To link in with our Festivals project in Year 4 this half term, on the 27th November we celebrated Thanksgiving and enjoyed some traditional customs. The children discovered the story behind Thanksgiving, looking back to 1620 when the Pilgrims arrived in America on the Mayflower and made friends with the Wampanoag Native Americans. They learnt that the 2 groups formed an alliance, working together for mutual survival and prosperity. The following Autumn they reaped the rewards of a successful harvest and enjoyed a 3 day feast together, giving thanks for the harvest, new friendships and their new found cooperation.  

During the day we enjoyed feasting on turkey, mashed potato, sweet potato, (thank you Relish!) apple pie and pumpkin pie (thank you Mr Dodd!). The children also enjoyed a non-alcoholic Egg Nog which went down very well! As well as learning the story behind Thanksgiving we made our own 'Thankful Turkeys' and spoke to a member of the St James' community who is American and is currently over there celebrating the festival with her family.