LINE dancing, totem poles and turkey – pupils had fun learning all about Thanksgiving.

Pupils at Mountjoy School, Beaminster, took part in a host of fun activities planned to help them learn about the traditions surrounding the American day of celebration, including clothes, food and culture.

Thanksgiving celebrations started with the children learning to line dance. This was followed by each class making totem poles decorated with native American designs and birds for a competition which was judged by Gill Acton, chairman of governors.

For lunch, children enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast of roast turkey and all the trimmings with apple pie and cream for pudding.

There was a change of pace for the afternoon, as the pupils settled down to watch Disney’s Pocahontas.

Teaching assistant Davina Pennels said: “The totem poles that the children made and decorated were exceptional, some of the best artwork I’ve seen them produce. It was lovely to see them all being so creative and having so much fun doing it.”

Mountjoy School caters for children with a range of complex needs, including autistic spectrum conditions and moderate to severe learning difficulties.

The children were taught the American national holiday is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November and is a tradition dating back to the Pilgrims giving thanks for the harvest, plentiful food and good health.

Each class discussed what they were thankful for and wrote it on leaves which were stuck to a Thanksgiving tree in the school’s reception.

Headteacher, Jackie Shanks, said: “We celebrate a different cultural event each term to broaden the pupils knowledge of the world and it’s different peoples. My thanks go to Gill Acton for giving her time to judge the totem pole competition, the wonderful Mountjoy staff, all of whom dressed as native Americans or pilgrims.”

and threw themselves enthusiastically into all the days events.”