A More Inclusive Classroom Approach to Thanksgiving

  November has a lot of things going on!

With Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Month, Veteran's Day, conferences, Diwali, and performances all competing for classroom time, there's no shortage of material to pull from.

Celebrating and honoring respectfully in your music classroom is a must!  It's not about being perfect, but rather about making inclusive and informed choices. 

Thanksgiving can bring up a lot of things for a lot of people

For some, it is a time for family and friends, turkey and mashed potatoes, and football.  But for others, it is a hard to hold multiple feelings, especially when they're not always joyous.  

Teaching Music During Native American Heritage Month is an exciting time to select repertoire that honors Indigenous creators and performers.  Some of my favorites are:

• 
  I Sang You Down to the Stars - This makes a great compare/contrast lesson on lullabies between "Ho Ho Watanay" & "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."  Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade  are the two Indigenous creators of this wonderful story telling of a Cree mother preparing for a child.
• 
  We Are Water Protectors (buy it here)  features art by Michaela Goade as well!  The Lesson connects music & literature and brings to light a call-to-action to protect the Earth.  Referring to the pipelines tarnishing sacred land as a black snake, the lyrical language is stunning! 
  
• 
  Nibi's Water Song  features Chief Lady Bird's illustrations & Sunshine Tenasco's beautiful story. Nibi, the Anishinaabemowin word for water, is also the name of the Indigenous girl searching for clean drinking water. Her determination inspires her community to join in her song and reflects what water activists are hoping to achieve globally.  The lesson's composition activity uses Chrome Music Lab: Song Maker which is free & allows students to create music (Core Arts Standard #2).

Music is a universal language, so consider using it as a communication tool in lieu of spoken words: Native American Navigation.  This project is best suited for middle school students who can compose rhythms for cardinal directions & are ready to connect music & culture (Core Arts Standard #10)

Try some Turkeys

Many of us were raised on stereotypes being the norm, even encouraged.  That meant all turkeys wore pilgrim hats, so try to select resources that offer a different perspective.

 "Five Fat Turkeys are We!" is a cute little song with simple rhythms, a movement-based game, and a chance to practice solfege.  It's ideal for K-2 music classes, and offers a nod to Thanksgiving without falling into stereotypes!

For Grades 2-4, try composing with a turkey!  These "Time Signature Turkeys" are great for 3/4 and 4/4 time signature practice.  

You can differentiate which students receive which rhythms or notes to optimize challenge or simplify options for students struggling with decision fatigue.

Practice Inclusion

Do your homework; spending time growing familiar with the various holidays that fall during the same month as Thanksgiving this year.  While many of my students enjoy Thanksgiving, some are more focused on upcoming Hanukkah celebrations, recently passed Diwali, or thinking about a lost loved one they honored for Veteran's Day.  Connecting through music offers everyone a chance to be seen.

Choose Joy

It is far too easy to get distracted by the things we need to do, but make a concentrated effort to enjoy the SIMPLE GIFTS of your classroom; kids laughing and being creative, dancing, singing, and playing instruments, and wonderful colleagues.