Happy Thanksgiving!

We put the last leaves on our traditional Thanksgiving tree. 

I thought I'd try something different this year and draw a tree trunk with bare branches on our family chalkboard for us to fill by taping our thanksgiving leaves to it. When I showed it to the boys, they literally looked at me in silence for a minute, then said, "Can we go get the branches for our Thanksgiving tree now?" I quickly realized two things. First, in their little minds we had already established a tradition; our Thanksgiving tree is made out of branches. Secondly, of course little boys would rather go pick up sticks to build a tree!! What was this mama thinking! I erased my drawing, and we headed outside to hunt for the perfect branches to hold our leaves of gratitude. 

It's fun to have any guests during November add a leaf of thankfulness to our tree and hear their stories of how God has cared for them.

As I began homeschooling and studying education, I fell in love with learning through LIVING BOOKS. The idea here is to find books that go beyond mere facts and information as presented in traditional textbooks. The author usually writes in narrative or conversational style and draws us into the story. 

Our read aloud time this month focused on stories of Indians, Pilgrims, and the first Thanksgiving. I tried to find books that bring history to life in a way that we feel the hurt, the sadness, the fear, the faith, the hope, and the depths of friendship that these brave people experienced. 

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving was one of our favorite picture books. Thanks to the boys' cousins for adding this great one to our home library!

Samuel Eaton's Day and Tapenum's Day take you into the daily life of a Pilgrim boy and a Wampanoag  Indian boy. What my boys loved most about these two books was hearing how no matter the time or culture all little boys want to know what it takes to be a man! For the Pilgrim boy we learned when he turned six or seven he could quit wearing dresses and get his first pair of breeches in preparation to help the men with the Harvest. The Indian boy rose early in the mornings to train that he might become a pniesog... a "strong, skillful, wise, and kind" warrior. We had lots of great discussions about the character traits both of these boys needed to become considered ready for manhood!

Scholastic offers great virtual resources on The First Thanksgiving including photo slideshows with audio comparing and contrasting Pilgrim children and Wampanoag children: their houses, their chores, their food, their education, etc. Scholastic also provides excellent virtual video field trips of the Mayflower and Plimoth.

Two of Caleb's favorite chapter books included : Squanto and the First Thanksgiving (Joyce K. Kessel) and Thanksgiving on Thursday (Magic Tree House).

The Mayflower

Thankful to celebrate today with family

and a little turkey day football!