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Thanksgiving Facts

Facts and figures behind the American holiday, from the number of turkeys eaten in one day to the presidential pardon and the Macy's parade. Works well as a true-or-false quiz before students watch.

The numbers behind the holiday are the easiest way into it: tens of millions of turkeys eaten on a single day, a parade in New York that has run since 1924, a president who pardons one bird a year, and the busiest four days on American roads and in American airports.

Facts like these work best as a quiz before the video rather than a list after it. Ask the class to guess how many turkeys, or what the president does with one of them, take a show of hands, then let the video confirm or surprise. A group that has committed to a guess listens for the answer; a group that is simply told forgets by the next lesson.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some surprising facts about Thanksgiving?

Around forty-six million turkeys are eaten in the United States on that one day; the president pardons a turkey every year; the Macy's parade in New York has run since 1924; and Thanksgiving is the busiest travel period of the American year.

Why is Thanksgiving followed by Black Friday?

Because the holiday sits at the end of November, and the next day starts the run-up to Christmas. Shops used the long weekend to open early with big discounts, and the day grew into the biggest shopping event of the year.

How do I use facts like these in a lesson?

Turn them into a true-or-false quiz before the video and check the answers after. Guessing first makes students listen for the specific number rather than letting the whole thing wash over them.