Today is 🦃Thanksgiving🌽! Pre-K1 & Kinder friends joined Toddler friends to deepen their understanding of this special holiday~٩( ”ω” )و✨✨✨

We kicked things off with ♬I’m Thankful♪. Everyone sang along while looking at the lyrics card. To make it easier for our younger friends, key words from the song were paired with illustrations. Even our Toddler friends gave it their all and sang enthusiastically (￣▽￣)ｂ!

After the song, it was time for everyone’s favorite craft! The craft features an animal that will appear in the upcoming storytelling session.
By gluing colored paper together and adding eyes 👀, a nose 👃, and ears 👂, the creation was complete. When you slip it onto your hand, its mouth can open and close—so much fun~(´▽｀*)✨✨✨
Now, here’s a question for you: Who is this animal? (￣д￣)❓

That’s right, the answer is a Bear 🐻! (^▽^)👏👏👏 During the storytelling session of “Bear Says Thanks,” all the children listened intently to the story. Every time Bear 🐻 said, “Thank you,” the children nodded along in agreement, fully engaged in the tale. Their attentive expressions were so heartwarming (*´ω｀)💕💕💕.

To wrap up, everyone worked together to create a Thanksgiving Tree to express their gratitude. “Thank you to my friends.” “Thank you to my teachers.” “Thank you to my mom.” “Thank you to my dad.” The tree is filled with heartfelt “Thank yous.” It’s now displayed in the hall, so please take a moment to admire it when you visit! ( =ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ🌟🌟🌟

💡🦃Thanksgiving🌽

In North America (the United States and Canada), 🦃Thanksgiving🌽 is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2024, that falls on November 28 (Thursday). While this tradition is not as familiar in Japan, Thanksgiving has been observed in the U.S. since the 17th century and is a deeply rooted event. It’s often said that Thanksgiving sees the highest number of people traveling home to spend time with family and friends, similar to how Japanese families gather for New Year celebrations.
A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is the highlight of the day, enjoyed at home with loved ones. The centerpiece is a stuffed and roasted turkey, accompanied by mashed potatoes and warm vegetables, all generously topped with gravy or cranberry sauce. Cornbread is also a common side dish. For dessert, people often enjoy seasonal treats like pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or apple pie. Thanksgiving is not only a feast but a time to reflect on gratitude, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere for all who celebrate it. 🦃🌽🎉

💡🦃The Origins of Thanksgiving🌽
In September 1620, the Mayflower set sail from England carrying a group of Pilgrims. After enduring a grueling two-month journey, they arrived in America during the harsh winter season. With insufficient food and supplies, many of the settlers lost their lives. Their survival was only made possible thanks to the assistance of Native Americans.

The Native Americans shared their knowledge of agriculture and hunting, enabling the Pilgrims to harvest enough food to endure the following winter. To express their gratitude, the Pilgrims organized a celebratory feast to thank the Native Americans. Long tables were laid with turkey and vegetables, and prayers of thanks were offered. Pilgrims and Native Americans joined hands to sing and dance together.

This heartfelt celebration is believed to mark the beginning of what we now know as 🦃Thanksgiving🌽

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🌹Rainbow Rose International School🌹