Students will learn historically accurate descriptions and facts (age appropriate) surrounding the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Teacher holds a summa cum laude B.A. in psychology; an M.A. in Liberal Studies/Humanities; her thesis work focused on Symbiotic Relationships, An Exploration of Foreign Born American Artists Living and Working in Central Florida; she subsequently curated an art exhibit at Orlando's City Hall in Florida which was kept on display for 5 months and invited inclusion and appreciation for the richness brought by diversity; she teaches Yoga & Humanities at the College Level, and specializes in interdisciplinary studies, drawing from  historical context, as well as from the arts; and is involved with the Peace & Justice Institute from Valencia College. 

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
Informal, throughout class and with a final review.
Grades Offered

Sources used for this class are from:
The Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, The British Museum, The Historical Society of New England, New England Historic Society, the Encyclopedia Britannica, video interviews of the Wampanoag people (as gathered for the Mayflower 400 Commemoration event and the Plymouth 400 Commemoration, OUR STORY: 400 Years of Wampanoag History), including statements by David Silverman, from The Smithsonian and the contemporary Wampanoags: Frank James, Steven Peters 'Smoke Signals', Paula Peters, Chief Vernon 'Silent Drum' Lopez, Marcus Hendricks,  adding the necessary multiple dimension of voices to this story.  A personal interview granted by David S. Weed, Psy.D., Coordinator, Sowams Heritage Area Project, actively involved with the Wampanoag people.  

Art included in the presentation:  
"Shawnee Home Life", 1890 by Earnest L. Spybuck (Absentee Shawnee, 1883–1949) Native American; Pilgrim Fathers boarding the Mayflower, by Bernard Gribble; Painting by Robert W. Weir, 1843, at the Capitol Rotunda; Painting by T.H. Matteson - engraved by Gauthier - originally titled Agreement Between the Settlers of New Plymouth; Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620 by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris – 1899; "The First Thanksgiving", 1915, by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris; The First Thanksgiving, 1914 by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe; Library of Congress Metacom (King Philip), Wampanoag sachem, meeting settlers, illustration c. 1911; Portrait of King Philip or Metacom, 1827, by Benjamin Church; A Storm is Coming, 1863, by Sanford Gifford; Home to Thanksgiving, 1867 by John Schutler after George Henry Durrie for Currier and Ives;  Maruru (Thanksgiving) 1893–94 by Paul Gaugin; The Thankful Poor, 1894 by Henry Ossawa Tanner; Turkey by Albert Laessle;  Thanksgiving, 1935 by Doris Lee; Freedom from Want, 1941-1943 - Home for Thanksgiving, 1945 - Thanksgiving Prayer by Norman Rockwell; Catching the Thanksgiving Turkey, 1943 by Grandma Moses; Pop ArtTurkey, 1961 by Roy Lichtenstein; Thanksgiving, 1965 by Alice Neel; Turkey by Richard Tuttle; Thanksgiving, 2003 by John Currin; Macy’s Parade, 1974-1984, by Joseph Delaney; statue of Massasoit on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth; 46 Million Turkeys by Cheryl Miller; the Wampum belts at The British Museum and the commemorative one made by the Wampanoags for the Commemoration.