It has been a tradition at Herbert Mills that the first graders study the history of Thanksgiving by studying about the events that led up to the First Thanksgiving Celebration between the Pilgrims and the Indians. The first graders learn about why the Pilgrims left their homes in England and the conditions that they faced upon their arrival in America. First graders learn how Squanto became a friend to the Indians and helped them in many ways. First graders compare their life with the lives of the Pilgrim children and discuss how in some ways they are similar and in some ways they are very different. As a culminating activity, the first grade teachers and their students prepare and share a traditional American Thanksgiving Feast. The menu for the feast includes turkey, mashed potatoes, a vegetable, pumpkin pie, a fruit and jello dessert, and a drink. In addition to the feast, each first grader dresses as either a Pilgrim or an Indian to attend the feast. This Feast has been a tradition since at least 1987 and both the students and teachers look forward to it each year. This year, the first grade students will feast on Tuesday, November 25.