Teach Them Tuesday: Thanksgiving at American Village

If you live in Alabama and have had the privilege of visiting American Village in Montevallo, you know what a fantastic educational experience it is. My kids and I have been four times and it has never failed to exceed our expectations. Our “First Friday” group–a homeschool co-op we do field trips with on the first Friday of each month–recently participated in American Village’s Thanksgiving program for our November field trip. We enjoyed a day of inspiring American history and lovely fall weather! I have a few photos to share from this most recent trip, but be sure and check out my post from a previous visit for details about American Village and photos of its beautiful colonial buildings and landscape!

(Note: The American Village allows photos but not video, therefore my images in this post comply with their guidelines.)

The Thanksgiving program featured four vignettes which we cycled throughout the morning. First was the “Autumn Games” which taught the students some fun activities that might have been enjoyed by both Pilgrims and Native Americans.

I’ll go ahead and briefly explain the games because they would be a lot of fun to play at your Thanksgiving gatherings! First (above), everyone divided into two teams, formed lines with feet spread apart, and rolled a pumpkin all the way down the line between their feet, trying to get the pumpkin to the finish before their opponents. It’s harder than it seems because that bumpy pumpkin wanted to roll in all directions!

As much laughter as this game brought, the next game (above) just about brought us to tears, it was so funny. All the participants spread apart and held their hands behind their backs, but only one person held a stuffed animal turkey behind his/hers. The person who was “it” had to walk around, looking behind backs, trying to locate the turkey. It seems like it would be quite obvious who held the turkey, but when everyone is holding their hands the same way, it’s easy to miss the turkey!

Our next vignette was “The Journey” where we Pilgrims gathered to board the Mayflower. Once inside, we learned of the perilous journey with poor accommodations, dwindling food supplies, and…..the scurrrrvy! The actor below has become one of our favorites at American Village. He really gets into his role and pulls the kids into the scene with his humor. Anytime he spoke about scurvy he would say, “the scurrrrvy” and explained that the first symptom of scurvy was the loss of teeth. He walked around the “ship” to check everyone’s teeth, and when he found anyone with a tooth missing, he would say, “Oh, you have the scurrrrvy!” Of course, it was all the 6-year-olds who had scurvy, which made them giggle.

After leaving the Mayflower, we were escorted to our “Peace Treaty” vignette.

We never mind a walk across this picturesque property.

At the “Peace Treaty” we met Chief Massasoit and some of the children were asked to offer gifts to the chief. I appreciate how the reenactments engage the children. This was a proud moment for my son.

And lastly, we made our way back across the field and bridge for our final vignette.

At “First Feast” we learned about the important crops the Pilgrims and Indians grew and shared at the very first Thanksgiving feast.

Here are a few last photos which don’t do this field trip justice. Again, for more photos of the replicated historical buildings, check out my other American Village post.

Before I sign off, I have to mention my favorite children’s book about the Pilgrims. Stories of the Pilgrims, by Margaret B. Pumphrey, offers more extensive and historically accurate detailing than any other children’s book I’ve read so far, and with a delivery which pulls children into the lives of those their own age more than 400 years ago. We’ve been reading this second edition since our earliest homeschooling years as a read aloud. My son and I read it again this year as a refresher, and it just tickles me that I get one more opportunity to read through this favorite with one of my kiddos. Definitely saving it for the grandkids!

I hope you’re having a blessed week so far! I’m off to the kitchen now to prepare for our own Thanksgiving feast!