Monday, November 19, 2012

The Story of the First Thanksgiving

Every year we make necklaces using colored beads to tell the story of the very first Thanksgiving.  Each colored bead represents a piece of history leading up to the first Thanksgiving.  Grace made a Thanksgiving story bead necklace for all of her classmates and teachers at school last week and this morning Jack made a necklace for everyone in our family to wear on Thursday.

  • 1 tan bead to represent the Pilgrims leaving England
  • 1 white bead to represent the sails on the Mayflower
  • 3 blue beads to represent the 66 days it took for the Mayflower to cross the Atlantic Ocean
  • 1 green bead to represent when Pilgrims spotted land, which they later named Plymouth
  • 3 white beads to represent the first cold and long winter that the Pilgrims endured 
  • 1 white bead to represent the arrival of spring
  • 1 tan bead to represent the Native American named Squanto who greatly helped the Pilgrims
  • A red, yellow, orange and tan bead to represent the foods at the first Thanksgiving (cranberries, corn, squash, pumpkins and turkey).  The first Thanksgiving was a great feast, which lasted three days!


 Jack hung the necklaces on the back of our dining room chairs, which we will all be wearing this Thanksgiving!
 

2 comments:

Maddy!, said...

I am thankful each year for these necklaces and the story behind them. Love how the children know the story!

Jack is as sweet as Pumpkin Pie in that picture. And, I must say from his Maddy's 'sewer's heart' that he looks exactly like a sewer. Love it!

I am waiting to hear what Grace's classmates and teachers thought of her necklaces! I am waiting to hear Jack tell the Thanksgiving story! And, I am waiting to hear Eve say - Squanto! I can't wait!!

See you soon our little family in Maine!
Love, Maddy & Poppy
xox

Anonymous said...

Busy, busy young ones, and so generous in their tradition giving.
What beautiful and meaningful Thanksgiving mementos.

XOXOXO,
Memere

Got Gracie, Jack & Eve?