Wearing paper bonnets, hats and feathered headbands, students told the story of the pilgrims' and Indians' first Thanksgiving in 1620.
Students at Disney Elementary School presented a Thanksgiving play on Tuesday to celebrate the holiday and to help raise funds for needy students in Africa.
After telling the story of the pilgrims and Indians, the students sang and used sign language to tell the audience what they were thankful for.
"The Indians helped the pilgrims get food," said Melissa McKenna, 8, who played an Indian girl.
At the end of the play, Sue and Joel Gilbert, the founders of Project Jambo — a nonprofit organization that raises funds for disadvantaged children and works to bring cultural awareness to students through service projects — took the stage to introduce their organization.
The couple showed news footage of their travels to Kenya, where they met with village children and donated desks and school supplies to a school.
"We go every year," Sue Gilbert said. "The children live in rural parts of southeast Kenya and their family income is $1 a day."
To help raise money for the Kenyan children, students charged admission for the play.
The school asked parents to donate $1 and students to give 25 cents.
Joel Gilbert spoke of how the Kenyan children have no computers or electricity and how they walk to school without any shoes.
The discussion sparked an interest in the students, who began asking the Gilberts' questions.
"Why can't we just give them the technology?," asked 6-year-old Callum Campbell.
"I'd give them Game Boys and learning books."
Joshua Strobl, 8, said he would give $100 to help the African children buy food and shelter.
"They're just like us," Joshua said. "They are thankful for the stuff the American kids bring them."
The Gilberts need to raise about $550 to send one child to boarding school in Kenya.
Disney students have collected nearly $500, Joel Gilbert said.
Although the Gilberts have already raised money in the past from other schools in the district, they want to continue raising as much money as possible so they can take it back to Kenya with them in February, Sue Gilbert said.
"The [children] are our commitment for the next four years," she said.
"They are counting on us. I'm so happy that our schools are participating."
