Why is the struggling winter of the Pilgrims portrayed in a better light than the Starving Time of Jamestown?  Why has the story of the Pilgrims and Indians become the foundation of Americana?  And how can we show kids that the way history is told may be biased?

Let’s look at the stories of Columbus, Jamestown, and Plymouth as sports teams.  Teams need a defense and an offense.  Defense – why are they on the field, and offense, what good did they do?  In the popular stories we tell about them, do they have any penalties against them?  Who were their leaders and were they good?  Did they have cheerleaders – extra people to make the story better?

The best story wins.

(Ask the kids questions to get the answers.  Write it out on a piece of paper or white board so they can see.)

Team C

Defense – God and King 2 pts
Offense – Discovery 1 pt
Leader – Columbus 1 pt
————who was ineffective -.5
Penalty – Wiped out indigenous people  -2 pts
Cheerleaders – Ferdinand and Isabella 2pts

Total 3.5 pts

Team J

Defense – Adventure, God and King 3 pts
Offense – lean survival .5pts
Leaders – John Smith,  1 pt
————-who got hurt -.5
Penalty – Starving Time -2 pts
Cheerleaders – Pocahontas 1 pt

Total 3 pts

Team P

Defense – God and King, Freedom of Religion 3 pts
Offense – Surviving and Thriving 2 pts
Leaders – Bradford, Winthrop, Brewster 3 pts
Penalty – none in the way we tell the myth. (Native American conflict could be an answer. -1)
Cheerleaders – Squanto and Samoset 2 pts

Total 10 pts (9)

In the way these stories are popularly told, team P is portrayed as victims, while Teams C and J as the selfish intruders.

If you want to get people on your side, make them feel bad for you, and then show them how good you are, and make your success their success.

Part 1 – The First Thanksgiving and the Myth of America
Part 2 – The Myth of America – Columbus, Christ-Bearer
Part 3 – The Myth of America – Jamestown – The Wrong Story To Tell
Part 4 – Pilgrims – God’s Provision at the Expense of Other People
Part 5 – Myth of America – Biased History Lesson
Part 6 – The Mayflower Compact – for God and King and White America
Part 7 – The First Thanksgiving – for a Massacre
Part 8 – The First Thanksgiving – Fears, Power, and Privilege
Part 9 – Colonialism – A History Lesson with Skittles
Part 10 – Myth of the First Thanksgiving – Other Festivals and Thanksgiving
Part 11 – Myth of America – The Clash of Spiritualities
Part 12 – The First Thanksgiving – A Day of Mourning
Part 13 – Resources

This series is available as a 40 page pdf, giving an introductory look at settler colonialism as it relates to the founding of America.  Discusses Columbus, Jamestown, Pilgrims and Native Americans and includes 4 lessons to teach the topics to kids.
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