Yeshivat He’Atid students used technology to enhance their Thanksgiving experiences! The second graders prepared for Thanksgiving by integrating their social studies unit on communities into a Thanksgiving research project. The students read a special Thanksgiving story for Reader’s Theater to learn about the differences and similarities between Native American and Pilgrim communities. After, they created puppets to represent the characters in the story.

In true Yeshivat He’Atid style, this project was taken to the next level as students used their puppets to reenact the story of Thanksgiving by filming their puppet shows for iMovie. The students edited their clips, added voice overs using their script and incorporated titles when needed. They are so excited to have a special video to present to their families at the Thanksgiving table.

Third graders completed their Thanksgiving technology integration project by becoming graphic designers! They finished their novel study unit, “Thanksgiving on Thursday” by Mary Pope Osborne, during which they learned about the various foods prepared for the first Thanksgiving meal. The students used their writer’s notebooks to draft a descriptive list of the historical foods and how they were prepared. Using a design program, the students worked to design a unique menu template, edit their designs and artistically type up lists of all the foods that were served at the first Thanksgiving. These projects were a creative way for students to learn about the history of Thanksgiving, all while building on skills necessary for 21st-century learners.