How Many Days to America?



Author: Eve Bunting

Illustrator: Beth Peck

Grade Level: Second Grade

Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Thanksgiving is a very special holiday that is celebrated by all Americans. Characters in the book, as well as families today give thanks to their families and living in the land of the free. This short story emphasizes the importance of the holiday of Thanksgiving and that families need to be thankful for having one another.
Subject Area: History, Social Studies

Pre-Reading Strategies:

What do you know about Thanksgiving?

 

Where do you and your parents go when you are celebrating this holiday?

 

What foods do you eat?

 

How did the holiday of Thanksgiving start?

Before the reading, the children will brainstorm the things they do on Thanksgiving. After that list is made, the children will discuss amongst one another the things they eat on Thanksgiving. This will get the student’s brains thinking about this amazing holiday before the story begins.

Post-Reading Strategies: After the story, the children will all answer some post-reading discussion questions regarding the short story independently. After the post-reading questions are completed, the children and I will all get into a circle and discuss what we are all thankful for. I will keep track of each student’s responses and we will keep a tally of the most common option. After this activity, we will all do some arts and crafts. The students would draw a hand turkey and color it. All these turkeys will be hung around the room, with the thing that they are most thankful for written on their own individual turkeys.

A turkey-traced hand--students will write five things they are thankful for on each finger.

Summary: This story involves a family who is forced to leave their home and travel to America. A bunch of families were forced to leave their homes and start their pilgrimage to America. The young boy in the story did not understand why his family was forced to leave, but he kept quiet and followed his family on their journey to America. When they finally reached America, they gave her thanks by having a feast and celebrating their quest to America.

Assessment: Students should be able to write five things that they are thankful for and color effectively at the second grade level. Students should be able to discuss what they are thankful, while their partners show good listening skills.

Reflection: Excellent story showing the history of the Thanksgiving tradition.

Bunting, Eve. (1988). How Many Days to America? New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Grades 1-3.