Popcorn, chocolate & strawberry ice cream join turkey as students’ favorite dishes for Thanksgiving

Kindergarten students learned about the holiday, including the value of gratitude, at Charleroi Elementary Center.

Livia Seraly and Lincoln Rotolo dance during a kindergarten lesson on Thanksgiving at Charleroi Elementary Center. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent

Before most families started prepping their Thanksgiving menus, the kindergartners at Charleroi Elementary already had theirs set.

Popcorn, chocolate, turkey and strawberry ice cream topped the lists as Melissa Vitali’s class kicked off the holiday with a lesson on gratitude.

Vitali said teaching young children big lessons can be tricky, but using stories with colorful characters helps the kids resonate more easily with big feelings.

“When we are talking about gratitude and being thankful I use a lot of stories, like Bear Gives Thanks,” she said. “They love Bear and his friends, so we talk about friendship and how they show that they care.”

She hopes the message lands in a way they can carry with them.

“My hope is that the kids will see what makes everyone special and why they are important to them,” she said.

With the meaning of gratitude fresh in their minds, the class moved to their desks and pulled out their crayons and colored pencils as one by one they raised their hands to tell Vitali what they were thankful for this year.

At first the room settled a bit, but it didn’t take long when asked what the foods they are most thankful for to start spilling out.

Popcorn. Chocolate. Strawberry ice cream. Sprinkles. Turkey and chicken. Buttered corn. Candy. Stuffing.

And of course, a late, loud favorite: chicken nuggets.

When they shifted to the people in their lives, the tone softened.

Dad. Mom. Neighbors. Teachers. Friends.

Gram and Pap. Brothers. Sisters. Uncles. Aunts.

A few students added cats and dogs without a second thought. One wrote “school,” which earned a quiet smile from Vitali.

“I love their answers,” she said. “It is so sweet that their families all come to them first, especially their moms.”

The kids stayed true to their age group, breaking into wiggles and mini dances between tasks.

Vitali offered a quick dance break, and they took it seriously.

Music filled the classroom and the students strutted, flapped and shook their “tail feathers” in wide, dramatic moves. Some laughed so hard they had to stop.

Others stayed fully in character, determined to be the best turkey in the room.

Teaching moments like this stay with Vitali long after the day ends.

“I love teaching lessons like this because the little ones have such big hearts and see the world with such innocence,” she said.

She sees something hopeful in the way they approach gratitude.

“I never finish a lesson like this without smiling,” Vitali said. “It really gives you a sense of hope for the future.”