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Thanksgiving Manners Facts & Worksheets

Thanksgiving Day is a time set aside to gather together in gratitude and reverence for our blessings and to enjoy a portion of those blessings with a feast of food.

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Thanksgiving Day is a time set aside to gather together in gratitude and reverence for our blessings and to enjoy a portion of those blessings with a feast of food shared in fellowship among our friends and family.

See the fact file below for more information on the Thanksgiving Manners or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Thanksgiving Manners worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ABOUT THANKSGIVING MANNERS

  • Although celebrated on different days depending on the country you’re in, there is a universal set of suggested manners that people should employ during Thanksgiving get-togethers.
  • In the United States, Thanksgiving is one of, if not the most important holiday of the year. Family members come from all over the country (and in some cases, the world) to be with their loved ones and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
  • For many people, Thanksgiving symbolizes the start of the holiday season.
  • Thanksgiving has its roots in Christianity as, at its core, it is a religious observance of the community, and a way for people to give thanks to God for a common purpose.
  • Other reasons for giving thanks include safe journeys, bountiful food to hunt, harvest, and eat, as well as things like civil liberty, religious liberty, kindness, and God’s watchful eye.

PRIOR TO THANKSGIVING

  • Before arriving to your Thanksgiving destination, it is important to RSVP to let your host know if you can come or not.
  • Some hosts graciously accept contributions to the meal, such as a festive side dish, dessert, or seasonal flowers.
  • In some households, the host requires their guests to dress appropriately, which may include more formal clothes (although many households would just rather you be comfortable).
  • According to etiquette coaches, it is important that even if a host tells you to bring nothing, you bring something, such as a potted herb, a set of coasters, candied fruit, tea, or even a small Christmas decoration.

DURING THANKSGIVING

  • Make sure to arrive to your destination on time!
  • As a guest, it is always an appreciated gesture to introduce yourself to other guests and to offer to help the host.
  • You can offer to help out by doing plenty of things, such as setting the table, offering to refill drinks, offering your help in the kitchen, entertaining any kids that are there, striking up conversations with quiet, shy, or elderly folks, or just listening to people’s stories.
  • Although slightly antiquated, it is a kind gesture to allow the eldest adult to take his or her seat at the table first – after being seated, do not begin eating until everyone has sat down.
  • There are some specific manners that some households will enforce, such as using the correct utensil for the correct course of the meal, not blowing on your food, passing food to the right, and holding your glass properly, but the enforcement of these will depend on the host and their preferences.

AFTER EATING

  • Once finished eating, it is always appreciated to offer to help the host clean up; this can be done by clearing the table, packing up food, washing dishes, drying dishes, putting away cutlery, pots, pans, cookware, and guest dishes, emptying the garbage, making coffee or tea, and preparing dessert.
  • Most people believe it is rude to overstay their welcome; pay attention to cues and hints about when it’s time to go, and make sure to thank the host when you do decide to depart.
  • Some guests even venture as far as writing a thank you note to their host and mailing it the day after Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING CONVERSATION DO’S AND DONT’S

  • While every family has their own rules about conversational topics – what is allowed and not allowed to be discussed – there are some conversations that should be steered clear of.
  • Instead of…
    • Politics
    • Religion
    • Gun Control
  • Try…
    • Discussing what you’re thankful for, asking about a favorite childhood Thanksgiving memory, or talking about things you like to do with your family on Thanksgiving.
    • Asking others what their favorite Thanksgiving traditions are, discussing influential people from the past year, or talking about interesting places to discover during the autumn season.
    • Talking about what the other person is looking forward to most this holiday season, discussing favorite holiday foods, or asking others about their plans for the new year.

Thanksgiving Manners Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Thanksgiving Manners across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Thanksgiving Manners worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Thanksgiving Manners. Thanksgiving Day is a time set aside to gather together in gratitude and reverence for our blessings and to enjoy a portion of those blessings with a feast of food shared in fellowship among our friends and family.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Cutlery Challenge
  • Conversation Cards
  • Manners Wordsearch
  • Manners Matter
  • Remembering Your Manners
  • Fill-in-the-Blanks
  • Thanksgiving Dinner Setup
  • Manners Crossword
  • Interviewing Family
  • Do Manners Matter?

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Link will appear as Thanksgiving Manners Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 7, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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