Thanksgiving Table Time

Overview

This 20-minute lesson introduces 2nd grade students to basic table setting, traditional Thanksgiving foods, and polite eating manners. Through engaging activities, students will practice listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills that support health and wellness concepts aligned with Common Core standards, particularly in speaking and listening.

Learning Objectives

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1: Participate in collaborative conversations about Thanksgiving traditions related to food and manners.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2: Recount key ideas from discussions on family meals and table setting.
• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.D.10: Use measurement concepts by arranging the table setting appropriately.
• Develop understanding of healthy family eating habits and social skills during mealtime.

Materials

• Printable worksheet: “Setting the Thanksgiving Table” (includes pictures of plates, utensils, foods, and manners prompts)
• Real or toy cutlery, plates, napkins (enough for each student)
• Chart paper or whiteboard for group discussion
• Sticky notes or small cards with food names and manners phrases

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Discussion (5 minutes)

• Begin by asking students: "What foods do you usually eat at Thanksgiving?" List student answers on the board.
• Introduce the concept of setting the table properly for a holiday meal. Briefly discuss why manners help make family meals special.
• Reference manners such as “Please,” “Thank you,” and waiting patiently before eating.

2. Hands-On Activity: Setting the Table (8 minutes)

• Distribute worksheet and real or toy tableware.
• Guide students to place the plate, fork, knife, spoon, and napkin in the correct spots using the worksheet as a model.
• Discuss the placement for each item to support measurement understanding (left, right, above plate).
• Have students name traditional Thanksgiving foods as they stick pictures of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. onto the worksheet.

3. Role-Playing Manners (5 minutes)

• Use sticky notes with phrases like “May I please pass the gravy?” or “Thank you for the food,” and have students pick one to role-play in pairs.
• Encourage polite tone and eye contact.
• Reinforce listening carefully when others speak (SL.2.1 and SL.2.2 standards).

4. Wrap-Up and Review (2 minutes)

• Recap the key points: how to set the table, types of Thanksgiving foods, and important mealtime manners.
• Ask 2-3 students to share one thing they learned or liked most.
• Collect worksheets for informal assessment of understanding.

Assessment

• Observe student participation during table setting and role-play for social communication skills.
• Review worksheet to check correct table setting and identification of Thanksgiving food.
• Informally assess student ability to express and listen to ideas by participation in discussion—aligned to Common Core speaking and listening standards.

Teacher Tips

• Use real Thanksgiving pictures or family stories to personalize the lesson.
• Encourage students from diverse backgrounds to share their holiday traditions to enrich cultural understanding.
• Adjust speaking roles to support shy students by pairing them with supportive partners.

This plan supports healthy social-emotional learning and cultural awareness appropriate for 2nd graders while meeting Common Core literacy and math measurement standards. It invites hands-on engagement, verbal expression, and reinforcement of positive family mealtime habits in a fun, memorable way.