A Native American Thanksgiving
Christine Carrillo
Adorned in “authentic” paper bag vests, colorful headdresses made
from construction paper and noodle necklaces, kindergartners at Star
View Elementary School simulated the everyday lives of Native
Americans last week to bring their nearly four-week lesson to life.
Groups of students gathered at four different stations learning
such skills as weaving, pottery, fishing and gathering while
simultaneously -- and quite conspicuously -- learning to implement
their recent knowledge of measuring, graphing, writing and social
studies.
“The link is to learn about the holidays by comparing and
contrasting then and now,” said Kathleen Geber, an afternoon
kindergarten teacher at the school. “They’ve been learning about it
in books, and it helps kids understand when they work hands on. ...
It seems more real.”
While the various activities gave students a chance to recreate
some of the duties of the Native Americans, they were also cleverly
aware that they had the aid and benefit of their teachers.
“We had to make the pots, but [our teacher is] here in case we
need help,” said 5-year-old Kevin Ingram, who was working at the
pottery station.
By teaching the children about the ways of the Native Americans
and challenges of the Pilgrims, the teachers said they hope that the
students will gain a better understanding of the holiday feast and
Thanksgiving as a whole.
The kindergartners not only learned how the Native Americans
prepared their food, but they got a chance to do some of the same
food preparation themselves.
As part of the simulation, the kindergarteners had to gather
cranberries hidden in the field for cranberry sauce, they had to
crush corn kernels for cornbread and had to fish in a lake, which
looked more like a trough, for their seafood. The students, who also
learned about Native American language by drawing symbols, customized
their attire and the bear skins they had made out of construction
paper to further immerse themselves in the culture.
With the book lessons behind them, the kindergartners were able to
put what they learned into action. The reward for their new-found
knowledge was a Thanksgiving feast at school.
“It’s kind of like an evolution with a fall theme,” said Kristi
Hickman, the principal at Star View. “The kids are like sponges. They
don’t even know because they’re having fun, but they’re taking it all
in.”
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