By LESLIE COLLINS
Northeast News
November 21, 2012
This year, we decided to get a different take on Turkey Day. We asked Garfield Elementary first graders several questions about the Thanksgiving holiday and the youngsters didn’t disappoint. Read below for tips on how to cook a turkey in record time and why we celebrate Thanksgiving.
Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
The pilgrims they came on a ship and they sailed on the Mayflower. It was a big trip. The seasons – winter was hard. And spring came. – Marcus Lee
Because it was snowing and because it’s Christmas and because we get presents. You play in the snow. You eat a turkey. – Mustafa Ali Agha
Because of November. – Sumaya Abdirizak
We celebrate turkey and being nice. – Mariana Barrett
Because of a feast. – Ricardo Mendoza
Because it’s good. – Julian Almaraz
I don’t know. I don’t guess. – Saw Mateh
Because it’s exciting. Because it’s a family thing. – Ryshod Mercer
It’s good for your family. – Dulce Tello-Barrientos
Because we eat food and good cheers. And we give food and then we eat it and after we eat the food, we go to buy thanksgiving stuff, like presents. – Rigoberto Salazar
Because of lilies. – Emma Rodriquez
It’s a celebration. – Myasengo Yee
Because we have fun. Because we eat. – Devon Hamilton
To celebrate Jesus. – Talon Gammon
Because it’s probably what they do in their country. – Ta’Niya Wilson
Because of Hello Kitty. – Cadence Woods
Because people love Thanksgiving. – Demarcus Conrad
What are you thankful for?
Teacher, friends. – Myasengo Yee
I’m thankful for friends and my friend Cher. – Devon Hamilton
My mom and dad. – Samiyah Parker
My teacher, my mom, my dad. – Ta’Niya Wilson
Family. – Saw Mateh
Hello Kitty. – Cadence Woods
Captain America, wrestling, my mom, my brother, my sister and my cousin. – Demarcus Conrad
I (get to) share good things with my brothers, like candy and toys. – Rigoberto Salazar
I’m thankful for presents and the snow and Santa and the turkey and my sister and my dad and mom. – Mustafa Ali Agha
I’m thankful for my family and my pretty bike. – Mariana Barrett
My family and God. – Talon Gammon
My family and my dad. – Mariana Fierro Solis
My cousins, my brother, my sister, my mama, my daddy. – Marcus Lee
For my family. – Johana Ortiz-Morales
My cousins, my family. – Brayan Beltrand
My friends, my teacher, my family. – Sumaya Abdirizak
Presents. – Emma Rodriquez
My new school, school lunch, recess, computers, my mom and dad. – Ricardo Mendoza.
My teacher and my friends and my mom and my brother. – Julian Almaraz
I’m thankful for my family and my friends. – Ryshod Mercer
I’m thankful for my family. – Dulce Tello-Barrientos
How do you cook a turkey?
You should go and hunt for one of them and kill them. Then cut off the head. Then you put some little bit of salad with it. Cook it in the oven for 5 minutes at 2 degrees. – Mariana Fierro Solis
Put it in the oven for 12 minutes at 2 degrees. – Johana Ortiz-Morales
Put it in the oven for 90 seconds at 10 degrees. – Brayan Beltrand
You kill a turkey and then you eat it. Cook it in the oven for 4 minutes at a little bit hot. – Emma Rodriquez
First you do the head, then you do the neck, then you cook it. Put it in the oven for 16 or 18 minutes at 16 degrees. – Talon Gammon
In the microwave for 4 hours. – Ricardo Mendoza
Hmm. You put it in the pot and you take the thing out of the hole, and you put it in the oven and then it’s done. I would put it in there for like 10 minutes at 20 degrees. – Ryshod Mercer
Catch it and put it in the kitchen and cook it. Take the feathers out. Cook it on the stove for 50 hours. – Dulce Tello-Barrientos
Put a little circle in there and then you make the big circle for the turkey. You put it in the oven and close the oven and when it’s done you take the turkey out. And then you start eating it and then when you’re full, you get to go play again. Cook the turkey for 5 hours at 24 degrees. – Marcus Lee
Oh. My mom cooks it and my dad gets the knife and he takes the turkey and cuts it in half. And my friends can come and eat it. – Mustafa Ali Agha
Put it in the oven for 20 minutes at 20 degrees. – Sumaya Abdirizak
You get a turkey and you put it in the oven and you get it out and you eat it. Cook it for 5 minutes at 6 degrees. – Mariana Barrett
Put it in the oven for 4 hours at 2 degrees. – Myasengo Yee
Put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 1 degree. – Devon Hamilton
You get the juicer that sucks up the juice and squeeze it back out. And we cook it (turkey) in the oven for 10 or 15 minutes at 10 degrees. – Samiyah Parker
Put it in the oven for 6 minutes at 5 degrees. – Ta’Niya Wilson
On the stove for 10 minutes. – Julian Almaraz
In the microwave for 1 minute. – Saw Mateh
In the microwave for 8 minutes. – Cadence Woods
First, you put it in the oven. When it gets done, take it out, and then do the corn and macaroni and cheese. The macaroni and cheese goes in the pan and the corn goes in another pan and you cook it. Cook the turkey for 16 minutes at 8 degrees. – Demarcus Conrad
With the oven for like 6 minutes at 5 degrees. – Rigoberto Salazar