By Kathryn Reed

Gobble, gobble, gobble might be what turkeys do, but it was what kindergartners at Sierra House were doing, too.

With Indian and turkey hats made of construction paper, and faces showing determination not to spill, the youngsters went from room to room filling their plates with turkey, corn bread, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Sierra House students load up their plates. Photo/Kathryn Reed

This progressive feast has been going on for a few years at this South Lake Tahoe elementary school. Each of the Preppie K and kindergarten classes cook a dish that day at school. Only the turkey is cooked off-site by adults. When the feast is ready, they go from room to room loading up on edibles before returning to their classroom to indulge in the feast.

“I don’t want any of that,” one boy said. The adult in the room said saying, “No, thank you” is the proper way to respond to not wanting something. He corrected himself.

Manners were a large part of the lesson on this Thursday before the real Thanksgiving– even if the kids didn’t know it.

Pam Matteucci made sure none of her kids started eating until everyone was seated. Those seated first were to sit quietly with their hands in their laps. Before digging in they had to say “Happy Thanksgiving” to the person seated next to them.

Brandon Leavens enjoys his Thanksgiving feast. Photo/Kathryn Reed

“I like the turkey and popcorn. I like the popcorn because it’s salted,” Holly McLaughlin said. “I like the turkey because it’s meaty and juicy and I like meat.”

Brandon Leavens had no problem finishing his pie. He said it was really good and that his mom doesn’t make pumpkin pie. Max Szajner had his pie done before anything else on his plate

And like many adult Thanksgiving plates, some of the cranberry sauce was left behind.

“It shows the spirit of Thanksgiving Day because the Native Americans and pilgrims share their food,” explained Alison Riegel, one of the teachers.

The teaching of Thanksgiving was more than just a one-day lesson plan. Place mats were made in preparation for the meal; they were laminated so they could be reused. Necklaces that the kids wore were strung with colored macaroni. Hats were created. Classrooms were decorated.

Songs about turkeys were sung – something about “gobble, gobble don’t eat me.” But no one took it literally.