We have TWO Thanksgiving units! If you’re interested in our autumn-spiced Giving Thanks unit which also comes with its own Thanksgiving planner, you’ll want to go HERE instead.
The Real Story of Thanksgiving… Like You’ve Never Experienced It
This isn’t just history; it’s a journey. It’s one that drops your family into the lives, struggles, and triumphs of those who lived it.
History That Feels Real
With over 40 authentic primary sources, this unit brings the “first Thanksgiving” to life through the words of real men and women who were there. You’ll step into the tension, the hope, the laughter, and the losses—not through dry facts, but through a living-story format that reads like a novel and teaches like nothing else.
Hands-On. Heart-Tied. Historically Accurate.
From corn husk dolls and dried apple garlands to weir fishing and Wampanoag games—your family will explore hands-on activities that deepen understanding and make memories. You’ll even follow the thread beyond the feast to discover how the Civil War shaped the Thanksgiving we know today.
For Character. For Connection. For Truth.
This is one of our most-loved units for a reason. It builds empathy, understanding, and curiosity—without sacrificing truth. Everything is grounded in primary sources and told with depth, beauty, and reverence for the people who lived it.
This is a Full Unit, designed for the whole family to use together, whether you have one student or many. It includes 15 flexible lessons, typically stretched over 4–6 weeks (depending on your pace). While most of our units include 12 lessons, this one is structured a little differently. The Growing Guidebook includes Lessons 1–9. The Advanced Guidebook includes those same 9 lessons, plus Bonus Lessons 10–15. This is purely for organization. The bonus lessons explore deeper (sometimes heavier) topics more suited for older students.
Most families complete 6–8 units per year. Think of one unit like a single “chapter” in a year-long curriculum.
This isn’t one-lesson-per-day curriculum. Each lesson may span multiple days. You set the rhythm.
Every unit is delivered as a PDF digital download, so you can start instantly. Prefer a printed book? You can get that, too! Want to understand all your print options? Flip to the “Print or Digital” page in our BROCHURE for a full breakdown of how to access print copies.
There are three digital guidebooks:
- Early Learner Guidebook (pre-reader to 1st grade) – Designed to keep little hands busy and minds engaged while older students go deeper.
- Growing Guidebook (elementary through middle school)
- Advanced Guidebook (high school to adult)
The Growing and Advanced Guidebooks share the same main lesson content. The difference is in the sidebars—color-coded and tailored by age. Think of it like reading the same Bible translation, but one has deep apologetics notes and the other has gentle prompts and kid-friendly commentary. Same core text, just age-adjusted insight.
This is intentionally designed to mimic higher-level education and real-world learning. You won’t find a separate teacher’s manual or student workbook because we don’t believe in busywork. Instead, each guidebook is written directly to the student (and the parent learning alongside) with real instruction, interactive prompts, and a flow that mirrors real-life, higher-level learning.
You’ll see natural cues like “Do this now,” “Write this in your notebook,” and “Pause to discuss,” built right into the lesson. Students learn through notebooking, narration, dictation, and hands-on exploration—no pre-planning required. It might feel different at first. That’s because it is… and it’s intentional.
Included is a Core Connections Companion, which dives deeper into academics across subjects, specifically integrating with the main unit topic. This is how you cover all your core subjects except math. That includes history, science, language arts, geography, art, and more. For transcript and syllabus help, see the links directly above.
Campfire encourages students to think deeply, not just check boxes. That means we don’t ask for rote answers; we ask for reflection, connection, and real understanding. For students used to worksheet-style learning, this can come as a shift. You might notice a transition phase as their brain adjusts to a higher level of engagement, and that’s part of the growth.
Some younger learners (especially ages 6–8) may need extra support or time. It depends on the child. If your student is used to rich read-alouds and open discussion, they may jump right in. Others might benefit from starting with just the Early Learner Guidebook or waiting for Campfire until they’re ready for more independent thinking.
We’ve seen some 7-year-olds fall in love with it. Others needed to wait until 9 to tackle everything comfortably. You know your child best, and this curriculum gives you the freedom to meet them right where they are.
Each unit includes access to our private LINKS page with videos, supply lists, book lists, and bonus resources—everything pre-screened and organized for easy use. Some units also have optional MP3 add-ons for auditory learners.
ashlyfuller85 (verified owner) –
Wonderful unit! Lots of info and possibilities for creating memories! The book selection is excellent! Highly recommend!
ERIN WELCH (verified owner) –
This unit was our first Campfire unit we ever did and it completely won us over! We now use Campfire as our core curriculum.
I have boys and they loved the activities in this unit! The information is also so rich. The kids requested this unit again this Thanksgiving season, so we will get to pick up on details we may have missed a couple of years ago!
Thanks Campfire for creating such meaningful and fun units to educate our children! We have ALL learned so much!
Kristen Richard (verified owner) –
We are starting this unit for the second time. We have done 4 or 5 units and this one has been a favorite all across the board! It is so rich and engaging for all ages!
Jennifer Heckert (verified owner) –
This is our first unit using the Campfire Curriculums, and it’s been a refreshing experience. My son usually dislikes schoolwork, but he completed this unit without complaint. I highly recommend it.