Dear Parents,
Our class will read the story Molly’s Pilgrim starting on Monday until Thanksgiving. In the story the story the main character, Molly, is asked to make a pilgrim doll for the class’s Thanksgiving sand table. When she explains the project to her mother, Molly’s mama quickly takes over the project. She creates a doll from a clothespin that looks very much like herself. When Molly questions this, her mother explains, “I did that on purpose… A pilgrim is someone who came here from the other side to find freedom. That’s me Molly. I’m a pilgrim!”
We realize that Molly’s mom is right. She is a modern pilgrim. We wondered if we had modern pilgrims (immigrants) in our own families who came to America for a new life. To celebrate the book and our own heritage, we will create our own modern pilgrim dolls. Is there someone in your family tree that made that brave trip to America? How can you show that person? What would he/she look like? What would they have worn? (Remember your family pilgrim will not look like the “Mayflower” Pilgrims, unless they actually can from England in 1620)
Molly used a clothespin to make her pilgrim, but we’ll use a 1 liter or 2 liter plastic bottle for the body and a styrofoam ball for the head. Everyone will have the same basic body structure, but you should dress your doll to represent your family pilgrim. You can use any materials (paint, cloth, beads, yarn, buttons, etc.) to decorate your doll.
Please do NOT spend a lot of money on this project. Construction paper, old rags, or items in your home will work wonderfully! The styrofoam balls are available at the Dollar Tree in Canfield, Hobby Lobby and other craft stores. Examples of past dolls can be found on our teacher websites. This will replace homework until after Thanksgiving break. The only homework is the Doll and Poster turn it in anytime before the due date.
Molly’s mother made the doll for Molly, but I encourage you to make this a family project. Everyone can learn so much by helping to create the pilgrim doll. It will be interesting to share all of our family stories. Thanks for making this study possible!
Sincerely,
Third Grade Teachers
YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
O Make your modern pilgrim and bring it to school
O Also, fill in the PASSPORT POSTER about your family member in your own handwriting. Please write any information that will help tell about your family pilgrim and his/her story.
*You can draw or print a picture of your immigrant and country
*Try to include an estimated date of when your immigrant left.
*Also, include the reason your family member left and where they settled
in the USA.