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LESSON XIX

WHAT THANKSGIVING REALLY MEANS (CON

Conversation:

TINUED)

THE teacher may talk with the children about Thanksgiving. They recall together the visit to the store and what they saw there. Then when the sense of gratitude for the harvest has been aroused she may tell them very simply why there is a Thanksgiving festival. It is because everyone is glad for the harvest. Whether or not people go to the church to thank God on that day, they do thank him in their hearts.

Song:

"The world is so full of a number of things

I am sure we should all be as happy as kings."
(Songs for the Little Child.)

This song may be sung several times; it is so simple that many of the children will wish to sing it alone. "Praise Him!" may also be sung as the children are stirred with the thought of God's goodness shown by the gift of the many things that make us "happy as kings."

Story period:

After a few minutes of activity, perhaps a skip, the children gather for a story. The teacher may tell them the following experience of a kindergarten, in order that they may realize the need of other little children:

In a building not far away many little children live together.

There are Bennie and Joe and Mary and many more. Some are big, some are little, and some are wee babies. They have no fathers or mothers, and so they live in the building together and some good women take care of them. There are more children than any of your mothers have, and it takes much food and many clothes to go around. The good women have to work all the time taking care of the children, and they haven't enough money to buy what is needed to make them comfortable.

Near the Orphanage—for that is what we call the building-there is a kindergarten. Last year the children in that kindergarten wanted to give the children in the Orphanage a Thanksgiving dinner. Some of them brought fruit, some brought vegetables, and some brought money for the turkey.

They packed their food in a wagon; boxes of potatoes, celery, cranberries, and cabbage; baskets of oranges, bananas, apples, and grapes; glasses of jelly, candy, and-best of alla big golden pumpkin and a turkey. The expressman drove toward the Orphanage, and the children waved as long as they could see his wagon.

When he reached the Orphanage and told the good women what he had brought, they called their children. Oh, how they shouted and danced as they found the things in the wagon, and what fun they had eating that Thanksgiving dinner!

After the story many pictures may be shown of the Orphanage and the children. If an Orphanage is not the desirable recipient for the Thanksgiving gift, some other children may be chosen and the information about their need given in simple narrative form. This account will give understanding and awaken sympathy and a desire to help.

Conversation:

After the story if the children do not themselves ask to

send these little children a gift, the teacher may suggest the possibility. The generosity of the child when his sympathies have been aroused is spontaneous and very happy.

Handwork:

The teacher may write a letter to each mother telling of the plan of the Thanksgiving gift, and each child may draw a picture to take to mother showing her what he would like to bring for the orphan children. The gifts may be brought on the day before Thanksgiving.

LESSON XX

THE THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL

THE Thanksgiving festival is the climax of the fall preparation. The children arrive with their arms full of gifts and their hearts full of love and joy. The processional serves the purpose of expressing the happy mood and of giving all an opportunity to enjoy the gift. After it has been packed and sent with a note of greeting, the teacher may tell the Thanksgiving story which may be followed by the prayer of gratitude. Processional:

When the children come with their gifts for the other little children, they are very happy and want everybody to know and appreciate what they have brought. The teacher should make each child feel her interest and happiness in his gift. In some schools little baskets and boxes such as those in which fruit is sold are provided so that the children may unwrap their offerings and display them. When all the children have arrived a processional with each child carrying his own offering may be formed. In and out the room the children will gladly march. (The music used by the pianist should be joyful and yet with dignity befitting the occasion.)

Conversation:

After the processional the children may pack the offering in bigger boxes, and then, gathering about the teacher, may dictate a note which she can write to send with the gift.

"Tell the children that these things are for their dinner," one child will suggest.

"Say that we are sending some bananas," and "Some pears,"

and "Some oranges," and "A turkey," will follow in quick succession from others. When the note is satisfactorily composed and read over two or three times, the children may, if the weather permits, help the expressman to carry out the boxes and pack them in the wagon. They will enjoy waving to him as long as they can catch a glimpse of the departing wagon. If possible, the teacher can arrange to have the superintendent of the Orphanage or the one in charge wherever the gift is sent, telephone the children a little message of thanks. The sooner this message is received the more it will mean to the children, as they are very eager for an immediate expression of gratitude. In any event the teacher can have a letter sent later. The pleasure of the recipient of the gift will be the chief incentive in making the children want to give again.

Song:

After the excitement of sending the gift, the children. will find the best expression for their happiness in song. They may sing any of the songs that they have used in the fall months, but the ones which will mean most at this time will probably be "The world is so full of a number of things" ånd "Praise Him!"

Story: The Angelus.

The teacher may show the children the picture of "The Angelus," by Millet. It is without doubt in its simple reverence and gratitude for the harvest our most beautiful Thanksgiving picture. Its message is perfectly within the comprehension of the little child. Many stories have been told about this picture. The following narrative may be used if desired:

A father and a mother were out in the field in the fall of the year digging potatoes. They pulled up the potato vines and then they hunted in the ground until they had found every potato there. They had great sacks in which they dropped the

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