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St. Christine’s students learn Thanksgiving history
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The third-grade students of Wendy DelBaccio's showed off their spoils from a Thanksgiving presentation provided by MetroParks Farm. The students brought home a flowerpot planted with corn, pumpkin, and bean seeds, as well as a bag of delicious popcorn.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Third-graders Lauren Snyder (left) and Jamie Nelson pushed soil down around their planted corn, bean, and pumpkin seeds during the Thanksgiving learning activity on Nov. 4.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .MetroParks Farm educator Kim Moff (center) visited St. Christine School on Nov. 4 to teach a group of third-graders about the history of the first Thanksgiving.
By SARAH FOOR
Although Thanksgiving is definitely about food, fun and family, MetroParks Farm educator Kim Moff wanted the third-grade students of St. Christine School to also appreciate the history behind our holiday of giving thanks.
Moff visited the school on Nov. 4 to share the story of Thanksgiving, focusing on how the Wampanoag Indian Squanto taught the pilgrims of Plymouth, Mass. to plant vegetables to last throughout the year.
“Squanto and his tribe showed the Pilgrims how to plant corn, beans and pumpkins. They’re sometimes called the sister seeds because they help each other to grow. Tall corn stalks provide shade for the pumpkins on the ground and a place for bean vines to climb,” explained Moff.
The story of Thanksgiving allowed Moff to review how robust gardens and farms work.
Moff explained how timing was important, telling the students that seedlings planted in the spring allow for vegetables to grow and provide for Thanksgiving feasts come autumn.
The educator also stressed the need for rich soil. In Squanto’s time, the Indians and Pilgrims buried fish in the ground to fertilize the soil. Moff explained how many of these simple techniques are still being used, albeit in a larger scale, in farms all over the world.
She then asked the third-graders to give the techniques a try.
“I’ll be like Squanto — I’m going to teach you how to be farmers,” Moff explained.
Each student planted a bean, corn and pumpkin seed in a small flowerpot and received instructions on its care.
To close, Moff offered a bag of fresh-popped popcorn to each student, explaining that the treat was enjoyed at the first Thanksgiving.