Sarah woke up early on Thanksgiving morning. The smell of turkey filled the house. Her mother had already started cooking at six o'clock. Sarah went downstairs to help in the kitchen. 'Good morning, sweetheart,' her mother said with a smile. The turkey was cooking slowly in the oven. Sarah's job was to peel the potatoes. They needed many potatoes for mashed potatoes. Her father was setting the table in the dining room. He used the special plates that they only used for holidays. Grandma and Grandpa arrived at noon. They brought homemade apple pie for dessert. Sarah ran to hug them both. 'You have grown so much!' Grandma said happily. Uncle Mike and Aunt Linda came with their two children. The cousins were happy to see each other again. They went to play in the backyard while dinner cooked. The adults sat in the living room and talked. Grandpa told funny stories about the old days. Everyone laughed at his jokes. At three o'clock, the turkey was finally ready. Mother called everyone to the dining room. The table looked beautiful with candles and flowers. Father placed the large turkey in the center. There were also mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. Grandma's cranberry sauce was Sarah's favorite. Before eating, the family held hands around the table. Grandpa said a prayer and thanked God for the food. Then everyone shared what they were thankful for. Sarah said she was thankful for her loving family. Father began to carve the turkey. He gave everyone a piece of the delicious meat. The children were excited to start eating. The food tasted even better than it smelled. Everyone ate until they were completely full. After the main course, they took a short break. Some adults watched the football game on television. The children played board games in the living room. Sarah's little cousin won almost every game. Later, Grandma served the apple pie with ice cream. The warm pie and cold ice cream were perfect together. Sarah asked for a second piece of pie. As evening came, the family gathered in the living room. Grandma showed old family photographs to everyone. They laughed at photos of parents when they were young. The time passed quickly when they were together. Soon it was time for the guests to leave. Everyone hugged goodbye at the door. 'See you at Christmas!' Uncle Mike said. Sarah helped her parents clean up the kitchen. There were many dishes to wash and food to store. Mother put the leftover turkey in the refrigerator. 'We will make sandwiches with this tomorrow,' she said. Sarah felt tired but very happy. This had been a wonderful Thanksgiving. She went to her room and wrote in her diary. 'I am grateful for days like today,' she wrote. She looked at the stars from her window before sleeping. Sarah fell asleep with a smile on her face. She already looked forward to next year's celebration.
English Story (A2)Thanksgiving Dinner
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sarah and her family celebrate Thanksgiving together. They cook a turkey, set a beautiful table, and welcome grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family shares what they are thankful for, enjoys delicious food, and spends quality time together playing games and looking at old photos.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What did Grandma and Grandpa bring when they arrived?
2
What was Sarah's job in the kitchen?
3
What did the family do before eating dinner?
4
What did Sarah write in her diary at the end of the day?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
