Stone Soup for the Teacher's Soul

Imagine having nine three year olds wiggling in their little plastic chairs in front of you after you have cajoled and herded them over to the "magic carpet" (oh if only that darn carpet were magic). Explain to them that which we call a Pilgrim. As you ponder that one has just tipped his plastic chair over while two others are poking each other in a contest that is guaranteed to end up with tears and a faint echo of "you'll poke your eye out with that thing!". Too hard? Try explaining what a turkey has to do with Thanksgiving without converting them to vegetarianism. Oops, you just lost one and he is now rounding the table and headed for the sink where the water is dripping so temptingly. Yes, this is why I refuse to teach Thanksgiving. Instead I teach what I consider the critical concepts behind the entire holiday, leaving the historical confusion and political dilemmas out - sharing and working together. Besides, any time I can get in a lesson on sharing that does not involve separating two children clinging esperately to opposing sides of a toy is a bonus. So we read the book Stone Soup and then make our own Stone Soup by working together and sharing what we each have. On the day before Thanksgiving break we then have a feast where we eat our soup (or dump it on the floor depending on your preferred method of consumption), share different foods to try, and celebrate working together. Last year this was a disaster because our soup caught fire and so we had Campbells' Vegetable Soup to share. This year was precious. Each child worked hard to cut up vegetables, with assistance and the dullest plastic knives manufactured and tested repeatedly on my own flesh. Then I cooked them up into a turkey soup, a miracle of miracles considering I have never made soup before that did not start and end with the can opener. For our feast they worked together to decorate table cloths and to set the table with our little plastic dishes. I am saving the fine china for the day when it snows in Death Valley. Then they shared a feast of their soup (which they actually ate - well, one ate by osmosis through their clothing), chalah bread, strawberries, apples, and juice. No one ran around the table, no one dumped their drinks (and drinks in open cups!!),no one borrowed from someone else's plate, no one crawled onto the floor to reclaim that dropped bite, and no one poked-hit-kicked-argued-yelled-slapped-bit-spit-scratched-punched-hit-with-a-utensil their neighbor. I may have cursed their families for Thanksgiving by having them behave so perfectly during our test run! Oops!! They were proud of their soup and really seemed to understand sharing. Now by Monday sharing will have vanshed like that last piece of Pumpkin Pie and we will be back to ripping the limbs off of Elmo before we let a friend have a turn, but at that moment all was peaceful in our little world. Best of all, everyone at that table was equal. Everyone had contributed in their way and everyone was recognized for their contribution - everyone was an equal member of our class. At least with three year olds it really seems like you can quickly create a community where differences disappear and children are just children. They understand that some children use words to communicate, some use sign language, some use pictures, and some use their bodies and hearts. They don't question that some children walk and other's use really cool wheels; some children have mastered the big potty and some need more time; some children can build masterpieces out of Legos and other children play with cool toys connected to switches. They just see their friends, other cool kids who like the movie Cars and strawberry ice cream and to swing up into the sky and to laugh until they fall down and to listen to the same silly songs. If a friend needs help they provide it without me asking them - they help push a friend's wheel chair or hold on to it as they walk alongside just as they hold hands and walk with other friends, they run over to offer comfort when someone is upset, they help their friends to follow directions, they make sure everyone has a toy. So will they remain this way if we never teach them prejudice? For now I will treasure my sweet Stone Soup making, sharing, unjudging, wise little ones. For them I am truly thankful.