Pilgrim Day

What a fun idea!  Jefferson's teacher planned an all day activity where her students from grades 2-3 and Gillian's class mates from grades 4-5 spent a day as pilgrim kids.  This was the best field-trip I've been to that taught the children the most about why we celebrate Thanksgiving and who were these pilgrims that we read so much about.  The girls were asked to dress in black outfits and the boys in white shirts.  The teacher provided collars, hats and vests for the boys, and aprons and bonnets for the girls.  They all seemed so interested in this activity that it made me happy to see students enjoying learning without mocking something that is part of our heritage.  Being the designated photographer, I was fortunate to see all the activities and groups learning, having fun, and just plain enjoying themselves.

We started by having the 4-5 grade teacher read to the kids two accounts of the pilgrim life, one from the perspective of a young girl and one from that of a young boy.  They were quite fascinating and very different since boys and girls had different jobs and responsibilities then.

After the stories were read, the students were divided in groups of 5 or 6 and sent to different centers.

There was the table for learning how to write in ink with a feather pen.  The children were asked to practice copying parts of the Mayflower Compact, the first American government agreement.

 

A group was assigned to learn how to beat rugs, wash and wring clothes, peel and cook potatoes and carrots, and learn how to shoot guns.

 

 

Jefferson wanted a picture with me shooting guns.  You can tell he knows what he is doing way more than I do.

The children learned that the pilgrim kids didn't just do work and chores, but they had fun playing games, making their own dolls and cards, and eating good food.

All the groups had a turn with each center, and we took three different breaks in between chores, games, and learning - one for snacks, one for class pictures, and one for Thanksgiving dinner.

Jefferson's class (2-3)

Gillian's class (4-5)

All four classes

After everyone had enough to eat, Jefferson's teacher had each child take their turn at the village stocks demonstrating how the early colonials publicly humiliated offenders.  Some kids had hard time with it because they were too short, and some because they had big heads or fat necks.  Gillian and Jefferson fit just right, but they didn't like it regardless.

As soon as everyone had a turn at the stocks, and some more than once because for some reason they thought that was hilarious, we divided the kids into two groups and had them do target shooting with bow and arrow.  The kids really enjoyed this activity, and they urged us the parents to try it as well.  I, of course, was the first, but with no success.  The kinds of bows we were using had no strings; the arrow would hook up in the front of the bow and you pulled that.  I didn't have enough strength to pull the arrow far enough to shoot my target, but few of the parents, including the teacher did a good job.  Only one parent and two students however were able to hit the target, and in the end there was only Jefferson and me who kept going till we got the target.  The rest of the parents gave up.  Jefferson and I kept laughing at our ambitious selves who just couldn't let go and accept defeat graciously.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Funny Garmons.

We had some apple pie to soothe our losing spirits, and then the teacher talked to the classes about pilgrims, Thanksgiving, and the importance of our heritage.  This had been a fabulous day, and the kids not only got to learn new things about pilgrims, but they enjoyed themselves in the process.