Pilgrims and Indians sat in a circle listening to the story. Behind them, a tepee rose to a perfect point, and close by ground corn lay scattered about. The scene in Jenny Guedon’s kindergarten class at Adams County Christian School was all about the great American holiday &045; Thanksgiving.

&uot;Who came over on the Mayflower,&uot; the teacher asked in the animated voice required of one leading 5-year-olds.

&uot;Pilgrims,&uot; a few voices answered.

&uot;George Washington,&uot; another said. Well, after all, they have just begun to understand what it is all about.

Soft white bonnets slipped front, back and sideways from little Pilgrim heads. Feathered headbands drooped on Indian foreheads. The teacher invited conversation.

&uot;I’m starving,&uot; one offered.

Indeed, the heavily laden table on one side of the room invited a hearty appetite, the food another way to teach about the holiday.

&uot;The Pilgrims came to America so they could worship God in their own special way,&uot; Guedon said. &uot;They made it through that first very cold winter and then in the spring their crops began to come in. They were so thankful that they had a party to celebrate.&uot;

The children made turkeys from apples and turkeys on their Thanksgiving placemats. They picked up pecans to go into pecan pies. &uot;We talked a lot about corn,&uot; Guedon said. &uot;We talked about the basic idea of different ways of life.&uot;

Food might have been the biggest hit during this extensive study of the holiday, however. The children enjoyed telling about their favorite foods. And parents prepared traditional foods to bring for a Friday feast.

Trent Blackmon, Abi Wheeler and Jace Calcote chose turkey as their favorite food for Thanksgiving. Lindsey Peterman also went for traditional foods, such as sweet potatoes with marshmallows and cranberry sauce.

Others were less predictable. Cody Pace chose macaroni and cheese, as did Amber Thompson. Morgan White chose watermelon.

Guedon said she has put emphasis on Thanksgiving as a holiday this year. &uot;It is such an important holiday. Mainly, I want them to be thankful for what they have.&uot;