Understanding Thanksgiving a Must at CET

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The students of Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School are thankful for more than toys and material objects. Many students have spent the week leading up to Thanksgiving vacation learning about the history, and meaning of the holiday.

“I’m thankful for my family and friends, because they take care of me,” said Colgan O’Keefe, a fourth grade student at Carrie E. Tompkins.

Thanksgiving activities at the school included a feast, where each class made a separate dish and had to share it with the school, reading books and learning the history of the feast. Even math problems were turkey-centric the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Fourth grade students are given especially in-depth lessons about the history of Thanksgiving, as the fourth grade curriculum focuses on Native Americans. “They learned all the history, they learned all the work the pilgrim kids had to do,” said Gina Glynn, a fourth grade teacher.

Even Kevin Flynn, physical education teacher at the school, asked students what they were thankful for. He posted index cards on a bulletin board, and children could volunteer to write what they were thankful for.

“Using it this way you get the kids more involved,” said Flynn, “You get some really interesting answers. The order is what I notice most.” He said that while moms and dads are frequently on the list, sometimes the family pet is number one.

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