Pilgrim and Native Songs

Pilgrim and Native Songs

Here are some Pilgrim and Native Songs that teach about the very first Thanksgiving. Some of these songs used to use the word "Indian" and I have substituted Native to be more sensitive to the Native American culture. The Thanksgiving story is a great example of sharing and cooperation.

Thanksgiving Things Sung to: "The Farmer and the Dell"
Hit the floor to the beat
The turkey in the pen
The turkey in the pen
All the children come and see
The turkey in the pen

Tap your knees to the beat
The pilgrims in the boat
The pilgrims in the boat
All the children come and see

The pilgrims in the boat

Clap your hands to the beat
The Natives in the field
The Natives in the field
All the children come and see
The Natives in the field

Snap fingers or swish hands to the beat
The pumpkins in the patch
The pumpkins in the patch
All the children come and see
The pumpkins in the patch

Clap hands over head to the beat
The butter in the churn
The butter in the churn
All the children come and see
The butter in the churn

Idea #1: You could divide up the groups to keep each beat and add the other groups as the song continues so that buy the end the whole class is keeping the beat in five different ways

Idea #2: After singing the song through you could start again, only this time singing it backwards starting with "butter in the churn"
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Celebrate Sung to: "The Ants go Marching One by One"
The pilgrims are coming to celebrate, Hurrah, hurrah
The pilgrims are coming to celebrate, Hurrah, hurrah
The pilgrims are coming so don't be late
They'll sing and dance to celebrate
And we'll all have fun, so hurry and don't be late.

Substitute the following lines
The Natives are coming to share their food
The children are coming to play some games
The mothers are coming to cook the food
The fathers are coming to trade their goods

Idea #1: Choose children to represent the people in the song and act out the story

Idea #2: Talk about the games children might play in those times compared to what children play now. Discuss what the fathers might trade or how the 
mothers cook the food.


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Sail the Mayflower Sung to "Row, row, row your boat"
Sail, sail, sail the Mayflower
Gently across the sea
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Pilgrims now are free

Chop, chop, chop the wood
Put it in a pile
Build a little log cabin
That will make you smile.

Children find a partner and sit down facing them. They hold hands and rock back and forth to "sail, sail." On the next chorus the pat hands together for "chop, chop." Then they make a house by reaching their hands up and putting them together with their partner.
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Another Ten Little Natives Sung to: "Ten Little Indians"
1 little, 2 little, 3 little Natives
4 little, 5 little, 6 little Natives
7 little, 8 little, 9 little Natives
10 little Native boys and girls

They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over
10 little Native boys and girls

They swam and they swam, and they swam to their mother
They swam and they swam, and they swam to their mother
They swam and they swam, and they swam to their mother
10 little Native boys and girls

She hugged and kissed them and sent them to bed
She hugged and kissed them and sent them to bed
She hugged and kissed them and sent them to bed
10 little Native boys and girls

Idea #1: Have children pop up when you count the Natives
Idea #2: Act out the story with motions
Idea #3: Count the Natives backwards, starting with 10 little, 9 little
Idea #4: Skip count the Natives
2 little, 4 little, 6 little Natives
8 little, 10 little 12 little Natives
14, 16, 18 Natives; 20 little Native boys and girls