85+ Thanksgiving, Native & 13 Colonies Reading Comprehension Passages + Questions

Looking for a no-prep 85+ Thanksgiving reading activity to build early literacy skills while keeping learners engaged? These 85+ Thanksgiving-themed reading comprehension passages are designed for young readers at a Kindergarten, 1st grade, or 2nd grade reading level. Each passage supports fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies, and features engaging nonfiction texts centered around Thanksgiving, Native American history, and the 13 Colonies.

Perfect for classrooms, homeschool, tutoring, or small group instruction, this resource offers a meaningful way to practice reading skills while building background knowledge through informational text and social studies reading.

What’s Included:

• 85+ nonfiction reading comprehension passages
• Comprehension questions for each passage
• Vocabulary words related to Thanksgiving, Colonial America, and Native American traditions
• Print-and-go format—no prep required!

Topics Included:

The First Thanksgiving – Pilgrims | Wampanoag Tribe | Plymouth Colony | Mayflower | Cornucopia | Traditional Feasts (Then & Now)

Thanksgiving Holiday – What is Thanksgiving? | When Is It Celebrated? | Why Do We Celebrate? | How People Celebrate | Wishbone | Turkey | Pumpkin Pie

13 Colonies – Virginia | Massachusetts Bay | New York | Pennsylvania | Georgia | New Jersey | Delaware | Maryland | Connecticut | Rhode Island | North & South Carolina | New Hampshire

Colonial America – Leif Erikson | Christopher Columbus | The Pilgrims | The Mayflower | Squanto | Native Americans | Roanoke | Jamestown | Daily Life | Farming | Colonial Clothing | Slavery | Colonial Jobs | Plymouth Colony | Williamsburg

Native American Tribes – Wampanoag | Sioux | Cheyenne | Apache | Iroquois | Pueblo | Navajo | Choctaw | Chippewa | Plains Tribes

Famous Native Americans – Squanto | Sacagawea | Geronimo | Sitting Bull | Chief Joseph | Chief Seattle | Osceola | Black Hawk | Sequoyah | Comcomly | Crooked Hand

The Mayflower – Mayflower Compact | Life at Sea | Cannon | Cabin | Seasickness | Food Aboard | Salt | Water | Ship’s Biscuit | Mortar and Pestle | John Howland | Knitting | Whipstaff | Dogs | Fishing Supplies

Each passage introduces fun, familiar topics connected to Thanksgiving, Native American history, and Colonial America, helping learners build comprehension skills while exploring early American history and Pilgrims and Native Americans through accessible nonfiction texts.

Perfect For:
✔ Blending literacy and social studies in one activity
✔ Small group work, independent reading, or one-on-one instruction
✔ Classroom teachers planning classroom Thanksgiving lessons, homeschool families, tutors, and interventionists
✔ Literacy centers, morning work, early finishers, or homework
✔ Supportive for ESL learners, special education, and differentiated instruction