ART

INTEGRATION

THANKSGIVING
Listening
Comprehension

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THANKSGIVING Listening Comprehension
& Art Integration
In this lesson, students will practice the critical skill of listening
comprehension while learning about the origin of Thanksgiving as a
national holiday. After a mini-lesson on what to listen for and how to
take notes, students will listen to a passage about Sarah Josepha
Hale two times. They’ll take notes during both readings. Then, they’ll
ABOUT answer questions based on their passage. Finally, they’ll create a
festive piece of turkey pop art with designs and shapes based on
the answers to the comprehension questions. This activity is a
perfect way to celebrate the holiday, keep students learning, and
integrate art into your instruction.

• Listening Passage (choose the passage that will be most

appropriate for your students)
• Class set of: Listening Comprehension Worksheet,
MATERIALS Comprehension Questions, Turkey Pop Art Coloring Page
• Colored pencils, markers, and/or crayons
• Colored paper, scissors, and glue (optional)

• Explain to students that they will be practicing their listening

comprehension skills while learning about Thanksgiving.
• Pass out the “Listening Comprehension” worksheet.
• Give students notes on what to listen for and take notes on
Listening during a listening passage.
While listening, take notes on: names, dates, places, order
COMPREHENSION •
of events, repeated words or phrases
ACTIVITY • When taking notes, remember to: List out your notes
(bullet points), Use phrases rather than sentences,
Abbreviate
• You may want to demonstrate how notes might look.
• Explain to students that today they will be listening to a
nonfiction passage about Thanksgiving. If students feel like they
may need more room to take notes, have them take out
additional paper.
• Read the passage “Sarah Josepha Hale” to students while they
take notes.
• After reading through the passage one time explain that you will
be reading the passage again. Remind students that during the
second reading they should:
• Think about the main idea
• Identify critical supporting details
• Fill in any gaps from the first listening

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.

For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
THANKSGIVING Listening Comprehension
& Art Integration
• Then, read the passage a second time. While listening, students
Listening •
should be taking notes.
Finally, explain that students will showcase their listening skills by
COMPREHENSION answering questions about the passage. Pass out the worksheet
with comprehension questions.
ACTIVITY • Have students answer the questions. Encourage them to look back
CONT. •
at their notes.
Answers: 1. B, 2. F, 3. A, 4. E, 5. C, 6. D, 7. Answers will vary

• After students finish answering the questions about the listening

passage, you may want them to discuss their answers with a peer
or as a class.
ART • Then, pass out the Pop Art Turkey worksheet. Display or pass out
the 2 “Steps” worksheets (at the end of this resource.) Note how
INTEGRATION students will need to add a texture design in each segment of the
turkey. Each segment of the turkey is numbered. The numbers
connect to the listening comprehension questions. So, for instance,
the answer to #1 on the comprehension question worksheet is B.
That means that students would add the “brick” texture inside
section 1 of the turkey. Students should repeat this for each
question. Note that they’ll be writing their answer to #7 on the
turkey shape before coloring it in.
• Give students a chance to design their pop art turkeys.
• Then, if you’d like, have students cut out the turkey that they
designed and glue it onto a colored piece of paper and display.

Click the covers for… Reading Comp.

Daily ELA Warm-Ups WRITING UNITS Mini-Units
A thanksgiving centers resource!
Grades 4-5 and 6-8 available.

Doodle & do POETRY Fun stuff!

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction
For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product. All rights reserved by author.
For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
 GRADES
Listening Passage (read aloud 2 times)
4-5

Sarah Josepha Hale

When you think of the first Thanksgiving, you think of the
Pilgrims, right? It’s true that the first Thanksgiving feast
was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. However,
the first nationally recognized Thanksgiving was
celebrated on November 26, 1863.

The Thanksgiving holiday that we know today is thanks

to one incredible woman. Her name was Sarah
Josepha Hale. She worked very hard to make
Thanksgiving a national holiday. She believed that
taking time to celebrate our blessings could bring
families and our nation together. So, in 1846 Hale
began to spread the word about Thanksgiving. She
wrote letters. She also published articles and recipes in
her magazine. She wanted people to recognize the
importance of the day. Hale did not give up. She stood
up for what she believed in during a time period when
women had few opportunities.

In 1863, Hale sent a letter to President Abraham Lincoln.

She urged him to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Her wish was granted. In 1863, President Lincoln made
Thanksgiving an official holiday.

It took Sarah Josepha Hale nearly 20 years to make her

dream come true. Thanks to Hale’s efforts, families
across our country come together and celebrate
Thanksgiving every November.

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.

For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
 GRADES
Listening Passage (read aloud 2 times)
6-8

Sarah Josepha Hale

The celebration of the American Thanksgiving can be traced
back to the first feast by the Pilgrims of Plymouth in 1621.
However, the national holiday began just over 150 years ago, at
the height of the Civil War. Our modern celebration of
Thanksgiving, in large part, is thanks to one exceptional
American woman.

The traditions that we enjoy today can be credited to Sarah

Josepha Hale. Hale was a novelist and poet from New
Hampshire. She was extremely successful at a time when
opportunities for women were limited. After publishing books
and serving as the editor of an influential magazine, she took on
the cause of making Thanksgiving a national holiday.

In 1846, she began a campaign for a national Thanksgiving

holiday. She spread the word about Thanksgiving and the value
of celebrating our blessings in her magazine. She wrote articles
about Thanksgiving traditions and meals. She also wrote
countless letters to government officials including the President
of the United States. Sarah Josepha Hale’s efforts were finally
recognized in 1863. President Lincoln declared the last Thursday
in November as a “national day of Thanksgiving.” After nearly 20
years of lobbying, Sarah Josepha Hale had created a holiday
that families across our nation still celebrate today.

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.

For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
 Name ___________________________________

Listening Comprehension
While listening, take notes on… When taking notes, remember to…
•
•
•
• •

• •
•

Notes

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.

For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
 Name ___________________________________

Answer the questions below based on the passage, “Sarah

Josepha Hale.” Be sure to reference your notes when
answering each question. Then, use your answers on this
worksheet to design your Pop Art Turkey.

1. What is one reason that Sarah Josepha Hale is considered exceptional?

A. Hale fought in the Civil War.
B. Hale was successful at a time when opportunities for women were
limited.
C. Hale received letters from government officials.

2. When was the first nationally recognized Thanksgiving holiday?

D. November 1620
E. November 1846
F. November 1863

3. Why did Sarah Josepha Hale want Thanksgiving?

A. She believed it could bring families and our country together.
B. She wanted a way to sell more magazines.
C. She wanted to make Abraham Lincoln a popular president.

4. How did Hale campaign for a national holiday?

D. She visited President Abraham Lincoln.
E. She wrote letters and articles.
F. She worked with Congress.

5. Who else played a critical role in making Thanksgiving a national holiday?

A. The American public
B. Civil War soldiers
C. President Abraham Lincoln

6. What is one word that can be used to describe Sarah Josepha Hale?
D. Devoted
E. Passive
F. Inconsistent

7. What is one thing that you learned about Thanksgiving?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Transfer your answer to the turkey shape in space #7.
Then, color the space any color.

Copyright © 2016 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.

For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
 Together, we like to put the ART
in ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.
Keep the listening practice going
with this set of 12 passages, note
taking worksheets, and
interactive coloring pages!

Pair these resources together for instant integration…

 Together, we like to put the ART
in ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.
We’ve created
ART ESCAPES
that combine
collaboration
posters, grammar,
and reading
practice!

Teach Parts of Check out these 12

Speech all Year Listening
long with this Comprehension
popular resource! Activities that you
can use all year
long!

Our set of 48
differentiated
reading passages
combine
comprehension
skills & art!
THANKS GREAT NEWS! FEEDBACK
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