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