Should We Celebrate Thanksgiving? DBQ Document-Based Question Investigation

Engage your students in critical thinking, historical analysis, and argumentative writing with this comprehensive DBQ (Document-Based Question) unit focused on the topic of Thanksgiving. This resource provides students with the opportunity to explore the historical origins of Thanksgiving, its modern-day celebrations, controversies surrounding the holiday, and the diverse perspectives on its continued observance.

What's Included:

1. DBQ Documents: Six thoughtfully selected documents, including primary sources and secondary sources, each accompanied by comprehension questions to encourage in-depth analysis and discussion.

2. Graphic Organizer: An optional graphic organizer to help students structure their essay responses effectively. This tool guides students through the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, ensuring their essays are well-organized and thorough.

3. Rubric: A comprehensive rubric for grading students' DBQ essays. The rubric includes criteria for assessing content, organization, analysis, citation of sources, and more, making the grading process clear and efficient.

Key Features:

- Promote Critical Thinking: Encourage students to think critically about the historical significance of Thanksgiving, its contemporary observance, and the controversies surrounding it.

- Improve Writing Skills: Foster argumentative writing skills as students construct arguments on whether or not Americans should continue celebrating Thanksgiving.

- Flexible Implementation: This resource can be adapted to various grade levels and is suitable for social studies, history, and English/language arts classes.

- In-Depth Analysis: Comprehension questions for each document ensure students engage deeply with the provided sources and consider various perspectives.

- Clear Grading: The included rubric simplifies the grading process, making it easy to assess students' essays against specific criteria.

Why Choose This DBQ Unit:

This Thanksgiving DBQ unit provides an excellent opportunity for students to explore a significant aspect of American history and culture. It encourages critical thinking, research skills, and argumentative writing while addressing a relevant and thought-provoking question. Whether used in the classroom or for homeschooling, this resource will engage students in meaningful discussions about the holiday's significance.

Empower your students to analyze, debate, and construct well-structured arguments on the topic of Thanksgiving!