Day In History: November 24-30 Free Resources


Free Resources corresponding to a Day in History for each of these topics/people:

  • Scott Joplin
  • Carrie Nation
  • History of Thanksgiving
  • Thanksgiving Day Macy’s Parade
  • Basketball–James Naismith
  • John F. Kennedy
  • Mark Twain

November 24

Scott Joplin, King of Ragtime, was born November 24, 1868.

Audio files of the piano works of Scott Joplin are available here.

November 25

Carry (Carrie) Nation was born November 25, 1835. She is known for attacking saloons with a hatchet in protest of alcohol consumption.

Kansas Historical Society has an online game (multiple choice questions) about Carry A. Nation available here. A biographical documentary film from PBS detailing the work of Carry Nation can be found on this link. Students will find out about the life of this controversial woman, most famous for smashing saloons during the temperance movement.

November 26

The History of Thanksgiving and similar celebrations around the world are featured in this passage. The first national Thanksgiving was November 26, 1789.

National Geographic has a variety of activities for different grade levels to enrich your Thanksgiving study. This includes analyzing historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Mayflower Compact. In another activity a graphic organizer helps students organize their thoughts about human migration (push/pull factors). Using their information they write a narrative essay (rubric provided. A third activity for older students explores the relationship between Native Americans and Europeans in North America. Students in grades 6-8 can use the lesson plan to look at the motivation of early explorers. In a second activity students view a video and analyze settlement patterns. Another activity which includes both videos, analyzing maps to understand “homeland.”

Students in elementary school will enjoy comparing objects that would have been on a 17th century ship with modern articles for the same purpose. This could easily be paired with this activity comparing transatlantic travel then and now. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/crossing-the-atlantic-then-and-now/. In a related activity, students place pictures of items from different time periods on a timeline.

November 27

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in New York City on November 27, 1924. Students read about the famous parade in the differentiated passages.

Nova provides a Short History of Ballooning dating back to 1783 and the first manned flights.

November 28

James Naismith, founder of basketball died November 28, 1939. Students read about James Naismith in the differentiated passages. 

ReadWriteThink has a great activity where students look at the original 13 rules for basketball and determine which rules are still valid today. Next they evaluate which rule that has been added has made the biggest difference. Culminating the activity students select a sport and write the essential rules of the game.

November 29

November 29, 1963, the Warren Commission was appointed to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Read about the JFK Assassination in the differentiated passages.

Engaging questions and resources related to the Warren Commission and the assassination of President Kennedy may be found on Spartacus Educational. Students will explore multiple viewpoints and will be asked to support their reasoning through carefully designed questions and resource links.

November 30

Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was born on November 30, 1835. 

The PBS LearningMedia lesson Mark Twain, Storyteller, Novelist, and Humorist, asks students to watch a video and complete a graphic organizer. Following the video, there are discussion questions provided. Next students examine and analyze a cartoon (image) from a magazine. Next students read a letter from Twain to a friend. A culminating graphic organizer activity is included. Standards are included for the lesson.

Looking for additional resources? Check my TPT Store for differentiated passages and questions for each of these topics. (click on title below images of cover to link to the resource).

Click on topic below.