When I was in first grade I was in a Thanksgiving play like millions of average American grade schoolers before and after me. I'm pretty sure the popularity of doing a play was to imprint the first Thanksgiving in our little noggins. The play that we did at Temperanceville Elementary School was a pretty standard deal. For better or worse, here is what has stuck with me.
-Guys want to be a Pilgrim. Girls want to be a Native American (and yes, we said the "I" word back then).
-Tall paper Pilgrim hats are not weather proof, but they make you bullet (and arrow) proof later on the playground. It is almost as good as a super hero cape.
-Being a Pilgrim means you get to wear big buckles on your shoes, belt, and hat. These are part of the force field that make you bullet (and arrow) proof. The Native Americans on the playground do not like hearing this when informed.
-The Native American boys get to hold a bow & arrows which was reasonably cool, but is somewhat diminished due to the suction cups on the arrows. The adults constantly warn to be careful because you could shoot an eye out. Daisy Red Rider BB guns were not yet invented when the first Thanksgiving occurred.
-The best guy role is the Pilgrim that gets to use "The Axe". This is slightly diminished when you discover it is not a real axe, but it is still the best role.
-That kid who never sits still (this was before ADD) gets to be The Turkey. He embraces this role. Embraces.
-No one wants to be The Corn, even though Mrs. Gladyings, our teacher, assures us this is a very key role.
-Evidently Pilgrims and Native Americans really enjoy Welch's grape juice and jello salad with their turkey, corn, and other traditional dishes.
-The official Thanksgiving colors are orange and brown. The official Christmas colors of red and green season will soon follow. These colors are much easier to remember than the colors of Advent season. Crayola should provide spares of these four colors in every crayon box.
-Football was not yet invented, but an extra long recess so the attending parents could talk was an adequate substitute.