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What first-graders are thankful for in 2021: Pokemon, tarantulas and nursing homes
Saint Paul Pioneer Press - 11/21/2021
Nov. 21—There's something interesting about the gratitude of first-graders this Thanksgiving.
In 2020, when the pandemic was new and no one had yet been vaccinated, children drew pictures of people wearing masks; they wrote about distance learning. They gave thanks for toilet paper and for not getting COVID-19.
A year later, the coronavirus is still infecting our daily lives, but it appears to have faded into the background for many of these first-graders. Because, even as Minnesota contends with a fourth COVID-19 surge, the children gave thanks much as first-graders did in the "before times": These 6- and 7-year-olds are back in school, and thankful for their teachers and friends. Last Thanksgiving, before vaccines, indoor family gatherings were discouraged. This year, more families are gathering even before that holiday meal and kids are giving thanks for daily soaks in the hot tub with their grandparents and drawing pictures of themselves without masks.
Still, these are also children who are living through "plague times" and they seem to focus on themes of safety, protection and survival more than we can recall from years past: They thank "community helpers" and their families and even the Earth for protecting them. They appreciate the shelter and coziness of their homes, and snuggling and cuddling with moms and dads, pets and stuffed animals. And they certainly haven't forgotten about the pandemic: There is thanks here for being able to go to school in person, and for being able to be with grandparents and other family members again. Pandemic trends are illustrated here, too: So many of our entrants are thankful for pandemic puppies and kitties (a bearded dragon gets a shout out, too).
There's a universality to childhood, and that never changes. Read on for the joy of jumping on a trampoline, playing tag or collecting Pokemon cards. They appreciate swimming lessons and they are thankful for tarantulas. Mostly, though, these kids seem to appreciate people who spend time with them (like that dad who plays "Madden" with his first-grader, or the family members who attend a student's hockey games). What are they most thankful for? Besides "thankful" — a word the students pretty much had to use for our annual gratitude assignment — the most-used words were, in descending order: family, mom, love, friends, God, dad, school, play and food.
As usual, going through the entries is fun — partly because we could go through them together this year (with masks) — and hey, MariAnna, thank you for being thankful for "the people who are going to pick" (that's us!). Some entries made us emotional, like Julie's gratitude for the memories of loved ones who have "past away." And Violeta made us laugh with her well-written sentence: "I am thankful for bunnies," she wrote, "because they are cute and hoppity-hop."
A programming note: We received hundreds of entries and we tried to use most of them (as long as we could understand the creative spelling). However, we could only use images in print that arrived by our deadline. Also, we kept the creative spelling intact as much as possible.
Thank you again to all the teachers and kids (and family members) for helping us to continue this annual community tradition!
Ascension Catholic School, Minneapolis (Theresa Culpert's class):
I am thankful for my mom. — Derrick
I am thankful for my dog. — Isaiah
I am thankful for my cousins and family. — Kredy
I am thankful for my family. — Leah
My name is London. I am thankful for my family. — London
I am thankful for my family. — Natalia
I am thankful for my brothers. — Nyla
I am thankful for my cat. — Zerenity
Ascension Catholic School, Minneapolis (Miss Hoye's class)
I am thankful Mom Dad Sister Good breakfast. — Alex
I am thankful for house. — Brooklyn
I am thankful for family and Jesus and God. — Dennis
I am thankful for Jesus. Jesus is keeping me healthy. — Elaina
I am thankful for love Jesus! — Ivianna
I am thankful for family brother friends mom. — Jade
I am thankful for my mom and my Dad. — Jaidynn
I am thankful for my dogs because I like to pet them and snugl with them. — James
I am thankful for dogs. — Kaitlyn
I am thankful for my mom and my Dad and thankful for my brother. — LeeLen
I am thankful for my family. — Major
I am thankful for my Mom and Dad. — Makayla
I am thankful for my mom my family and The people who are going to pick and also The old people and my sister and Miss Hoye. — MariAnna
I am thankful for my family and my friends and my siblings and my brother and my sister and my mom and my two dads!!!! — Michelle
I am thankful for my mom. She does a lot of work. — Nicole
I am thankful for my baby sister, Olivia. I like being a big brother. She is a lot of fun to play with. — Owen
I am thankful for Jesus and God. — Zavihor
Brookview Elementary School, Woodbury
I am thankful for Food and water and the holidays Family and Friends and toys. — Chase
Eagle Point Elementary School, Oakdale
I am thankful for my famel because thay love me. — Trenton
I love Setu because I love that he givz us preitis on krismas kusIam and I owas wonit to get my fravit prasizs. — Nora
I am thankful for my frends because thay have fun with me. — Madi
I am thankful for my techere because I love my techere. — Ellis
I am thankful for my haws because I like sheltr. — Skyler
I am thankful for my houm because it ceps me saf. — Sophia
I am thankful for scool because I can lrn. — Naomi
I am thankful for My mommy and Daddy and my bruthr because they help me. — Ada
I am thankful for pizza because I like to eat it. — Aiden
I am thankful for my sool bEcause it maks me smrtr! — Alice
I am thankful for makeing a cake in the Hous because it maked me happy. — Amelia
I am thankful for my friends because they are friendle. — Autumn
I am thankful for my friends. — Anas
I am thankful for school because We do art. — Ava
I am thankful for my famle because I luvo them. — Beckett
I am thankful for my brothers. — Bobby
I am thankful for my sistisr and mom because I luv them. — Brayden
I am thankful for my teacher. — Chase
I am thankful for my family kus I love my parents and I love my family and I love me to. — Della
I am thankful for my famle because my mom looves me! — Eliana
I am thankful for the erth because it loves me. — Harrison
I am thankful for my klas because it is wille spesll!!!! — Isaac
I am thankful for my nama because I slepovr at her haws! — Jacob
I am thankful for my mom because I can hang out with her! — Jameson
I am thankful for Parants because they help me when I need help. — Johnnie
I am thankful for my dog because he maks me fel betr. — Kameron
I am thankful for jroinig (drawing) be kus it is fun. — Kees
I am thankful for my scool because its fun and we can learn!!! — Kit
I am thankful for lions because we can pet them. — Liam
I am thankful for my Pkeomepc (Pokemon) because they are special. — Liam S.
I am thankful for my Gapanp because he dose eveayteing. He mostly dose the Grdin. — Lucien
I am thankful for my family because thay giv me lots of Love. — McKenna
I am thankful for my famuly because they are kind. — Natalie
"I am thankful for my family because they love me too." — Nyota
I am thankful for EaglePoint because EaglePoint make you lrn work respect belong because we lisn like eagles. — Olivia. (Editor's note: The school's motto is "Work. Respect. Belong").
I am thankful for my school becase i love learning. — Peyton
I am thankful for my famaley because I love tham so much. — Sa'Bryah
I am thankful for reading with my family. — Theo
I am thankful for my family because they make me happy. — Zoey
Global Arts Plus, St. Paul
"I am thankful for playing catch with my dad!" — Mercury
Harambee Elementary School, Maplewood
"I am thankful for swimming lessons Be cause then we can go on the canoe." — Nora
Kaposia Education Center, South St. Paul
I am thankful for my birthday because I can spend time with my family. — Amiliana
I am thankful for minecaft because I get to explore new places. — Sammy
I am thankful for my dogs because they can fetch. — Addy
I am thankful for nature because it's pretty and some tims it will make you live. — Aria
I am thankful for my dad because he snuggles with me when I am sad. — Annalise
I am thankful for my brother because he is nice. — Max
I am thankful for teachers. — Yacxiri
I am thankful for my family because I love them. — Andrew
I am thankful for my birthday because I can spend time with my family. — Hayden
I'm thankful for my brother because is happy. — Daleyza
I am thankful for my dog because he is nice. — Ariyah
I am thankful for toys. — Daniel
I am thankful for penguins because they eat fish. — Jamisen
I am thankful for my mom because she is nice. — Sophie
I am thankful for my family because they all get along. — Darwyn
I am thankful for my family. — Gretchen
I am thankful for my friends. — Christine
I am thankful for my mommy. — Lillian
I am thankful for the universe. — Malyah
I am thankful for our Earth. — Joel
I am thankful for my family. — Gerayah
I am thankful for my friends. — Hailey
I am thankful. — Erik
I am thankful for sister. — Serayah
I am thankful for my dad. — Jesse
I am teacher. — Hayden
I am thankful for my friends my teacher. — Mikayla
I am thankful for my Dad. — Casia
I am thankful for my friends. — Mia
I am thankful for my dad because he givs me egg and bacon. — Rilee
I am thankful for my elf on the shelf. — Braelyn
I am thankful for my grandma and grandpa because they have a hot tub. They let me swim in their hot tub every night. — Austin
I am thankful for my bearded dragon because I love it and he lets me hold him. — Ava
I am thankful for my grandmas dog because she helps me when people come. — Melody
I am thankful for my talking Sonic doll so I make him run. — Kellen
I am thankful for teachers. She helps us learn and go to the gym and she helps find our parents. — Mia
I am thankful for my brother because he plays tag with me. — Hendrix
I am thankful for my lazy cat because he lets me pet him. He also let's me carry him and rub his belly. — Demir
I am thankful for my sister because when I break things she fixes it. — Genesis
I am thankful for my family because they give me food. — Aidan
I am thankful for Dad and Mom because they cook. They cook me pezza and spaghetti. — Crosby
I am thankful for my friend Avery because she is nice to me. When she is nice to me it feels like a warm hug. — Haddie
I am thankful for my mom because she makes food whenever I ask. — Enrique
I am thankful for my grandmas because they let me play with their cats and they let me sleep with them. — Victoria
I am thankful Bailey is my friend. — Jaidalynn
I am thankful for the animals and the earth. And the family because I want to help the animals. — Alexis
I am thankful for the city. — Suzi
I am thankful for the animals. — Avery
I am thankful for my family and friends. Cooper Bell and I like to play. — Mason
I am thankful for everything — Sebastian
I am thankful for sharing a roof with my family. — Jesus
I am thankful for my family. — Lillian
I am thankful for helping others. — Beliw
I am thankful for my family. — Savannah
I am thankful for my dog Toby because he licks me. — Keven
I am thankful for our Earth. — Steven
I am thankful for Baby Yoda. — Gussy
I am thankful for my bird because he goes on my shoulder and he lets my pet him. — Jorge
I am thankful for my family. — Elizabeth
I am thankful for my daddy and mom because they serve me dinner. — Lexi
I am thankful for my mom because I luv hr so much. — Delilah
Hilltop Elementary School, Inver Grove Heights
I am thankful for my grandma because she brings me to fun plasi. — Andie
I am thankful for my mom because I love her. — Eden
I am thankful for my uncle because he gives me presents. — Angelina
I am thankful for my famle because they play with me. — Ella
I am thankful for mi birthday because it is on february 2 and it is groundhog day. — Lucy
I am thankful for my dog Ede because he plays wiff me. — Jocelyn
I am thankful for my family. — Lola
I am thankful for my mom. — Adley
I am thankful for my family. — Nykeria
I am thankful for my family. — Millie
I am thankful for my cats. — Frances
School of St. Joseph, West St. Paul
I am thankful for cars because you can drive somewhere. I am thankful for planes because you can fly in it. — Milo
I am thankful for my mom and dad. — Lilian
I am thankful for family and myself. — Audrey
I'm thankful for my life. I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for my school. I'm thankful for my food. — Rylie
I am thankful for my class. I am thankful for the Earth. — Eleanor
I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my food. I am thankful for my cat. I am thankful for my friende. — Sophia
I am thankful for my friends and class. — Cora
I am thankful for turkeys to eat. — Oliver
I am thankful for my friends and my family. — James
I am thankful for my family because they help me know skool. — Valerie
I am thankful for pets. — Landon
I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my food. I am thankful for my water. — Henry
I am thankful for Jesus and the Earth. — Alexander
I am thankful for my family and my dog and my home. — Aaron
I am thankful for having good meals. They are very delicious meals. — Mason
I am thankful for my friends. I like to play sports with my friends. — David
I am thankful for Minecraft because I like to play it. — James
I am thankful for the teachers because they are nice. — Landon
I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for stuff. I am thankful for food. — Carly
I am thankful for my family. — Harper
I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for food and water. I am thankful for my Pricipal. I am thankful for the world. — Cecilia
Holy Spirit School, St. Paul
I am thankful for God because he made the wodd. — Keni
I am thankful for friends and family because they keep me company. — Theresa
I am thankful for my famale because I like my famale! — Weston
I am thankful for libraire because it helps me git betr. — Cooper
I am thankful for my mom and my dad and Atticus and my dog because they are nice to me. — Harrison
I am thankful for God because God made the world. — Gus
I am thankful for rainbows because they are pretty. — Gus
I am thankful for tarantulas. — Tommy
I am thankful for my brother because he is nice. — Liza
I am thankful for My family because they care about me and for My home because it is safe and for trampolines because they are so so fun and for friends because they are nice. — Bridget
I am thankful for my dog because he is fluffy. — Fredrik
I am thankful for sunsets because I can watch them. — Annika
I am thankful for my special box because my Grandma gave me a box. — Finlay
I am thankful for outerspace because it is beautiful. — Georgia
I am thankful for military helmets. — Zeke
I am thankful for me and Zeke being born. — Zeb
Pine Hill Elementary, Cottage Grove
I am thankful for pets. I like to feeb them. — Ellie
I am thankful for raibows because I love the of a rainbow. — Piper
I am thankful for snow because I like to bury my hands in the snow. — Aaron
I am thankful for my friends because I like to play. — Eyoel
I am thankful for: I like to eat dinner with my family because I love my family. — Paris
I am thankful for Max and Riley because they play with me on the trampoline. — Emma
I am thankful for family because my whole family is beautiful. — Bailey
I am thankful for bats because they find food in the dark. — Micah
I am thankful for pets because they are fun to play with. — Ethen
I am thankful for mom because I love her. — Bridget
I am thankful for teachers because they teach us new things. — Logan
I am thankful for mom because I go with my mom to the store. — Brianna
I am thankful for my family. — Edwin
I am thankful for toys because if I get bored I toys. — Charlie
I am thank for my mom because she buys me toys. — Rose
I am thankful for my dogs because they are fun to play with. — Steven
I am thankful for my stuffed because they make me happy. — Ava
I am thankful for my cat because they are fun to play with. — Liam
I am thankful for food because my family eats with me and my moms food is delicious. — Rebecca
I am thankful for my friend. — Joy
I am thankful for school because school helps me learn. — Cameron
I am thankful for my pets because I like to help feed the cats. — Juliana
I am thankful for my siblings because they are loving. — Hannan
I am thankful for my brother and sister because they love me. — Avery
I am thankful for my friends because I like playing with them. — Charlotte
I'm thankful for my family because I love them. — Kaylee
I am thankful for family because I love my family. — Anna
I am thankful for Earth because I learn about all the places. — Olivia
I am thankful for trees because they are homes for animals. — Nolan
I am thankful for schools because I play math games. — Aubrey
I am thankful for bats because they eat bugs and insects when they eat crops. — Felix
I am thankful for cornfields because you can eat corn. — Clayton
I am thankful for church because it is holy. — Ava
I am thankful for ipads because its fun and it has a lot of games. — Gladine
I am thankful for bats because they eat bugs that sting us. — Yusuf
I am thankful for Earth because. For the things we Can do on the Earth. — Charlie
I color with my family. — Dominic
I am thankful for grandma and papa because they are fun to be with. — Kendall
I am thankful for the united states because I can have fun here. — Trey
I am thankful for puppies because they are cute. — Mick
I am thankful for sharks because they are awesome. — Declan
I am thankful for nature because it is beautiful. — Luca
I am thankful for mom and dad because I love them and they love me. — Finley
I am thankful for water because it keeps us alive. — Mailo
I am thankful for God because he created the World. — Jim-David
Im thankful For nature because nature feels calm. — Arsema
I am thankful for my Mom because I like to make Cake with me and my Mom. — Brynn
I am thankful for Snow because I can go Sledding. — Jamie
I am thankful for park because I can play. — Isabella
I am thankful for Graham because I helped him when he fell. — Carsen
I am thankful for Sunny days because I can have picnic. — Glenda
I am thankful for snow because I like to I like snow. — Abel
I am thankful for space because I can ride a rocket. — Evelyn
I am th for sunny days because I. — Kimber
I am thankful for nursing homes. — Paetyn
I am thankful for my brother because my brother makes me lahe. — Brooklyn
I am thankful for friends because I like to play with my drone. — Landon
I am thankful for cat because my cat snuggles. — Graham
I am thankful for pets because I like pets. — Damian
I am thankful for the galaxy because it is above God and Jesus. — Adal
I am thankful for family because I like when I with My neighbors. — Dominic
I am thankful for my family because I can eat pizza. — Justin
I am thankful for miss summer and for pets because it plays with me. — Rediat
I am thankful for my family because I love you! — Croix
I am thankful for my family. — Vanessa
I am thankful for my mom. — Sergio
I am thankful for my mom and dad because I love them. — Harlow
I am thankful for my cousin because they play with me. — Sheila
I am thankful for my mom and dad because thy luv me. — Lucas
I am thankful for family and friends. — Sofia
I am thankful for Ms. Stokes because I like what I learn from Ms. Stokes. — Reagan
I am thankful for my family because I love them and they are so nice. — Ellie
I am thankful for Mom and Dad. — Liam
I am thankful for mom and dad and friends. — Ryan
I am thankful for dad because he makes me happy. — Eleanor
I am thankful for the earth. — Christian
I am thankful for my cousin because he is little. — Lily
I am thankful for dad because he makes me laugh and he makes me happy. — Yaneli
I am thankful for mo. — Raymond
I am thankful for the Earth because it is beautiful. — Owen
I am thankful for my mom and dad because tha are kind. I love you. I love you to. — Lylah
I am thankful for nursing homes because they help old people. — Maddi
I am thankful for the Earth because it brings us food. — Noah
Red Rock Elementary School, Woodbury
I am thankful for my mom because my mom helps me read. — Amelia
I am thank ful for my dog because he lets me pla with him. — Anna
I am thankful for my family because we make food. — Annika
I am thank ful for my Mom because she helps me cook. And my favrit thing to cook is cookies. With her. — Charlie
I am thankful for my dog because their so playful. — Christopher
I am thankful for my frend Theo because he haves fun with me. — Eland
I am thankful for my new puppy because she givs lots of kissis. — Emily
I am thankful for my Mom because she liks me! — Gus
I am thankful for my mom because she loves me and I am a good kid. — Jessica
I am thankful for my school because I can go to school in prson. — Joa
I am thankful for my kittens because he lets me pet him. — Mallory
I am thankful for my Grandma because she makes good siminrolls. And she lets me eat candy — Noah
I am thankful for my friend Eland. — Theo
I am thankful for my two pupees. I like when my dogs run in our backyard. — Trinity
I am thankful for my mom because she helps me. — Vaylen
I am thankful for my famuley. because they help me lrn. and after I git it rit. My dog gives me cisis. — Vivian
Royal Oaks Elementary School, Woodbury
I am thankful for my kind techr namde ann vogle. In 1st grade. I have loved the year so far. — Alex
I am thankful for my family and my friends because they make me happy. — Althea
I am thankful for my family because my mom is working really hard. She is staying strong. She even makes my practice. So does my dad. — Avery
I am thankful for the community helpers because they keep us safe. I want to be a police officer. — Brady
I am thankful for the army because they protect the world. — Breckyn
I am thankful for God bekus shee mad us. — Brody
I am thankful for nature. — Charlie
I am thankful for my dog becaus she keps me koze. — Dominic
I am thankful that I can wait for my mom to get my sister to sleep so we can snuggle. — Easton
I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play. — Eliza
I am thankful for my toy kitty because he calms me down when I am sad. — Everly
I am thankful for the air force because they keep us safe. — Graham
I am thankful for the world because that's wer pepl liv. — Harrison
I am thankful for my pokemon cards because I like to look at them. Some day I will play with them. — Henrik
I am thankful for God because he is the Best prsn in the hole wid wold and the king of everything. — Henry
I am thankful for my famle because my famle got me a dog for my birthday. — Jenna
I am thankful for the memories of my loved ones who have past away. They now live in heaven. — Julie
I am thankful for my big brane, because if we did not have a big brane we wood be dumb. — Mace
I am thankful for my sister because she plays with me. She plays LOLs with me. — Mikayla
I am thankful for food because if we did,t have food wed be ded and be strving! — Miles
I am thankful for the World othrwise we wud be ded because ther is no food in outrspas. — Molly
I am thankful for God. — Olivia
I am thankful for my dad because he plays Madden with me. — Reed
I am thangfoll for the milkeway bekos it is so BEYOOTEFOLL! — Sierra
I am thankful for my mom because she buys food. — Simeon
I am thankful for my mom because she plays with me. — Simona
I am thankful for my family because they watch my hockey games. — Wyatt
Rutherford Elementary School, Stillwater
I am thankful for being with my Family my cousins and grandma this year. — Bronson
St. Peters Catholic School, Forest Lake
I am thankful for the good family I have because they give me fun things to do like painting, pumpkin carving, and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomatoe soup. — Arya
St. Thomas More Catholic School, St. Paul
I am thankful for God Jesus, food and water. — Adella
I thank God for Mom and Ms. Walsh. — Aidan
I am thankful for my family, they take care of me a lot. — Alasdair
I thank God for Jesus because he died on the cross. — Alex
I am thankful for a nice cozy home. — Annie
I am thankful for cheetah, she is my special beanie babe. — Bella
I am thankful for my cousins. they make me happy. — Cieran
I am thankful for coloring. I like being creative. — Ellie
I am thankful for butterflies, because theyre cute. — Frankie
I am thankful for animals, they are helpful. — Hannah
I am thankful for nature, we can't survive without it. — Hazel
I am thankful for my family and my dog because I love them and angels. — Isabella
I thank God for my class and my family and God because I love them. — Iyla
I thank God for God, friends, my teacher and my classroom. — Izzy
I am thankful for my school, and my family and my friends and my teacher. — Jillian
I am thankful for God, my family, my friends. and myself and my priest. — Kimmie
I thank God for my class, my famley. becuse I love them. — Lee
I am thankful for Dad and Noble, Mom, my teacher. because she's kind. — Naomi
I am thankful for trees, they protect from the sun. — Noble
I am thankful for nature. it makes me happy. — Norah
I am thankful for God and my teacher because she is so nice! — Penny
I am thankful that Jesus died on the cross, to save us. — Per
I am thankful for my sister, I like to play with her. — Perrin
I thank God for my family and my teacher because I love her so much! — Soliana
I am thankful for my family, they are really nice to me. — Sylvia
I am thankful for bunnies, because they are cute and hoppity-hop. — Violeta
I am thankful for my brother, my cousins, my teacher and my mom, they're nice people. — Wadan
Transfiguration Catholic School, Oakdale
I am thankful for my family because thay are Special. — Ava
I am thankful for my kitten he is so cute. — Averie
Thankfel for Heaven and God turkey and earth. — Charlie
I am thankful for my family because then I would play with my brother — Grace
I am thankful for God because he is very good and because he is nice very nice. — Joy
I am thankful for heaven and earth becauz I have a grat life. — Lilia
I am thankful for my family. — Mia
I am thankful for Heaven and earth because they are special. — Vera
Turtle Lake Elementary, Shoreview
I am thankful for football because I get to play it outside with my friends! — Luke
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