Students Chart Pilgrims’ Progress in Re-Creation of 1st Thanksgiving

With about 100 giddy children dressed like Pilgrims aboard, a mock Mayflower set sail Wednesday through the halls of Gilbert Elementary School.

The voyage culminated with a landing at a classroom called “Plymouth Rock” and a rowdy Thanksgiving feast with almost 200 other kindergarten through third-grade students, who were dressed like Native Americans.

Teachers said they organized the annual event as part of lessons on history and social studies, but the children were clearly most interested in playacting.

Reliving the original Pilgrim voyage celebrated the spirit of Thanksgiving, a holiday that is important “because that’s when America became a state,” said Peggy Bebe, 8.

During their trek, the youngsters crowded into the Mayflower, a painted paper ship about the length of three pickup trucks.

As crowds of parents, other students, news crews and photographers watched from the lawn nearby, the ship moved through the school’s hallways, its passengers chatting excitedly about the voyage. One Pilgrim peered through a paper telescope and exclaimed that he had seen a sea monster--actually a reporter.

Dressed in a white paper frock and bonnet, Nancy Pearson, 9, shuffled forward at the front of the ship, helping guide it. “It’s fun to do something like this. You get to act it out instead of read it in books,” she said.

At times, the gleeful voyage seemed almost as bumpy a ride as a true sea crossing. Children sporadically stepped on portions of the Mayflower, which dragged on the ground, causing it to snag and jerk forward. In a scene perhaps reminiscent of the original Mayflower’s voyage, one Pilgrim cried out: “Hey, who’s steering this thing?”

After several minutes, the ship came to rest in front of a classroom marked “Plymouth Rock,” and the youngsters disembarked. The excited Native Americans and Pilgrims then jostled into line for a feast of orange slices, banana bread and butter-flavored popcorn.

Teachers said the event had motivated the students for weeks to learn about the history of the Pilgrims.

“The kids love it. They couldn’t wait for it, and since they came to school today, they’ve been talking about it,” said kindergarten teacher Marilyn Carlile.

She said the event not only taught students about the past but also reminded them of the present: “They know the things they are thankful for.”

Several students agreed that the holiday is important.

Cody Edwards, 5, said he plans to celebrate “by riding my bike.” The kindergarten student said his bike and his in-line skates are two of the things for which he is thankful.

Another kindergarten student, Zack Rambo, 6, said he also understands the true meaning of the holiday: “At Thanksgiving, we care about each other.”

After a pause, he added: “And we share a big turkey.”