Hi:
I wanted to give you a few selections here that might help you in the process of learning how you might teach about Thanksgiving.
Here is a book I would definitely buy if I was going to be teaching K-12 again:
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/public ... toc2.shtml
More good ideas here, with some links you might like:
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/books/adult/thanksgi.html
You can find more resources by doing a web search using various terms such as "re-thinking Thanksgiving".
Here, too, is the link to the NC Standard Course of Study for each subject and grade level. I would argue that anyone who is teaching the standard "Thanksgiving Myth", is not, in fact, addressing the requirements of the standard course of study.
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/
This section quoted below comes from the first grade objectives and competencies regarding what the children are to learn regarding holidays. It is wonderfully broad, and requires that you teach about "special days" from many different perspectives.
COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will explain different celebrated holidays and special days in communities.
Objectives
4.01 Recognize and describe religious and secular symbols/celebrations associated with special days of diverse cultures.
4.02 Explore and cite reasons for observing special days that recognize celebrated individuals of diverse cultures.
4.03 Recognize and describe the historical events associated with national holidays.
4.04 Trace the historical foundations of traditions of various neighborhoods and communities.