Thanksgiving

Each year Room 221 and I spend the morning before Thanksgiving exploring a wonderful website. Due to scheduling, we were note able to spend time on it today, but I wanted to share it with you in case you and your child are interested.

 Do you want to know the truths and myths about Thanksgiving? Plymouth Plantation has created a website to teach you the truth about Pilgrims and Native Americans. So much of what we know is based on ONE letter about "the first Thanksgiving" written by a Pilgrim in 1621. The children can learn that this primary source gives us some answers, but also leaves historians with many questions. Let your third grader learn about it at:

http://www.plimoth.org/education/olc/index_js2.html

The Room 221 community discussed what Thanksgiving means to different people. Although I encouraged children to celebrate and enjoy their own traditions with family, I also asked them to pause and remember that not all people celebrate Thanksgiving. Some families who are relatively new to this country do not choose to celebrate the holiday. In addition, many Native Americans don't choose to celebrate Thanksgiving because they consider it a Day of Mourning.

Whatever you choose to do tomorrow, I hope you enjoy time with your family.