by Celina Trujillo
While preparing for teaching about Thanksgiving last November, I’m pretty sure I did more research and learning prior to then and since. Something about feeling solely responsible for my children’s education for the first time motivated me to get my facts straight.
For my own children’s education about social studies and history I want to provide more context than I felt I got as a student and also emphasize more about social justice, cultural studies, diversity, inclusivity, tolerance, and the link to our Christian faith (whether that paints Christians in a positive or negative light).
Below I review some resources that helped me and my children think more critically about the historical event that we’ve come to know of as a first Thanksgiving.
For ease and accessibility, I recommend anything by Plimoth Plantation. Located in Massachusetts, it’s a museum/recreation of what the first colony of the same name would have looked like in about 1627.
For those of us in Central Illinois who can’t take a field trip there this week, their online resources are fantastic. Children will especially enjoy the video game (I use that term loosely) “You are the Historian”, where they will virtually explore the Plantation, investigate one of only two only primary sources of information about the first harvest feast, and hear about the Wampanoag people and their culture, particular their traditions of giving thanks. Last year, my 5 year old learned and remembered a lot from these online videos and from another one that we checked out from the library.
In addition to the Plimoth Plantation materials, I just piece-mealed what I taught about colonists, Native Americans and Thanksgiving. I used some basic principles from “Teaching Young Children about Native Americans.” While I don’t think it is a comprehensive list of what to do and what not to do, it really got me starting to think and question. If my child were in regular school too, I think this would help me guide (be it supplement or challenge) what my children are learning outside my home about America’s native peoples.
For a more Native perpective, “The Real Story of Thankgiving” is informative and heart-wrenching. The final section “The Plymouth Thanksgiving Story” is written for children and should be required reading in my opinion. For a more Pilgram perspective, “Thanksgiving on the Net: Roast Bull and Cranberry Sauce” attempts to set the record straight about common myths surrounding Thanksgiving by reviewing over 200 websites. It is cumbersome read at times, but at least skim the main headings and some text. It certainly helped me identify some myths that I incorrectly assumed to be true. As with the previous reference, knowing the bias of the author is important in assessing the value of the piece, and a good lesson to pass on to the kids too!
As we approached Thanksgiving week this year, my husband commented that we haven’t really “taught” anything about it yet. No, we have not done any formal lessons on the historical event and national holiday. Instead, we have emphasized truly being thankful.
Reflecting on what we are thankful for, as a family and as individuals, has become part of our daily discussions and prayers. It’s so simple I almost feel guilty about it, but it has set a great tone in our household that is so needed to replace the hecticness that can characterize our winter holidays and our homeschool. Thanksgiving looks so different comparing this year and last year, but both have been equally valuable learning experiences for our family, and for that, I am thankful.
Celina Trujillo has lived in Urbana since 1998, when she started attending the University of Illinois. Three degrees and one job later, she recently decided to put it all on hold to start homeschooling and homemaking full-time. Her blog, Squawks of a Mama Bird, records the learning process of this unexpected new adventure for her family.