Fun and Educational A Turkey for Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

The holiday season is fast approaching, and that means it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving activities! There are so many fun ways to celebrate this special holiday with children while also incorporating learning. One great way is through activities based on the classic children’s book “A Turkey for Thanksgiving” by Eve Bunting. This charming story about a turkey named Jake who learns the true meaning of Thanksgiving is perfect for sparking young imaginations.

Here are some engaging A Turkey for Thanksgiving activities that your students will gobble up!

Sequencing Activities

Sequencing activities help strengthen comprehension skills as children put the events of the story in the correct order There are a couple of fun ways to do this

• Cut and Paste: Print out pictures depicting key scenes from the book or have kids draw their own illustrations. Then have them cut and paste the scenes in sequential order.

• Storytelling Sequence: After reading the book, have students retell the story, focusing on the sequence of main events. They can use simple sentences or pictures.

Vocabulary Enrichment

Introduce new vocabulary words found in the book like “feast,” “grateful,” and “tradition.” Make flashcards with definitions or play fun word games. This boosts reading comprehension.

Crafts

Crafts allow kids to express creativity and imagination. Try these:

• Disguise: Use construction paper, feathers, and other art supplies to create a disguise for Jake to avoid being the Thanksgiving turkey.

• Thanksgiving Feast: Have children design placemats and mini “feasts” with play food and paper goodies.

Character Connections

Discuss the motivations and feelings of characters in the story. Ask questions like “How did Jake feel when he first heard of Thanksgiving?” and “Why does Mrs. Maggie reassure him?” This builds empathy.

Gratitude Activities

Gratitude activities teach thankfulness.

• Make a gratitude jar where kids and families can drop in notes of things they’re thankful for.

• Create a “Thankful Turkey” by writing gratitude list items on turkey feathers.

Teachers can find a wealth of resources online to enrich the experience of reading A Turkey for Thanksgiving, from creative printables on Teachers Pay Teachers to fun ideas on Pinterest. Read aloud videos bring the story to life. With a little imagination, you can have a fun and educational Thanksgiving season!

Additional Fun Turkey Day Learning Activities

Beyond activities centered around the storybook, there are lots of other fun ways to incorporate turkeys and Thanksgiving themes into classroom learning. Here are some activities across subjects:

Turkey Math Activities

• Turkey Fraction Feathers – Make turkey feathers out of paper plates and practice labeling different fractional parts. This teaches fractions in a hands-on way.

• Turkey Roll – Create a fraction game by making paper turkey fins labeled with different fractions. Roll a die and have kids cover the fraction that matches the roll.

• Turkey Hand Tracing – Trace and cut out students’ hands to make turkeys. Have them write fractions on each finger representing the fractional part of the whole hand.

Turkey Arts and Crafts

• Handprint Turkeys – Trace and cut out student handprints then decorate them into turkeys with feathers, eyes, beaks, and feet.

• Paper Plate Turkeys – Decorate paper plates into turkeys using various art supplies like paint, markers, glitter, and more.

• Turkey Disguise Masks – Make turkey disguise masks like Jake tried wearing in the story. Use paper bags or paper plates.

Turkey Science

• Turkey Life Cycle – Learn about the different life stages of turkeys from egg to adult.

• Turkey Feather Examination – Examine the structure and purpose of feathers using real turkey feathers.

• Turkey Behavior – Learn about the habits and behaviors of wild turkeys through online videos and books. Compare/contrast with farm turkeys.

English/Language Arts

• Turkey Acrostic Poems – Write acrostic poems using the letters T-U-R-K-E-Y.

• Turkey Gratitude Journal – Keep an ongoing journal or list of things students are thankful for.

• Turkey Day Writing – Write stories fictional stories about “a day in the life of a turkey” or their own imaginative turkey character.

Bring learning to life this Thanksgiving with A Turkey for Thanksgiving activities that teach reading comprehension, vocabulary, art, math, science, and more in fun and festive ways!

Eve Bunting’s endearing storybook provides a perfect springboard for enjoyable and educational activities that align with various curriculum areas. Students will have fun with sequencing, crafts, vocabulary, gratitude lessons, and so much more. Extend the learning across subjects with thematic activities involving turkeys and Thanksgiving. With some creativity, you can have a classroom filled with festive fun and skills reinforcement that students will gobble right up! Bring on the turkeys!