There’s A Pilgrim In My Classroom

Another source that we offer (and hope to expand on in the future) is our Online Learning Center. This is an interactive website for children of all ages in which you get to explore the lives of 17th century Wampanoag and English children. It is specifically designed to teach about the feast that the two cultures shared that has become the basis of our Thanksgiving holiday.

Interestingly enough, the entire breadth of our knowlege, from the English point of view, of this feast comes from one small paragraph written by Edward Winslow in a book now called Mourt’s Relation. He writes:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”

So, please be our guests and become history detectives. Delve into the lives of Ahsaupwis, a Wampanoag boy, and Remember Allerton, an English girl as they show you aspects of their lives at the Online Learning Center. Just click here.

Buddy