RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio – Thanksgiving means different things to different people, even our littlest people.
Earlier this week Richland Source asked first-graders at Crestview and Shiloh elementary schools to tell us what they are thankful for heading into the holiday.
“I’m thankful for Christmas,” said Aubrie Sexton, of Shiloh Elementary.
“I’m thankful for video games,” said her classmate, 7-year-old Cainan Kilgore. “WWE.”
First-grade teacher Michelle Roblin said the class has been reading Junie B. Jones’ 28th book, “Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff),” by Barbara Park. In it, Room One is part of a contest to see which room can write the best thankful list, with the winners getting a pumpkin pie.
So, Roblin had her class make a similar list.
“They’re thankful for toilet paper and cheese curls,” Roblin said with a chuckle. “They were thankful for nature but they don’t think the adults care about nature so they took that off the list.
“It’s the world of first grade that I live in.”
On Monday, principal Laura Kanney said the young students were gearing up for an event before leaving classes for the holiday on Tuesday afternoon.
“We have a program for kindergarten and first grade,” Kanney said. “The kindergarten students dress up as Indians and the first graders as Pilgrims and they have a feast.”
At Crestview, principal Kristi Barker said the staff keeps students engaged with a hands-on curriculum that incorporates the lessons of Thanksgiving.
“The teachers do a good job of looking at it as how to be thankful for everything they have and not just a historical piece, but also how that’s a big part of being a good citizen – giving thanks and helping others also.”
A number of students noted family gatherings as part of their Thanksgiving tradition.
“Thanksgiving is a time when you see all of your family,” said 7-year-old Callie Warner. “I’m thankful for my mom.”
Deryn Moore said turkey was her favorite part of the holiday.
“(Thanksgiving is) a bunch of people sit together and have food,” she said.
The second graders had a Tuesday event, too.
“They do a tasting where they bring in different dishes that are considered traditional dishes from the pilgrims,” Barker said.
