Moritz-Magnesio 1

Preliminary Information:
Grade Level: 3rd grade
Lesson Title: Thank You, Sarah: the woman who saved Thanksgiving
Time needed: 40 minutes including 8 minutes for choosing books
NYSCCLS: CC.RS.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate
understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for
the answers.
CC.RS.3.3 Describe characters in a story (traits, motivation, feelings)
and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
AASL: 1.1.2 Use prior and background knowledge as context for new
learning.
Empire IFC Standard Information Literacy skill addressed 3.1:
States the main idea. Organizes information using a teacher provided
tool.
Lesson Goal:
Students will understand that a National Holiday is country-wide
where all the states celebrate together.
Students will be able to identify at least one other National Holiday.
Students will be able to understand that there are tools available
today that were not available when Sarah was alive.
Essential Question: What is a National Holiday?
Lesson Plan:
Objective(s):
Students will understand that Sarahs character traits and
perseverance saved Thanksgiving. Students will be able to describe
three character traits of Sarah.
Students will understand that Thanksgiving is a National Holiday.
Students will be able to explain that a National Holiday is celebrated by
every state in the country and name at least one other National
Holiday.
Students will be able to explain what tools Sarah used to achieve her
goal.

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Students will be able to name three different tools that Sarah would
use today to achieve her goal. Tools include technology that was not
around in 1863. Students will be using past knowledge from last
weeks lesson of social media.
Assessment:
Students will use background knowledge and information from
classroom learning of Squanto and the first Thanksgiving to use as
context for new learning of Thanksgiving and National Holidays.
Students will answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text,
referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Students will describe Sarah Hale characters traits and explain how her
actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Students will be able to name three different tools that Sarah would
use today to achieve her goal. These may include technology that was
not around in 1863 and the use of social media.

Anticipatory Set: What do we know about the first

Thanksgiving? Who celebrated the first Thanksgiving? What is a
National Holiday? What day do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Last
week, we spoke about some of the social media tools that are
available today and how they are used. While we read the
book, Thank you Sarah, I want you to think about how Sarah
might do things differently if she were alive today.
Instructional Activities: The book, Thank you Sarah is read
to the class. During the reading, modeling and questioning are
used for vocabulary within text of book with answers from
students. After reading, focus is on specific questions based on
text.

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What was the main idea of the book?
What character traits did Sarah have that helped her?
What is a National Holiday?
Can you name another National Holiday?
How many years did Sarah work to have Thanksgiving
become a National Holiday?
What tools did Sarah use to have Thanksgiving become a
holiday?
How did she use her tool?
What tools would Sarah use today? Think of some the tools
that you use today that Sarah didnt have. Are there any social
media tools that we talked about last week that Sarah would
use today to promote her idea of a National Holiday that
werent available when she was alive?
Closure: What are you thankful for? Students are given sheet
to take home and fill out that tells what they are thankful for
and what their families are thankful for. They will be hung on
the library bulletin board outside the library.
Materials: Book, Thank you, Sarah by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Smartboard organizer sheet for Main idea and character traits and
tools used. Thanksgiving sheet for students to fill out with their families
to be posted on library bulletin board.
Additional Information:
Vocabulary: National, dainty, corsets, bloomers and bustles,
stubborn, curdled, persuade, politician, persistence
Character traits (the way a person acts) include: bold (confident,
sure of herself, courageous), brave, stubborn, smart

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Modifications: Student with Hearing Impairment will be given extra

copy of book. Listening device will be worn that amplifies sound to
student. Students with visual impairments have front seating as well as
any students with special needs.
Extension Activities: Books on subject matter are on display for
students to check out.
Notes (optional): Who picked the date and why was it the fourth
Thursday in November? (In A feast of Facts section)

I am Thankful for:

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Thank you, Sarah:

The woman who saved Thanksgiving
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Illustrator: Matt Faulkner
Character traits of Sarah Hale

My family is Thankful for:

Main Idea

National Holidays

Tools Sarah Used

Tools Sarah would use today

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Works Cited
Anderson, Sarah Hale. Thank you, Sarah: the woman who saved Thanksgiving. New York:
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2002. Print.