The First Thanksgiving

October is nearing its end, and soon jack-0'-lanterns will give way to images of cornucopias, pilgrims, and Wampanoags (or the more common misrepresentation of Indians with feathers and tipis). In the 1990s, publications such as James Loewen's book, Lies My Teacher Told Me--and its revealing chapter, "The Truth About the First Thanksgiving"--raised the consciousness of many teachers who wanted to teach an alternative perspective to the usual narrative about the pilgrim's journey to a "Brave New World." But what kind of content is appropriate in an elementary or middle school classroom? Loewen speaks of grave robbing, cannibalism, disease, and the hijacking theory.

Colonist perspective from plimoth.org

Wampanoag perspective from plimoth.org

Is this they way we want students, adorned in black hats or feathers made of construction paper, to portray the beloved pilgrims and Wampanoags in a third-grade Thanksgiving play? This question is the kind of initial resistance many elementary teachers in my methods courses have when responding to Loewen's criticisms and similar curricula (e.g., Rethinking Schools). Fortunately, historical sites such as Plimoth Plantation are pushing the alternative perspectives approach and (even better) are giving students the opportunity to examine the evidence. Since few students outside of the New England area get the opportunity to visit the historic site, Plimoth Plantation has created an excellent online learning module that lets students sift through facts and myths to re-envision the history of the First Thanksgiving. Activities such as the "Path to 1621" let the user examine how the Wampanoag and the settlers viewed similar events quite differently. More importantly, in the section, "The Evidence," students get to examine the only source that mentions (and vaguely, at best) the First Thanksgiving.

Online learning module from plimoth.org

An important question students should ask is, "Why do we recognize the 1620 settlement of Plimoth as the site for the First Thanksgiving?" It is because it was the first non-Native settlement in the present-day United States? (In 1526, enslaved Africans abandoned by their Spanish captors attempted a settlement in what is now South Carolina.) Is it because it is the first settlement established for religious freedom? (Spanish Jews settled what is now New Mexico in the late 1500s). Is it because it was the first English Colony? (English entrepreneurs settled Jamestown in 1607.) Or does it have more to do with what happened in 1863? (See Loewen, 2007, Lies My Teacher Told Me, pp. 71 & 90.)

An important message from plimoth.org: "Past" and "History" are NOT synonyms

Lessons, lessons, lessons

What could become a wasted Google search

A Google search for "Social Studies" and "Lesson Plans" will result in roughly 1 million hits or sites. There's a lot to sift through, and a lot of it can be...well, less than desirable. Fortunately, a lot of the professional organizations devoted to social studies education (and a few for-profits and not-for-profits) can help reduce the time it would take to sift through a lot of rubbish. Here are a few highlights:

Geography - National Geographic Xpeditions
Psychology - Social Psychology Teaching Resources
Economics - National Council for Economics Education Lesson Plans
Political Science - Center for Civic Education Sample Lessons
Political Science - Center for Civic Education Constitution Lessons