The Indians and Penguins

It's getting close to Thanksgiving, y'all. And even closer to November 30th, the last day in my little country classroom for my student teaching internship!

Of course, closing in on the Thanksgiving Holiday wouldn't be complete if you didn't have your kiddos learning about the First Thanksgiving and the Native Americans (Or Indians) and the Penguins...

What? Your kids don't know about the Penguins and the Indians? For shame!

I must admit, I was unaware of that Penguins made an appearance at Plymouth Rock... but who am I to say that they weren't there? Take Student 1 in my classroom... during our class discussion about Thanksgiving.

Ms. Greer: "Who can tell me why we celebrate Thanksgiving?"
Student 1: "Oh, Ms. G, we celebrate Thanksgiving because the Indians came to teach the penguins all about blowing up the land."
Ms. Greer: (Long pause....) "The who, sweetheart?"
Student 1: "The PENGUINS... and the INDIANS..." (very over-dramatic response)
Ms. Greer: "Oh. The penguins (Duh, the penguins!).  And they did what?"
Student 1:  The Indians had to come meet up with the Penguins because they didn't know anything and the Indians taught them how to blow up the land."
Ms. Greer: "Okay, _____ Thank you for that...Please write more about that in your journal today."

There was really no need for this student to write about it... It was more for my entertainment value :) But, this student had the main idea... just Penguins instead of Pilgrims. And blowing up, instead of Plowing.

So, Happy Thanksgiving, from my classroom, to yours! And I hope that all of your "penguins" are well fed!