Free Museum Helps Kids Learn About Thanksgiving

During Thanksgiving we celebrate the harvest. The first American peoples may not have been the ones that landed on Plymouth Rock, but they still harvested.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian is a free museum in Washington DC. We visited this past weekend with our cousins from Florida. 

You can see many tribes including some of Virginia's first peoples, which 4th graders are studying this year. The Virginia tribes include Algonquian and Pamunkey.

The Pamunkey tribe has a whole circular area with a boat that you could drive and learn facts, pictures, and even more facts. Learning where we live is fun. Jacob, 8, from Florida, said "My favorite part was all the interactive exhibits."

There is an interactive childrens area where you can weave a basket, go inside, and see houses, and other fun activities. Becca, 6, Florida, said "weaving baskets, the baskets were my favorite part."

You can eat lunch or just have a snack and buy food from different tribes. 

Janet Clark, Museum Program Specialist, said she would like kids to learn about "Native Americans in the 21st century." Linda Martin, Acting Manager for Cultural Arts Unit, who is a Navajo Indian said, "They are not stuck in the past.  They are just like us!"

If you are looking for something to do Thanksgiving weekend or all year, visit the National Museum of the American Indian.