Grade 3 Reading Information - Comparing Key Details

Story 1 - The First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to be with family. Usually, people will cook a big dinner for their family. It may include turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie. People usually make these foods because they think that is what the Pilgrims ate during their first Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims were a group of people who came to the United States in 1620. Their ship was called the Mayflower. It took them two months to travel across the ocean to Massachusetts. These people wanted to start a new church.

The Pilgrims had trouble growing crops. The winter weather was strong. However, the Pilgrims met some friendly Native American Indians. They were called the Wampanoag. One of the Indians could speak English. The Pilgrims and Indians decided to celebrate. Four of the Pilgrims hunted for food. For their meal, they most likely had deer, seafood, and vegetables that the Indians grew. Everyone was happy for a long time.

Story 2 - Thanksgiving

Many people love Thanksgiving. It is a time to eat turkey and spend time with family members. However, most of the people at the first Thanksgiving were the natives. There were only a few Pilgrims. These two groups of people had met before. One of the Native Americans was named Squanto. He spoke English and talked to the Pilgrims. When Squanto and his tribe helped the Pilgrims with their farming, a few of the Pilgrims and Native Americans got together for a meal.

Due to the crops they grew and animals they hunted, the meal probably included squash, deer and fish. They most likely did not eat together at a table. However, a few years later, the Pilgrims would fight the Wampanoag Native Americans. These people had been friendly before, but now they would fight a war against each other for a few years.