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.”