Take special note of early math and literacy skills when you use these How to Catch a Turkey activities in your Thanksgiving preschool lessons.
It’s that time of year again—when classrooms are filled with the excitement of Thanksgiving and turkeys are strutting their stuff. Gobble, gobble! However, you must first catch the turkey before you can feast on its delicious meat! Well, not really (unless you’re an expert trapper), but you can definitely get your students involved in some entertaining and instructive activities that center around the elusive bird.
This comprehensive guide will equip you with a plethora of ideas and resources to help you plan engaging lessons and activities that will have your students gobbling up knowledge and having a blast in the process.
Understanding the Turkey
Before we dive into the catching frenzy, let’s take a moment to appreciate the magnificent creature that is the turkey. These large birds are native to North America and are known for their distinctive gobbling sounds, impressive plumage, and, of course, their starring role on Thanksgiving tables.
Fun Facts about Turkeys:
- Turkeys can fly, but they’re not very good at it.
- Wild turkeys can run up to 25 miles per hour.
- Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.
- Turkeys have excellent eyesight and can see in color.
- A group of turkeys is called a “flock” or a “rafter.”
Catching the Turkey: Activities and Games
Now that you’ve got some turkey trivia under your belt, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of catching them (figuratively of course). Here are some engaging activities and games that will have your students hooked:
1. Turkey Scavenger Hunt:
Encourage students to work in groups to locate items with a turkey theme that you’ve hidden throughout the classroom or playground. This is an excellent method to get students moving and involved while also reviewing turkey-related vocabulary.
2. Turkey Bingo:
Create bingo cards with pictures or words related to turkeys. Call out the items and have students mark them off their cards. The first student to get a bingo wins a prize.
3. Turkey Charades:
Students take turns acting out different turkey-related words or phrases. The other students guess what they are acting out. This is an enjoyable method to encourage students to use their vocabulary and think creatively.
4. Turkey Relay Race:
Divide students into teams and have them race to complete a series of turkey-themed tasks, such as stuffing a turkey with cotton balls, drawing a turkey on a whiteboard, or gobbling like a turkey. This is a great way to get students active and working together as a team.
5. Turkey Trap Design Challenge:
Challenge students to design and build a trap that could catch a turkey (without harming it, of course). This is a great way to get students thinking creatively and using their engineering skills.
6. Turkey Fact or Fiction:
Read students a series of statements about turkeys and have them guess whether each statement is a fact or fiction. This is a fun way to test their knowledge about turkeys and learn some interesting facts.
7. Turkey Feather Scavenger Hunt:
Hide turkey feathers around the classroom or playground and have students work in teams to find them. This is a great way to get students moving and engaged, while also learning about the different parts of a turkey.
8. Turkey Disguise Challenge:
Challenge students to create a disguise for a turkey that would help it blend in with its surroundings. This is a fun way to get students thinking creatively and using their art skills.
9. Turkey Writing Prompts:
Provide students with a variety of writing prompts related to turkeys, such as “If I were a turkey, I would…” or “The Turkey’s Thanksgiving Adventure.” This is a great way to get students writing creatively and expressing their ideas.
10. Turkey Arts and Crafts:
There are endless possibilities when it comes to turkey-themed arts and crafts. Students can make turkey puppets, masks, hats, or even create their own turkey art masterpieces. This is a great way to get students’ creative juices flowing and expressing themselves artistically.
Additional Resources
Looking for more turkey-themed activities and resources? Check out these websites:
- Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/browse?search=how%20to%20catch%20a%20turkey
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/turkey-activities/
- Education.com: https://www.education.com/activity/thanksgiving-turkey-activities/
- Scholastic: https://www.scholastic.com/parents/family-life/books-and-reading/thanksgiving-activities-for-kids.html
Catching a turkey may not be an everyday activity, but it can be a fun and educational experience for students of all ages. By incorporating these activities and resources into your Thanksgiving lessons, you can help your students learn about turkeys, develop their critical thinking skills, and have a blast in the process. So go ahead, gobble up these ideas and get ready for some turkey-tastic fun!
How to Catch a Turkey Activities
These print-and-go How to Catch a Turkey printables are perfect for preschoolers. They’ll love digging into the story with these activities.
How to Catch a Turkey Activities
These interactive activities are great for small learners to engage with the story and will be enjoyed by preschoolers and kindergarteners.
Think about adding one or more of these chores to your list of things to do as you read How to Catch a Turkey:
• This Thanksgiving, make this adorable toilet paper roll turkey craft with your preschoolers.
• This watercolor paper plate turkey craft is so easy to make that it’s the perfect choice for an engaging Thanksgiving activity to do with your preschoolers.
• Do you need some new alphabet games for young kids? These turkey-themed alphabet games are perfect for your Thanksgiving lessons!
• Incorporate these Thanksgiving-themed activities into your preschool math center for November. Preschoolers will adore this sorting activity about colors! .
