Higgins Elementary students include, front row (l to r), Toby McIntyre and Grayson Driggs; and back row (l to r), Kalli Nackos, Aaron Sowell, Joseph Hamm, Noah Reeder and Alyssa Hurley. (Leader Staff Photo by Suzanne Loudamy) It appears that the social studies teachers are doing a pretty good job in their lessons on how the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together for a day of celebration. Whether it really happened that way or not, that’s what we were all taught. Here are what some third graders from Mrs. Culpepper and Mrs. Toole’s classes at Higgins Elementary think about that day.

“I think there was a stove over a campfire with soup and a turkey cooking,” Alyssa Hurley said. “The Pilgrims might have invited the Indians to give thanks for all that they have. Thanksgiving might have lasted about three days because of all the food. But also, I am glad they did not fight (at least I think they did not fight)! So I am glad for Thanksgiving.”

“I think the Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower and went to the USA and met the Indians,” Aaron Sowell said. “The Indians taught the Pilgrims how to get food. The Indians and the Pilgrims had a feast. They had a very perfect Thanksgiving.”

“What I think happened at the first Thanksgiving is everyone was thankful for what God does for us and they wanted to thank him with Thanksgiving,” Kalli Nackos said. “So everyone sat at a big long table and ate turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and everything else.”

“They sat down at the table and said thanks to God,” Toby McIntyre said. “There was roast turkey, backed corn, buckets full of vegetables and many other things like fish.”

Grayson Driggs said, “I think the first Thanksgiving the Pilgrims lived in a little area and the Native Americans came and they had a big feast and had fun and danced and shared their cultures with each other.”

“I think it was good and bad at the same time,” Joseph Hamm said. “It was good because they escaped from Britain and that they made new friends, the Native Americans. But it was bad because many Pilgrims died. That’s what I think the first Thanksgiving was like.”

Noah Reeder said, “I think the first Thanksgiving was wonderful. But if I was an Indian I probably would make peace first. It was nice of the Indians to teach them how to hunt and grow corn. I think the first Thanksgiving was great.”

Thanks to all the students in Mrs. Culpepper and Mrs. Toole’s classes for participating. Thanks to all of you who read the Tri County Leader each week. And thanks to our Father God who blesses the communities of Whitehouse and Troup with wonderful people, like you!