Published: November 21, 2007 09:48 pm            

SLIDE SHOW: Thanksgiving at Wallace

Students at Wallace Elementary gathered on Wednesday dressed as Pilgrims and Indians feasting on traditional thanksgiving foods.

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Wallace Elementary School second-grader Lauryn Conner has a reason to be thankful this season.

“I’m thankful I get a new brother,” she said.

Her new little brother, who will be named David, is expected by Dec. 1.

Wednesday, Lauryn, along with the first- and second-grade classes at Wallace Elementary, shared what they are thankful for, and also tasted some Thanksgiving treats they made. The second-graders wore American Indian costumes, with vests made from brown paper bags and headbands created during a field trip to the Benjamin Harrison Home in Indianapolis.

The first-graders were pilgrims, wearing white paper collars tied around their necks. The girls wore white paper hats, while boys wore black hats with gold paper buckles.

Teacher Vicky Martin said this is the first year for the Thanksgiving celebration for the two grade levels. Each teacher did activities meeting state standards in reading, math and social studies, and each class made food to share, including corn bread, succotash, butter, applesauce and popcorn balls.

Students said they were surprised to learn that the Pilgrims did not know how to grow their food, and the American Indians had to help them. Second-grader Camron Fuller also was interested to learn that the American Indians did not have fishing poles, but shot arrows into the water with a bow to catch fish.

Before their feast, the children read poems or shared what they are thankful for this season.

First-grader Maren Thornbury is thankful for “my big sister” Kaitlin, who is coming home for Thanksgiving.

“I don’t get to see her that often,” she said.

Emmalee Ferguson, a second-grader, is thankful for her teacher, reading and her dog, Croina, who is a lab mix.

First-grader Radlee Besser said he’s thankful for food, especially his favorite Thanksgiving dish, turkey.

Camron Fuller is thankful for his family, food and his life.

He likes Thanksgiving because “you get to see all your family. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.”

        

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