Plymouth and Pilgrim Kids' Thanksgiving Activities

"Little boys wore long dresses until they were six years old. After that, they dressed like men."

Ellie's version of the Pilgrims

Everyone knows that the Pilgrims dressed differently than we do today. But, did you know that the clothes we traditionally think of as Pilgrim was actually their Sunday church clothes? The rest of the week the wore colored garments!

On Day 3 of our month long Thanksgiving study we read about the Pilgrim's colony of Plymouth. We learned that mothers taught reading at home, everyone worked - including children, and that no one ate with forks.

After reading more from If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern, we pulled out our Thanksgiving journals. We drew Plymouth and Pilgrims.

We also made a list of "three ways my life is different from the life of Pilgrim boys and girls. Ben wrote: Three ways my life is different from the Pilgrims. We eat with a fork. The Pilgrims ate with their hands. Boys wore dresses when they are 5 and younger. Their spoons or clam shells. They played with balls and ?? ??.

Clearly we need to work on spelling and grammar more but I think it's terrific for a 1st grader without help from mom!

What Pilgrim or Plymouth related activities are you doing this month?

Be sure to like Stephanie's Mommy Brain on Facebook where I'm sharing more Thanksgiving tips and links throughout November.

* More Thanksgiving Kids Activities and Books Posts 

My Visit to the Mayflower II

As I stepped aboard the Mayflower II (not to be confused with the SMB Mayflower), I wondered what the Pilgrim women felt when they climbed aboard the first time. Busy corralling children and stowing baggage that must have focused on the tasks before them and ignored their fears and apprehensions of sailing out into the unknown.

The Mayflower II

My children excitedly explored the open-to-us areas on deck. William asked a costumed interpreter a few questions about sailing and the ship. Then curiosity drove us below deck to see the area of the (replica) Mayflower that the Pilgrims called home for months.

Sailors quarters

Once below deck I first noticed the lack of lighting. Plimoth Plantation museum installed electrical lighting in the area (and my camera flash filled in a lot more) so you can see to get around but I wouldn't want to try to read fine print for long. I'm sure the candles and lanterns provided the Pilgrims limited lighting as well.

A bunk in the captain's quarters.

Next I realized cold permeated the large room. (Our visit took place in November so it's different during the summer. Also, I wore a sweater, denim jacket and jeans. And was still cold.) I imagine the Pilgrims also felt cold in their temporary home below the water line. Cold and wet as water leaked in from the deck above during the many storms, how did they do it?!

I admire the Pilgrim women. Their bravery and commitment to their husbands should be commended. I don't think I have what it takes to uproot my family, transform an uncomfortable ship into a temporary home, and journey to an unknown place.

I don't have what it takes but I'm sure glad the Pilgrim women did! Could you do it? Would you want to?

Be sure to like Stephanie's Mommy Brain on Facebook where I'm sharing more Thanksgiving tips and links throughout November.

* More Thanksgiving Kids Activities and Books Posts

A Family Night on the SMB Mayflower

According to a filed Thanksgiving plan the SMB Mayflower set sail for the New World Friday night. She carried 4 passengers, their assorted stuffed animal cargo and 2 crew members.

The travelers aboard the SMB Mayflower began their voyage with high spirits. First Mate Mama assembled provisions of cheese, beef jerky (salt pork) and root(beer). Hard tack had also been baked especially for the trip.

Because there are no chairs, tables or individual plates aboard the SMB Mayflower everyone came together on the floor of the living room around the communal platter. Following a sweet blessing, all began to eat.

The seafarers soon lodged complaints with First Mate Mama regarding the inedible hockey pucks hard tack. Not wishing to make an emergency trip to the dentist because of a chipped tooth, First Mate Mama quickly scoured her galley and found a package of saltine crackers.

High spirits restored, our young pilgrims finished their meal and moved on to the evening's entertainment - a rousing game of Cariboo.

As the evening grew late, the SMB Mayflower veered off her original sailing activity plan along the Parental Bedroom Shipping Lane. Captain Daddy made a slight course adjustment and the SMB Mayflower settled into the Ellie and Sam Bedroom Shipping Lane. No passengers complained about the detour since it resulted in much chatting, giggling and fun.

As the ship docked this morning, all passengers agreed that their voyage on the SMB Mayflower was a lot of fun and worth doing again. During our interview First Mate Mama said, "This inaugural trip will definitely be an annual tradition for the SMB Mayflower. The only change I foresee is using 3 day old biscuits in place of hard tack."

Be sure to like Stephanie's Mommy Brain on Facebook where more Thanksgiving tips and links are shared throughout November.

* More SMB Thanksgiving Kids Activities and Books Posts  


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