Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Kindergarten prepares lessons in giving thanks Date: Thu, 26 Nov 92 15:00:28 EST Message-ID: Lines: 77 \SE E;LIFE \HD Kindergarten prepares lessons in giving thanks \BY Laura Outerbridge \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Ask a bunch of 5-year-olds their favorite thing about Thanksgiving and the answer is: "Turkey!" In Susan Anderson's kindergarten class at East Silver Spring Elementary this week, that reply had particular resonance. The youngsters worked several days before the holiday to prepare a full turkey feast, and they learned a thing or two about thankfulness and hospitality along the way. Monday morning the classroom was abuzz with preparation. Youngsters at one table peeled apples with careful concentration, then handed them to parent volunteers who chopped them and placed them in a pot, where they eventually were reduced to applesauce. In another area, eager hands helped stir together cornmeal, milk and molasses for an Indian corn pudding. And in a quiet corner, the students drew colorful pictures on invitations they would later hand-deliver to a few lucky adults at the school. On Tuesday there was more cooking and preparation. Wednesday was the appointed day for the whole class to sit down to a lunchtime turkey feast with invited guests. "For kindergarteners, it's more important to talk about what's happening today than in the past," Miss Anderson said. Preparing the feast amounted to more than just cooking lessons, she explained. "They needed to make a choice of who to thank from the school," including the music teacher, the principal, the teacher from the lunchroom, the school's cleanup crew. From the etiquette of invitation delivery to seating the guests on Feast Day, Miss Anderson carefully coached her charges in the rituals of hospitality. "There's a lot to inviting someone" to dine with you and "anticipating peoples' needs," she said. "But they do very well." Admittedly, the little ones did get a bit rambunctious. At the corn pudding table, some helpers greased their tongues almost as much as the baking pan. When the grownups took over for the pouring and beating steps, the little ones lapsed into playful wrestling and tickling. But when someone asked them what they're thankful for, they paused to stare with wide eyes. "For my Mom," said Adrian Turner, lapsing into giggles. "Me," declared Emma Garten with a serious expression. This is a question the students have been considering for several days. Around the room, they have posted "thankful baskets": drawings of their favorite people and things framed by construction paper baskets. Several youngsters drew friends from class. One artist sketched "me and Mom" under a colorful rainbow. Another unsigned work showed "my mommy, my bedroom and my books." Someone else, perhaps confused by the basket, drew the Easter Bunny. Later, after the last apple was in the pot and the corn pudding was safely in the cafeteria oven, the teacher and her students sat down to sing a song about being thankful. "There are many things I'm thankful for, I can find them near or far," they sang. "I'm thankful for the Earth, I'm thankful for the sea." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM