Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend ECON/PFL Resources

This post is just focusing on Thanksgiving weekend "holidays" (including Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, etc..) - look back to earlier this month for other November holidays...

U.S. Government and/or Agency Resources:

“Keep Risky Habits Out of the Kitchen this Thanksgiving”, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nov 2023, https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/11/13/keep-risky-habits-out-kitchen-thanksgiving

Primary Source Set on Thanksgiving resources, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/thanksgiving/

“Shop Small: Everything You Need to Know About Small Business Saturday”, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nov 2025, https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/everything-you-need-to-know-about-small-business-saturday

“Stats for Stories: Black Friday, November 24, 2023”, U.S. Census, Nov 2023, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/black-friday.html

“Stats for Stories: Cyber Monday, November 27, 2023”, U.S. Census, Nov 2023, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/cyber-monday.html

“TED: The Economics Daily. Doing any Thanksgiving travel? Check out our data on travel-related employment and prices!”, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov 2024, https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/doing-any-thanksgiving-travel.htm (currently shows 2024 edition – guessing the new one has been delayed by the govt shutdown)

“TED: The Economics Daily. Time to feast! Looking at consumer prices for some classic Thanksgiving items”, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov 2024, https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/time-to-feast-looking-at-consumer-prices-for-some-classic-thanksgiving-items.htm (again, 2025 may have been delayed by the govt shutdown)

“Thanksgiving Day Fun Facts (handout and teaching guide)”, U.S. Census, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/resources/fun-facts/thanksgiving.html (again, 2025 may have been delayed by the govt shutdown)

“Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips”, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Nov 2023, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/thanksgiving-safety-tips

“Thanksgiving Safety Tips”, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 2023, https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/thanksgiving

Lesson Plan Resources:

“Activity Spotlight: Plan a Friendsgiving Dinner”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2022, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/activities/activity-spotlight-plan-a-friendsgiving-dinner/ (blog article w/links) and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8NBZBlUowJTsmr-xxSq7EUivEIetLdVeQLq5i39Af8/edit (direct link to the activity) PLUS – An alternative way to organize the “Friendship Dinner” activity - https://www.ngpf.org/blog/activities/how-one-teacher-customizes-the-plan-a-friendsgiving-dinner-project/

“Decorate Your Classroom by Harvesting Financial Wisdom”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2025, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/curriculum-announcements/decorate-your-classroom-with-harvesting-financial-wisdom/

“Economic Marvels: The Economics of Small Turkey Farms”, Foundation for Economic Education, Nov 2024, https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Ra39LOr8m1kSOm8jG1vpg4cranmtP5FX6fFTYZfTfxg/edit? (slides) and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yXQOA3vRnhunZx68zOTU4AT3hlMlFR_iamBG1GiJUco/edit?tab=t.0 (student worksheet)

“Feast and Finance: A New Thanksgiving Picture Puzzle”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2023, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/curriculum-announcements/feast-and-finance-a-new-thanksgiving-picture-puzzle/ (blog article w/links) and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R4IdMKiBM0pzhXf2a-1w5ZrdswozdxA9fkGhwFWhXnc/edit (direct link to the activity)

“Fincap Friday: Deals for Days”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoYeFrfLZiY (video) and https://www.ngpf.org/blog/fincap-friday/fincap-friday-deals-for-days/

“FinCap Friday: Prices Have Grown for Food at Home”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2022, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/fincap-friday/fincap-friday-prices-have-grown-for-food-at-home/ (blog article) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikiY4RsMPx8 (YouTube link).

“Fincap Friday: The Turkey Price Spike”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUSwVomar-Q (video) and https://www.ngpf.org/blog/fincap-friday/fincap-friday-the-turkey-price-spike/ (blog article w/links)

“Fincap Friday: Turkey Talk” (from Next Gen Personal Finance), Nov 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIyliy1jNXc (video) and https://www.ngpf.org/blog/fincap-friday/fincap-friday-turkey-talk/ (blog article w/links)

“Happy Thanksgiving!” (video and lesson plan – requires registration), Stossel in the Classroom, Nov 2017, https://stosselintheclassroom.org/happy_thanksgiving/

“Harvest Ceremony: Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth”, National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian), 2023, https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/nmai_harvest_study_guide.pdf

“Let’s Talk Turkey: Inflation and the Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner”, EconEdLink (from the Council for Economic Education), Nov 2025, https://econedlink.org/resources/lets-talk-turkey-the-cost-of-thanksgiving-dinner/

“No Extra Room on the Mayflower”, EconEdLink (from the Council for Economic Education), Nov 2025, https://econedlink.org/resources/no-extra-room-on-the-mayflower/

“Podcasts in the Classroom - Holiday Shopping Spree”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Dec 2021, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/podcasts-in-the-classroom/podcasts-in-the-classroom-holiday-shopping-spree/

“Question of the Day: Are consumers expected to spend more on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2023, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/question-of-the-day/qod-when-do-consumers-do-more-online-shopping-black-friday-or-cyber-monday/

“Question of the Day: What percent of Gen Z holiday shoppers plan to shop during Thanksgiving week?”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2024, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/question-of-the-day/question-of-the-day-what-percent-of-black-friday-shoppers-expected-to-shop-online/

“Question of the Day: What percent of Black Friday shoppers expected to shop online?”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2020, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/question-of-the-day/question-of-the-day-what-percent-of-black-friday-shoppers-expected-to-shop-online/

“Question of the Day: What’s The Cost of a Thanksgiving Dinner for 10 in 2021?”, NextGen Personal Finance (NGPF), Nov 2021, https://www.ngpf.org/blog/budgeting/question-of-the-day-whats-the-cost-of-a-thanksgiving-dinner-for-ten-in-2021/

Thanksgiving articles/resources from economists' blogs:

“A quick look at the economics around Thanksgiving”, Monday Morning Economist, Nov 2021, https://www.mondayeconomist.com/p/thanksgiving

“The Case of the Cheaper Dinner That Costs More”, Monday Morning Economist, Nov 2025, https://www.mondayeconomist.com/p/walmart-thanksgiving

“Econlife Quiz: Do You Know Your Thanksgiving Economics?”, Econlife, Nov 2021, https://econlife.com/2021/11/econlife-quiz-do-you-know-your-thanksgiving-economics/

“Gratitude, Giving, and Community”, Monday Morning Economist, Nov 2024, https://www.mondayeconomist.com/p/gratitude-giving-and-community

“How Presidents Changed Thanksgiving”, Econlife, Nov 2022, https://econlife.com/2022/11/how-preidents-changed-thanksgiving/

“How Thanksgiving became the most popular day of the year to run a 5K: the history and economics of the Turkey Trot”, The Hustle, Nov 2018, https://thehustle.co/thanksgiving-turkey-trot/

“How Thanksgiving Teaches the Economics of Sharing: The Tragedy of the Commons Explained”, Stossel in the Classroom, Nov 2024, https://stosselintheclassroom.org/blog/how-thanksgiving-teaches-the-economics-of-sharing-the-tragedy-of-the-commons-explained/

“The Mystery of the Falling Turkey Prices”, Econlife, Nov 2024, https://econlife.com/2024/11/thanksgiving-dinner-2/

“The Pilgrims’ Real Thanksgiving Lesson”, Independent Institute, Nov 2022, https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=1423

“Thanksgiving Top Ten List for 2024”, Econlife, Nov 2024, https://econlife.com/2024/11/a-top-ten-list-for-thanksgiving/

“The Top Ten Economic Ideas That Explain Thanksgiving”, Econlife, Nov 2022, https://econlife.com/2022/11/the-thanksgiving-top-ten-economic-ideas/

“The Unknown Significance of Thanksgiving Day”, Econlife, Nov 2024, https://econlife.com/2024/11/significance-of-thanksgiving/

Other general ECON/PFL/Social Studies articles/resources on Thanksgiving weekend “holidays”:

“Are marshmallows candy? It’s a sticky question for state sales taxes” (article or podcast episode), Marketplace, Nov 2022, https://www.marketplace.org/2022/11/22/marshmallows-candy-state-sales-taxes/

“Black Friday Shopping Could Look Different This Year, Experts Say”, NerdWallet, Nov 2023, https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/black-friday-shopping-could-look-different-this-year-experts-say

“Black Friday: What It Means to Economists and to You”, Investopedia, Nov 2023, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blackfriday.asp

“Black Friday Shopping Statistics”, Capital One Shopping Research, Oct 2025, https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/black-friday-statistics/

“The classist vilification of the Black Friday shopper”, VOX.com, Nov 2018, https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/20/18103890/black-friday-shopping-coverage-classism-racism

“Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Declines – Remains Higher Than Pre-Pandemic Levels”, Farm Bureau, Nov 2024, https://www.fb.org/news-release/cost-of-thanksgiving-dinner-declines-remains-higher-than-pre-pandemic-levels

“Cyber Monday Shopping Statistics”, Capital One Shopping Research, Oct 2025, https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/cyber-monday-statistics/

“Cyber Monday online sales hit a record $11.3B, driven by demand, not just inflation, says Adobe”, Tech Crunch, Nov 2022, https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/29/cyber-monday-online-sales/

“The Expected Cost of your Thanksgiving Turkey in 2025”, Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability, Oct 2025, https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/chew-on-this/the-expected-cost-of-your-thanksgiving-turkey-in-2025/

“For a Stress-Free Thanksgiving, Try These Mail-Order Dishes”, Wall Street Journal, Nov 2025, https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/stress-free-thanksgiving-try-mail-order-dishes-0b7db056?

“The History of Cyber Monday and what to expect in 2023”, NBC News, updated Nov 2023, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ncWYvjOZ_dEeWkQQcJ6J4vLcbj1G12su/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104789806294699697486&rtpof=true&sd=true

“Mayonnaise eggnog? Here’s why brands still gamble on wacky food promotions” (article or podcast episode), Marketplace, Dec 2022, https://www.marketplace.org/2022/12/06/mayonnaise-eggnog-heres-why-brands-still-gamble-on-wacky-food-promotions/

“MillionBazillion: What Is Black Friday?” (article or podcast episode), Marketplace, Nov 2024, https://www.marketplace.org/episode/2024/11/19/what-is-black-friday

“On the menu this Thanksgiving: the busiest air travel weekend in 18 years”, MarketWatch, Nov 2023, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-the-busiest-air-travel-weekend-in-18-years-06223899?mod=search_headline

“The Only Thanksgiving Tradition That Matters: The Family Touch Football Game”, Wall Street Journal, Nov 2024, https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/thanksgiving-family-touch-football-game-rules-jason-gay-e9ffd7db?

“Opinion: Who needs to rush into stores on Black Friday? I shop by catalog instead.”, MarketWatch, Nov 2023, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-needs-to-shop-online-heres-why-im-still-hooked-on-catalogs-8ab38e49

“Small Business Saturday helps retailers who aren’t caught in the supply chain” (article or podcast episode), Marketplace, Nov 2022, https://www.marketplace.org/2021/11/26/small-business-saturday-helps-retailers-who-arent-caught-in-the-supply-chain/

“Thanksgiving guest etiquette 101”, CNN and Food Network, Nov 2023, https://www.cnn.com/wbd/thanksgiving-guest-etiquette-101/index.html

“Thanksgiving Leftovers for Days? That’s Just the Way These People Like It”, Nov 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/thanksgiving-leftovers-for-days-thats-just-the-way-these-people-like-it-11669383942?

“Thanksgiving Was Born From America’s Struggles, Nov 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/thanksgiving-history-america-civil-war-pilgrims-11669219163?

“What Is Cyber Monday? History and Milestones”, Investopedia, Nov 2024, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cybermonday.asp

“What to Buy (and Skip) in November 2025”, Nerd Wallet, Nov 2025, https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/what-to-buy-this-month

“Why retailers still see Black Friday as the high point of the holiday shopping season”, Associated Press (AP), Nov 2024, https://apnews.com/article/black-friday-2024-holiday-shopping-season-c51d6d0435fd3d1c959fbc1fc815fe87

“Winter Holidays Data and Trends”, National Retail Federation, Nov 2025, https://nrf.com/research-insights/holiday-data-and-trends/winter-holidays