KEARNS — The St. Francis Xavier Regional pre-school and pre-kindergarten students learned about the first Thanksgiving held in Plymouth, Mass., in 1621, by preparing and celebrating a feast of their own Nov. 22. "The focus was on sharing and working together," said Micheon Zbinden, St. Francis Xavier pre-school and pre-kindergarten teacher. "We read stories about the first Thanksgiving, and the students made pilgrim hats and Native American headbands. "We talked about how the pilgrims were met by the Native Americans who then taught them how to live in their new land by assisting the pilgrims in planting new crops and hunting animals for food," said Zbinden. "We also talked about how the pilgrims and Native Americans became friends even though they all looked different." The students learned the first Thanksgiving feast was planned by sharing their newly harvested crops and meat. So the students did the same by donating something from home for the feast. They brought finger foods like turkey lunch meat, celery, olives, rolls, and cheese cubes for their buffet style lunch. Zbinden said the celebration was fun for the students because it was a tangible experience they could understand. The pre-school children are 3 and 4 years old, and the pre-kindergarten children are 4 and five years old. "In our prayer we gave thanks to God for how fortunate we are to have this feast, and also for our ability to go to church wherever we choose," said Zbinden. "We talked about how the pilgrims came from England on a great big ship to find a new place to live and a new place to go to church. "I wanted them to understand when people come to a new land they meet new people and they become neighbors," said Zbinden. "Neighbors help each other and share with each other. This experience taught the students everybody worked together to accomplish one goal, and that is what we did."
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