Are you looking for engaging Thanksgiving activities for your adult ESL students? Here are five fabulous activities that you can do in your ESL class this month.
Thanksgiving Research Activity
After introducing the topic of Thanksgiving, turn students loose to do internet research. They can find answers to the questions below, and then the whole class can come together to share answers.
- – Who were the Pilgrims?
- – Who was Squanto?
- – What was the first Thanksgiving like?
- – Why is turkey eaten on Thanksgiving?
- – Why is Thanksgiving is controversial?
- – What are common Thanksgiving traditions in the United States?
- *The history of Thanksgiving and the relationship between settlers and Native Americans is painful. Take time to acknowledge this in your class, or plan a deeper lesson on this topic if appropriate. Be conscientious about students who may have experience with cultural oppression, genocide, and racism.
Thanksgiving Survey
Have students ask Americans about Thanksgiving! Students can interview an American that they know, or go outside the classroom and ask random people. This is a great way to get them to engage in discussions with native English speakers! If you teach on a college campus, have students go to the student commons, cafeteria, or campus square and ask students about Thanksgiving. Create a survey with the following questions and/or have students write some questions themselves:
- – Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
- – What are your Thanksgiving traditions in your family?
- – What do you eat on Thanksgiving?
- – Do you participate in Black Friday? If so, what will you buy this year?
If students are too shy to approach people, they can work in pairs. Give them a time limit for when they need to meet back in the classroom. Then have students share what information they got from their surveys.
Gratitude Activities
Teach your class about what Thanksgiving means and how it is time when people reflect on what they are thankful for and give thanks to the people they appreciate. Have them discuss what they are thankful for in their lives, and then have them choose one thing to write a paragraph about. The writing prompt could be: Write a paragraph about one person or thing you are grateful for. Why are you grateful for this person or thing? Use examples and details to explain your reasons.
Practicing gratitude has several benefits such as improving mental health and relationships. Do a lesson on the benefits of practicing gratitude and ways to practice gratitude.
Thanksgiving Videos
Show a short video about the history of Thanksgiving. Give students comprehension questions and then have them do a group discussion. There are some great videos by History.com that are available on YouTube.
Thanksgiving Vocabulary Lesson
Do a lesson on Thanksgiving vocabulary! Teach them the words Pilgrim, Native American, feast, gratitude, and food such as turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pumpkin pie, and more. Play a fun bingo game! You could also share a Thanksgiving recipe and teach them measurement words and verbs for cooking.
Your ESL students will love these Thanksgiving activities!
Check out my no-prep Thanksgiving Reading Bundle! This comes with two different reading lessons – one for lower levels and one for higher levels. Your students will love reading about Thanksgiving traditions. These are perfect for a multi-level class!
You can save money by grabbing my Holiday reading lesson bundle that includes lessons on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Santa Claus, and Christmas trees.
