When we think of Thanksgiving events that Primary Schools have, most of us think of children dressing up like Pilgrims and Native Americans and eating some sort of food. At Alhambra Primary, our first graders experience The First Thanksgiving as if they were actually a child at the event! On the last day of school the week of Thanksgiving, students participate in a “Thanksgiving Village” full of opportunities for learning!
Approximately two weeks prior to the “Thanksgiving Village” experience, students are taken on a series of several “virtual field trips.” These 20 minute field trips are online videos that have a tour of a Mayflower replica, a visit to Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, and actual discussions with members of the Wampanog Tribe who are still alive today!
To start the Thanksgiving Village
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While the Native Americans did not make boats from soap. Native American boys were taught to use fire and other tools to make a “burned out” canoe. Native American boys built small boats that could not actually be used by anyone out of small pieces of wood. This craft, became a life skill as they became men.
Next, came the food center. In the food center, students experienced foods that were actually served at the First Thanksgiving. While history tells us that some game birds were served at the first Thanksgiving, it also teaches us that five deer were actually the main course. Foods like cranberries, cabbage, squash seeds/squash, carrots and herring were served. These foods were served to each first grader on a plate for sampling. Of course, there was some deer sausage for sampling as well.
After that, students made coil pots. Coil pots were made by the Wampanog (the name of the Indian tribe who helped the pilgrims). Their coil pots were used for carrying food and water. While our first graders made the pots out of air dry clay, it was a fun experience to learn how the pots were