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The Real Story of Thanksgiving, Monday, November 22nd at 9/8c (Airs again on Wednesday, November 24th at 8/7c) Turkey dinners, footballs and parades--these are the modern-day trappings of the holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. But Thanksgiving is more than just a day of food and festivity. This new 1-hour special traces the history of the holiday, from its origins in the early American colonies through the family feasts Americans enjoy today. The Real Story of Thanksgiving features interviews with expert historians who give viewers a new understanding of how this much-loved holiday has changed over time. How did Americans start to associate Thanksgiving with cooperation between Native Americans and European settlers? What role did this day play during the Civil War, and why was Thanksgiving finally declared a national holiday in 1941? This program untangles fact from fiction, dispelling some myths about the holiday and sharing new stories about how Thanksgiving traditions have developed. Viewers will also learn about the role it plays in popular culture, from the Macy's Thanksgiving parade through the ever-present turkey dinner. After watching this program, students will have an opportunity to discuss the meaning and significance of Thanksgiving in our society today. Curriculum Links: The Real Story of Thanksgiving would be useful for U.S. History, American Culture, and Social Studies courses. It is appropriate for 6th grade and above. Families may want to watch this program together and discuss the history of the Thanksgiving holiday. Teacher's Guide Available http://www.history.com/images/media/pdf/Thanksgiving_Study_Guide.pdf Special Website Available: Visit the Thanksgiving website Plimoth Plantation Interested in learning more about Thanksgiving history? Visit Plimoth Plantation online to learn about an upcoming virtual field trip and to find other great resources for the classroom! Videos: History of Thanksgiving Mayflower: Deconstructed |
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Take A Veteran to School Day: HISTORY Thanks You
As many of you know, HISTORY launched our 4th year of the Take A Veteran to School Day campaign in 2010. This program links veterans of all ages with young people in our schools and communities. Schools nationwide organized events as part of this program from late October to mid-November, in small towns and in cities, in single classrooms and in the form of major assemblies and public programs. Take A Veteran to School Day was a resounding success this year—in total more than 6,000 schools participated, in all 50 states! Thank you to all teachers, students, elected officials, administrators, and most of all, veterans, for your participation. We were also very proud to be joined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the Thank a Veteran at Work initiative. We were honored to have First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actor Bradley Cooper, and athlete Johnny Damon film public service announcements as part of this program. Thank you to all who joined this effort to educate students about the history of Veterans Day and express our support to all veterans. Stay tuned to http://www.veterans.com for updates to our website and information about this program for 2011! |
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Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower Wednesday, November 24th at 3/2c Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower explores the history of William Bradford and the Puritan settlers of the Plymouth, Massachusetts colony. This 2-hour special shows how religious persecution at the hands of King James I drove Bradford and his Separatist followers first to Holland and then to the New World to establish a new community across the Atlantic, hoping to make their visions of freedom real. This 3-hour special presentation evokes the drama of the Mayflower’s famous journey through Bradford’s writings, commentary from historians, and dramatic recreations. Desperate Crossing recounts a critical chapter in the encounters between Europeans and Native Americans as the British interact with the Wampanoag people and attempt to establish a new colony. Stories of trade, of cooperation, of violence and devastation, and of fortitude and determination unfold as this program traces the establishment of Plymouth. Educators and students will gain new insights into life in the early colonies and the origins of the United States, and will explore the ramifications of contact for the Native American peoples they encountered. Curriculum Links: Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower would be an excellent addition to American History, American Studies, World History, Environmental Studies, Religion and Science and Technology courses. It is appropriate for high school students. Teacher’s Guide Available: http://www.history.com/images/media/pdf/1463_Study_Guide_Desp_Cross_nonspread.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||
Discovering the Civil War: A New Exhibit at the National Archives, |