From our school days, we learn the story of Thanksgiving not only through lessons in the classroom but through hands-on activities, from plays to meals. This week, The State is highlighting some of the ways Midlands schools are sharing the story of the first Thanksgiving.

Melissa Kramer helps her students clean up their place mats after the special Thanksgiving meal. Lake Carolina Elementary students learn about Thanksgiving while enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Dressed as Pilgrims and Native Americans 140 kindergarten students ate lunch together on special place mats they created for the occasion. "It's a traditional Thanksgiving feast with contemporary food," says principal Andrea Berry. "They ate chicken nuggets and french fries instead of turkey and dressing.

Lake Murray Elementary kindergartners Dylan Hodson, Emma Sulkowski and Damien Dedmand, above, learn all about turkeys during a Thanksgiving themed day last Tuesday. The children enjoyed dressing up as they learned about Thanksgiving through arts, crafts, reading and various other projects.