Teaching Traditions

by Susan Chapman

Thanksgiving traditions are beginning to take root in young minds at Mint Canyon Community School in Canyon Country. First-grade students in Mrs. Tess Toledo’s class offer interesting insights into how they spend their autumn holiday.
Some students, newcomers to the United States, haven’t yet celebrated the quintessential American feast. Victoria, like some of her classmates, says that her family hasn’t celebrated Thanksgiving, but that she would like to, while Froilan, whose family recently arrived from Mexico, says that he and his family celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time last year. “We had turkey and a big party with everyone who’s here – my family and our aunts and cousins.” He adds, “When I think of Thanksgiving, I like to think of the Indians from a long time ago. I’ve seen movies about it, and I’d like to see a real Thanksgiving, where people dress up like Pilgrims and Indians.”
Mrs. Toledo notes that the children will have an opportunity to see such a reenactment. “Each year, we have a grade-level feast that is so large, we need to celebrate in the hallway,” she says. “The students decorate their own costumes, with some dressing up as Pilgrims and others as Native Americans. We also try to share with them the importance of having something that we’re grateful for, the importance in general of thankfulness. And we talk with the children about the first Thanksgiving, how the Native Americans helped the Pilgrims learn to grow crops and settle.”
Of her own Thanksgiving festivities, Mrs. Toledo says with a smile, “We actually have two Thanksgivings, one for each side of the family. There’s a lot of food. It’s a real eating fest!”
Apparently, the teacher is not the only person in the classroom who thinks of Thanksgiving in this way. Another of Mrs. Toledo’s students, Chance, says football is a big part of his day, but not as big as the food. “I eat a lot of turkey. A lot.”
His classmate, Chloe, takes it one step further, “My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the food. I eat mine and my sister’s.”
Among the children who have celebrated Thanksgiving Day, one traditional favorite on the dinner table stands out among the rest: “Pie!” Seth exclaims, speaking for much of the group. “On Thanksgiving, my mom makes really good turkey, rice, and fried beans with chips. But I love pie. And my mom makes the best.”

Photos by Kathy Cleversley