diff --git a/models/comment_thread.rb b/models/comment_thread.rb
index 2ca168df440..d49331459c5 100644
--- a/models/comment_thread.rb
+++ b/models/comment_thread.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def endorsed?
   end
 
   def to_hash(params={})
-    as_document.slice(*%w[thread_type title body course_id anonymous anonymous_to_peers commentable_id created_at updated_at at_position_list closed context])
+    as_document.slice(*%w[thread_type title body course_id anonymous anonymous_to_peers commentable_id created_at updated_at at_position_list closed context last_activity_at])
         .merge('id' => _id,
                'user_id' => author_id,
                'username' => author_username,
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 04cdd4982c2..cab9804f364 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def check_thread_result(user, thread, hash, is_json=false)
   expected_keys = %w(id thread_type title body course_id commentable_id created_at updated_at context)
   expected_keys += %w(anonymous anonymous_to_peers at_position_list closed user_id)
   expected_keys += %w(username votes abuse_flaggers tags type group_id pinned)
-  expected_keys += %w(comments_count unread_comments_count read endorsed)
+  expected_keys += %w(comments_count unread_comments_count read endorsed last_activity_at)
   # these keys are checked separately, when desired, using check_thread_response_paging.
   actual_keys = hash.keys - [
       "children", "endorsed_responses", "non_endorsed_responses", "resp_skip",
@@ -197,9 +197,11 @@ def check_thread_result(user, thread, hash, is_json=false)
     hash["id"].should == thread._id.to_s
     hash["created_at"].should == thread.created_at.utc.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
     hash["updated_at"].should == thread.updated_at.utc.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
+    hash["last_activity_at"].should == thread.last_activity_at.utc.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
   else
     hash["created_at"].should == thread.created_at
     hash["updated_at"].should == thread.updated_at
+    hash["last_activity_at"].should == thread.last_activity_at
   end
 
   if user.nil?