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Students Make Pilgrim Progress

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Heather Coffey, left, helps Tyrah Checkley with her pilgrim costume while Trinity Savage watches. The students made their own costumes.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

RIVERVIEW - For their first Thanksgiving at Summerfield Crossings Elementary, the school's kindergarten students looked nearly 400 years into the past for inspiration.

With help from the school's third-grade students, 145 kindergartners took their cue from the first Thanksgiving feast shared by the pilgrims at Plymouth and the Wampanoag Indians in 1621.

The school hosted its second annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast on Nov. 25.

"We had this event last year, and it was very successful," said Kelly McMillan, assistant principal. "The kids get to learn basic Thanksgiving lessons."

Rain pushed the outdoor feast inside to each of the school's eight kindergarten classrooms.

"We've been teaching them about the Native Americans, the pilgrims and the history and customs behind Thanksgiving, and I thought this was a good way for them to actually get involved," said kindergarten teacher Lindsay Johnson.

The day before the feast, third-graders helped the kindergartners snap green beans, shuck corn and make their own butter, giving them a taste of the first Thanksgiving.

Fortunately for the students, the turkeys were provided - and prepared - by their parents.

"They've been preparing for two weeks, and I think the teachers and the kids both did a great job," said Shannon Durant, who volunteered during the event by helping serve food. Her son Jeffrey is in Johnson's class.

In addition to the food, students also made pilgrim and American Indian costumes to wear to their feast.

The third-grade students then joined the kindergartners in their classroom to enjoy the fruits - and vegetables - of their labors.

"Everything went really well today, and I'm very proud of the kids, and I think they're really proud of themselves," Johnson said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555.

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