The second will be a food map, mapping out what the Pilgrims ate starting in England, then on the ship to America, and then finally in that first celebration of their first year in America. Be creative with your maps, using drawings, pictures, and even sculptures if so desired. Use the following websites to help you create your maps: 

http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/voyage/journey.htm

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g1_u4/

Day Five Activity: (Economics) Find out what the price of the typical English fare was in 1920. Compare that with the price of the same food today. Did the prices vary? Go to the grocery store and find out how much the food costs today that the Pilgrims ate on that First Thanksgiving. Then, find out how much this same food cost your grandparents. Ask your family (parents or grandparents) how much a typical Thanksgiving meal would cost. Ask them if this same meal cost the same, more, or less when they were kids. Create a recipe of your favorite family Thansgiving recipe. Includ drawings, pictures, or any other added materials you want to include. In addition to the recipe card, add how much this meal would cost to make vs. how much is would cost to make 100 years ago.  Use the following website to choose a recipe template of your liking.   

Recipe Template: http://www.tipjunkie.com/tutorial/recipe-card-template-2/

Evaluation

Evaluation Rubric: 

Assignment Turned in On Time:

Evaluation Rubric
  Score


Assignment turned in on time Assignment turned in three or more days late. Assignment turned in two days late. Assignment turened in one day late. Assignment turned in on time.
Questions from the activities answered fully and appropriately. Assignment turned in with 1 question answered. Information is not well written and are not factual. Assignment turned in with 2-3 questions answered. Information is not well written and are not factual. Assignment turned in with 3-4 questions answered. Paragraphs are well written and are factual. Assignment turned in with all 5 questions answered. Paragraphs are well written and are factual.
Recipes pertain to the information gathered for the webquest and obtained from an approved source. Failed to turn in a recipe card. Recipe card was missing important information. Recipe card included all necessary information. Recipe card was detailed and included pictures and helpful hints on how to make a delicious meal.
Maps were clearly drawn.  Maps were not clear. Maps were acceptable. Maps met required material and information. Maps were detailed, including pictueres and important information. 
Conclusion

You did it! You successfully submitted your beautiful food photography to Holiday Magazine, as well as your family recipe with a family photo, which has been displayed on the front cover. Congratualations! Happy cooking!

Credits
Teacher Page

Social Studies Strands and their concepts:

(1)  American History: Concept 1, Research Skills for History

(2)  World History: Concept 1, Research Skills for History

(3)  Civics/Government: Concept 1, Foundations of Government

(4)  Geography: Concept 1, The World In Spatial Terms

(5)  Economics: Concept 1, Foundations of Economics