I focus on what is common to the children in my classroom: that we look forward to a special family meal. This is a difficult year to use the two books I generally bring out, and perhaps this brings up the issue of COVID safety and adaptation more than the issues of the holiday itself.
For future reference, the books I love are:
Feast for 10, Cathryn Falwell, a counting book about a family that shops for, prepares and then shares a fantastic meal. This book has it all: a simple narrative sequence with funny bits that show character development, a family turning chores into fun, counting, foodways, and fantastic illustrations. This book is also important to anti-bias teaching in that the family is Black, simply because they are Black, not because there is a "lesson" about Blackness. Lots to love about this book.
The Lion's Share, Matthew McElligott, for older PreK and early grades. A story told in a folk tale style about sharing a meal where some characters are being very greedy, yet lacking in self-awareness. The kids are in on the joke, so they love it. Again with the math! I use paper cutting and block building and work through the book in sections. For the family meal issue, only the first half the book is relevant. We act out the process, letting the kids figure out how to cut a fair share of a (paper) cake. The essential issue is manners: how to take a reasonable portion of a dish as it is passed around, family style. How do you calculate a fair portion? What is fair for different sized animals (people.) This book offers a chance for high level conversations which combine social emotional learning with numeracy (and cake!)
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Karen Lefkovitz
Independent Consultant
Philadelphia PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-17-2020 01:45 PM
From: Anita Prentice
Subject: what to teach this thanksgiving?
I agree Barbara. I have found this Website very helpful for years - www.oyate.org. A site run by Native Americans, it reviews any and all children's books with an Indian theme and recommends those that are authentic. They also have an accurate account of the first Thanksgiving.
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Anita Prentice
Interim Director
St. Philip's Nursery School
Garrison NY
Original Message:
Sent: 11-16-2020 12:22 AM
From: Barbara Gallios
Subject: what to teach this thanksgiving?
Why teach anything about a holiday which started as a celebration of thanks for the massacre of 400 native people, men, women, and children? I won't teach anything about "Thanksgiving" because none of the awful truth is age appropriate for small children, and I refuse to perpetuate lies. I will read age appropriate books about native culture, such as Fry Bread and The Jingle Dancer. We will practice gratitude all year long, but not within the context of Thanksgiving. If the children ask why we are not celebrating Thanksgiving, we will talk about how some native, and also some Black, people feel very sad at Thanksgiving time. We will put our energy into showing them we care.
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Barbara Gallios
PreK Teacher
Presidio Early Education School
San Francisco CA
Original Message:
Sent: 11-15-2020 01:38 AM
From: Beth Posey
Subject: what to teach this thanksgiving?
I've been teaching for more than 35 years, and this year I wonder what history, what "facts" people will be sharing this Thanksgiving season with students? I, of course, will talk about gratitude, and about family and traditions - but how do we address our country's history, in light of an awareness of all people's history?
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Beth Posey
DIrector
Calvary Children's School
Arlington VA
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