From the Ground Up:
NOVEMBER—Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to gather, give thanks, and enjoy a meal with family and friends—but have you ever stopped to think about where that meal comes from? From the turkey on the table to the sweet potatoes, pumpkins, pecans, green beans, corn, and cranberries, agriculture plays a big part in our Thanksgiving traditions.
This Thanksgiving, explore the world of agriculture with fun, educational resources that help students discover how farmers grow our food, care for animals, protect natural resources, and provide the ingredients that bring us together around the table.
Try our pecan pie recipe this November and learn all about pecans. Did you know the pecan is the only major tree nut native to North America? The United States produces about 80% of the world’s pecans. Feast on more fun facts about pecans.
Lesson Plans & Resources
GRADES Pre-K-2:
AITC Pecans Coloring Page
Color your way through Louisiana agriculture with our fun-fact, elementary coloring sheets.
Fit-to-page printing option recommended. See more coloring pages.
GRADES Pre-K-2:
Thank You Farmers
Discover what farmers do and how they help their community.
Louisiana Standards
ELA: R1, SL1
Science: K-ESS3-1
GRADES 3-5:
A Rafter of Turkeys
Investigate the domestication and life cycle of the turkey, discover how turkeys are raised on farms, and identify turkey products.
Louisiana Standards
ELA: L3, L4, L5, R1, R4, R5, R10, SL4, SL5, W3, W4; Math: MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MP5, MP6, MP8; Science: 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1
GRADES 3-5:
In a Nutshell
Explore pecan production from farm to fork, simulate the process of grafting, and create a nutritious snack.
Louisiana Standards
ELA: L1, L2, L4, R1, R2, R4, R5, R10, W2, W4, W9; Social Studies: 3.19, 4.6, 5.6; Health: Standard 5, Benchmark 5-E-1
GRADES 6-8:
The Geography of Thanksgiving Dinner
Identify common Thanksgiving foods and their farm source, determine if those foods can be produced locally, and locate the common origins of their Thanksgiving day dinner.
Louisiana Standards
ELA: L1, R4, SL1, W2, W4
GRADES 9-12:
The Geography of Thanksgiving Dinner
Identify common Thanksgiving foods and their farm source, determine if those foods can be produced locally, and locate the common origins of their Thanksgiving day dinner.
Louisiana Standards
ELA: R4, R8, SL1, SL2
Companion Resources
Explore additional From the Ground Up resource pages this Thanksgiving:
Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, and Corn.
The Thankful Turkey
Build turkey replicas to say what you’re thankful for this November.
Presidential Turkey Activity Guide
Learn the history of our nation's Presidential Turkey tradition.
How Did That Get On My Thanksgiving Day Plate?
Ever wonder where your Thanksgiving Day dinner came from? Here is a hint: a farm! Read about how some of the turkey day classics made it to your plate! Includes lesson plans, books, videos and more.
Thanksgiving Pies We All Love
Pie is a popular dessert enjoyed across the United States during traditional Thanksgiving dinners, from the warm and spiced apple pie to the rich sweetness of pecan, pumpkin, and sweet potato pies. Let’s learn more about them!
Raising America’s Turkeys
Raising turkeys is around-the-clock work. In 2022, more than 210 million turkeys were raised on about 2,500 farms across the United States, with the majority being family farms. Learn more about raising turkeys and the turkey production process in the U.S.
Mapping the Thanksgiving Harvest
Do you know where each of these Turkey Day staples are grown? Navigate through eight maps illustrating the geography of where cranberries, turkeys, sweet potatoes, potatoes, green beans, brussels sprouts, pumpkins, and pecans are grown.
Turkey Ag Mag
The Turkeys Ag Mag was written for elementary, middle, and high school students. In this issue, students learn about how turkeys are raised, the life cycle of domesticated turkeys and their differences between wild turkeys, byproducts of turkeys, fun facts, and more. The reader can be viewed by students electronically, as a class with a SMARTboard, or printed.
Books
“Time for Cranberries”
by Lisl H. Detlefsen
From the cranberry bog to the Thanksgiving table, join Sam and his family as they harvest a classic American fruit. This book is available on YouTube (5:01).
“My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me”
by Roxanne Troup
Of all the tree's in Grandpa's orchard, one tree is his favorite—a pecan tree, planted for his granddaughter on the day she was born. This book is available on YouTube (5:14).
Videos
Visit an Iowa Turkey Farm
In this virtual farm tour, go inside a modern brooder barn to see two-week-old turkey poults and a grow out barn with 10-week-old turkeys. Learn how farmers use technology every day to regulate barn temperature, air flow, feed and water use, and monitor turkey health.
Cranberry Bounce
A great video to celebrate Thanksgiving. See an enactment of the first North American Thanksgiving at Plymouth. Watch children put on hip waders and go chest high into the bog during the fall cranberry harvest. Cranberry Bounce introduces children to the seasons on a cranberry farm. Along the way, they learn about the biology of cranberry reproduction, geography of cranberry growing areas, some cranberry recipes, and cranberry decorations.
