Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Today we have been getting ready for our Thanksgiving Feast.   We practiced our songs and took all our art work off the wall for an art show to keep you busy while we wait on lunch or other friends to arrive.   Here is the plan:

11:35---- The kids will start singing. Should only take 5 - 7 minutes so if you are late, you will mss it.

As soon as the kids finish singing we will bless our food and eat.  

After you eat you are encouraged ( or begged... however you choose to look at it ) to take your little indian with you to get started on your holiday early .  

We also made Indian Headdresses today .   I dont think the kids feel they have properly celebrated Thanksgiving without feathers growing out of their head!  

Another fun thing we did today was watch " Charlie Browns Thanksgiving" and a little cartoon about the first Thanksgiving.  I dont like to use movies but I do believe sometime they help the children to understand more.  

Elliot said  he learned that the people went across the big seas on the Mayflower and built houses.  

Gavin said - Some people died.

Clara said   : The kids saw a snake.  ( and they did...)

Rosie said : They found a  turkey.

I was surprised by some of the facts on there.  Did you know that only 2 people died on the voyage over and a baby was born?  Most of the adults died once they docked and that started from an illness.  None of the children died.  That actually doesnt surprise me.  Some died from lack of nutrition and I bet there were many moms that gave up a meal for a child. 

Here are some more interesting facts that can add some lively conversation at the Thanksgiving table:

Turkeys have heart attacks! According to studies done by the Air Force it's true. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead! (www.homearistole.net)

The first Thanksgiving lasted three days. According to Edward Winslow the first Thanksgiving feast consisted of the following: Corn, Barley, Wild Turkey and Venison. Over 52 Pilgrims attended the first Thanksgiving which was held in 1621.

Puritans on the Mayflower used to drink bear. 

It was not until 1941 that congress declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday. It was declared to be on the fourth Thursday of each November. 

The president to declare the first "National Day of Thanksgiving" in 1789 was George Washington. 

The 'wishbone' of the turkey is used as a good luck symbol by many people on Thanksgiving. 

Turkeys can adapt to a variety of environments. Most turkeys are found in harwood forests with grassy areas. 

The best time to see a turkey is on a warm clear day or during light rain. 

The First American Thanksgiving Day parade was held in 1920. It was organized by Gimbel's Department Store in Philadelphia. It was not Macy's as many people believe. The NY Macy's Parade actually came a few years later in 1924 and has grown to a parade that's viewed by millions. 

The wild turkey is native to northern Mexico and eastern United States. 

91% of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving Day. 

50 percent of Americans put the stuffing inside the Turkey. 

Twenty percent of cranberries eaten are eaten on Thanksgiving. 

Well there are lots more facts but this is enough to get started. This year as you sit around the table test your families knowledge about these fun and interesting Thanksgiving facts!

3 comments:

  1. Is there any way you can post the days off for December? I cant seem to remember what they are.
    Also, is there an online book order going on right now?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I will get that together now!

    No book order right now. I will let you know when I open another.

    ReplyDelete
  3. hay I was not surprised that Rosie tolked about the food end of it!

    ReplyDelete