Middle School
Worksheets
Thanksgiving History
Canadian Thanksgiving
Reading Comprehension for October 14
When you think about the history of North America, where do you think the first Thanksgiving took place? I'll give you a clue: it wasn't at Plymouth. If you guessed Newfoundland, you would be correct.
When explorer Martin Frobisher was searching for the Northwest Passage, he looked for a long time. His men were tired. Finally, he stopped at Newfoundland where the first English North American colony had been established. He decided to found another colony on the island. In 1578, he held a formal ceremony to give thanks for surviving the long voyage. That action is considered the first Thanksgiving in Canada. It also pre-dates the celebration of thanks at Plymouth by more than forty years.
A form of Thanksgiving was celebrated in what was then New France by Samuel de Champlain. Winters were longer and harder there than anything the explorer had experienced in France. Men who were used to being active found themselves cooped up in shelters for days at a time. Boredom led to disagreements and fights. Champlain came up with an idea to entertain the men.
He founded the "Order of Good Cheer." The men would take turns coming up with interesting activities. They might have nights of music or plays. They also had feasts and often invited the native people to eat with them.
