The First Thanksgiving Timeline for Kids
Every November, families in the United States share a Thanksgiving meal. The holiday goes back to a harvest feast more than 400 years ago. This timeline tells the story of the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag people, and that feast.
Cut and Order Activity
Cut out the seven picture cards and glue them in order on the timeline.
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The timeline
September 1620The Mayflower Sets Sail
A ship called the Mayflower leaves England with 102 people on board. Many of them are Pilgrims. The trip across the ocean takes 66 days.
Why it matters: The Pilgrims wanted a new home where they could worship in their own way.
November 1620Land at Last
The Mayflower reaches the coast of what is now Massachusetts. Before going ashore, the men sign a paper. They agree to make fair rules and to follow them.
Why it matters: The paper is called the Mayflower Compact. It was an early step toward people ruling themselves.
Winter of 1620A Hard Winter
The Pilgrims start to build a village called Plymouth. It is cold, and there is little food. About half of them die before spring.
Why it matters: Those who lived needed help to learn how to live in this new land.
March 1621A Visitor and a Promise
A man named Samoset walks into the village and greets the Pilgrims in English. Soon the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, comes to meet them. The two groups promise to live in peace.
Why it matters: The peace between them lasted for more than 50 years.
April 1621Squanto Helps
A Wampanoag man named Squanto shows the Pilgrims how to plant corn. He also shows them where to fish and what plants are safe to eat.
Why it matters: Without his help, the Pilgrims might not have had enough food for the next winter.
Fall of 1621The Harvest Feast
The corn grows well. About 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag men share a feast for three days. They eat deer, wild birds, corn and fish. They also play games.
Why it matters: People remember this feast as the first Thanksgiving.
1863A National Holiday
President Abraham Lincoln makes Thanksgiving a holiday for the whole country. He asks Americans to give thanks on the last Thursday in November.
Why it matters: Americans have kept Thanksgiving every year since then.
Words to know
- Pilgrim: one of the people who came on the Mayflower to start a new home
- harvest: the time when crops are picked
- feast: a big meal shared by many people
- holiday: a special day when people celebrate
Quiz
- What was the name of the Pilgrims' ship?
A. The Mayflower B. The Victoria C. The Santa Maria - What did the Pilgrims call their village?
A. Jamestown B. Plymouth C. Boston - Who showed the Pilgrims how to plant corn?
A. Abraham Lincoln B. The king C. Squanto - How long did the harvest feast last?
A. Three days B. One hour C. One day - Which president made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
A. George Washington B. Abraham Lincoln C. Thomas Jefferson
Show answers
1. A (The Mayflower) 2. B (Plymouth) 3. C (Squanto) 4. A (Three days) 5. B (Abraham Lincoln)
The pictures are illustrations made for this timeline. They show what these people and places may have looked like.