Thanksgiving Feast for Southdown School Kindergarteners
Southdown School kindergarteners just couldn’t wait for their Thanksgiving feast, singing songs and stuffing themselves with piles of turkey and all the trimmings several days in advance
First the youngsters studied about the origins of Thanksgiving in America, taking a closer look at the natives that settlers found populating this land and how the two groups came together nearly four centuries ago to share a common meal.
The boys and girls memorized and rehearsed humorous and fun turkey-themed songs they later performed for family members and friends in the school gym, which was specially decorated for the occasion. They played an authentic Native American lummi stick game for the crowd and even performed a “heartwarming” thank-you song, said Principal Michelle Marino.
Long tables were brought into the gym and adorned with handmade placemats. Then, with the youngsters wearing traditional Thanksgiving costumes they made themselves, a feast of turkey and all the works was served up by the food service staff.
Southdown kindergarten teachers made sure the event wasn’t just for show, crafting lessons about the foods, dress, customs and culture of the early American settlers and the Native Americans that lived here for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the Europeans.
Another aspect of settler life that teachers and students focused upon had to do with the constant hard work that was common during the era. The Pilgrims didn’t have many opportunities to take it easy. Yet, they didn’t hesitate to consider themselves very fortunate. Thus, a day was set aside to “give thanks” and come together with others.
Like Thanksgiving in America, the Southdown kindergarten feast is a tradition at the school and Mrs. Marino hopes it continues for years to come. “The children really do enjoy it,” she said.
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