The first Thanksgiving is full of valuable and meaningful lessons for Catholic religious education classes.
Thanksgiving is a time of year when CCD classes are focused on God's gifts to us and our thankfulness and appreciation for them. A more in-depth look at the first Thanksgiving offers lessons in compassion and trust between two groups of very different people.
Thanksgiving lessons, in addition to the Pilgrims’ journey on the Mayflower seeking religious freedom and being thankful for God’s blessings, should include lessons about the Native Americans’ welcoming and compassionate hospitality to the new settlers.
What We Can Learn from Squanto
Squanto is the Patuxet Native American who taught the Pilgrims how to plant crops, how to fish and how to build better homes, when they were struggling in an unfamiliar land.
What many American children don’t know is that Squanto - whose real name was Tisquantum - helped the European Pilgrims despite having been kidnapped and enslaved by Europeans three times before returning to America, only to find that his tribe had been wiped out by a plague brought to his homeland by European explorers.
The story of Squanto is a meaningful lesson in forgiveness and Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek.”
Squanto is like the kid in school who sees the new boy sitting alone in the lunchroom and goes to sit with him, offering his advice, help and friendship.
Putting Squanto’s story in modern terms makes children realize that there will always be opportunity for Christian hospitality and being a friendly, welcoming presence to a stranger.
Some discussion topics, after telling the story of Squanto and his background, could be:
- How do you think Squanto set aside his anger and resentment for the Europeans in order to help them survive in his homeland?
- How can you be the Squanto of your school or your group of friends?
- What did the Pilgrims do in return for Squanto's help with their survival? What do you think they should have offered in return?
Peace Pipe Craft
The Native American peace pipe is a symbol of peace, harmony and friendship. Children can make their own peace pipe craft to symbolize the Thanksgiving spirit of cooperation between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans at the first Thanksgiving.
For this peace pipe craft, materials needed are:
- Small Dixie cup
- Wooden or plastic dowel or rod, 7-10” long
- Feathers
- Beads
- String
Make a small hole in the side of the Dixie cup and insert one end of the dowel or rod. String beads onto a short length of string and knot both ends. Attach the beaded strings and feathers to the Dixie cup.
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