Teachers Teaching Thanksgiving

What is a common misconception when teaching Thanksgiving?

• Pilgrims and Native Americans came together on Thanksgiving to celebrate being close and kind to each other

• After the Thanksgiving feast the Native Americans were left alone to live on their land

• Native Americans came after the colonizers

• All of the above

True or False: Indigenous people do not exist anymore.

• True

• False

What is NOT a good way to teach Thanksgiving

• Recognize who discovered the Americas first

• Focus on the season and values that apply to everyone

• Have students dress up like “pilgrims and Indians”

• Discuss Native American culture and their perspective

What does teaching Thanksgiving in the way that is traditionally taught in schools promote?

• A safe and effective learning environment

• Unfair and untrue stereotypes

• A good jumping off point for fun crafts

• A way to celebrate a holiday meant for everyone

What are good options for teaching Thanksgiving this year?

• Do not teach it at all and focus on the fall season instead

• Teach it the way the textbook says

• Give a Thanksgiving lesson showing the rich culture of Indigenous people and share their perspective and hardships as well

• Both A and C

• All of the above

What were the “pilgrims” really celebrating during the first official Thanksgiving?

• Celebrating that the pilgrims and Native Americans were getting along

• Celebrating having food to eat

• The pilgrims were celebrating massacring an entire Pequot village

• They wanted to create a new American holiday, so they had a celebration