Are turkeys already a part of your Pre-K lesson plan? Have you grown tired or using the same activities and crafts year after year? If so, you may want to change things up a bit by utilizing one of the following suggestions:
Science
Begin the turkey lesson plan by playing audio clips of the bird’s vocalizations. There are various websites that contain such audio files. One of them belongs to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. While the audio clips are playing, give the children a handful of natural turkey feathers to examine and pass around to each other. The feathers are often available for purchase through craft stores for a modest fee.
Next, show the children photos of wild and domestic turkeys. Point out each of the turkey’s outstanding physical features and explain what they are used for (i.e. protection, communication and eating). Then talk about the turkey’s behavior, life cycle and place in the food web. While doing so, discuss how people track turkeys in the wild (i.e. footprints, dust prints and calls). Afterward, tell the children that they will be going on a turkey hunt of their own later in the day. However, they’ll have to prepare themselves first.
Art and Dramatic Play
To help the children prepare for their classroom turkey hunt, assist them in making homemade turkey callers with string and plastic cups. Complete instructions for making the callers and setting up the “hunt” are available through the Project Beak website. Once the children are finished making the callers, send them out in search of a hidden, plush turkey. When the children finish with the hunt, read Diane Mayr’s book “Run, Turkey, Run!” aloud. Later, let them color a picture of a turkey.
Math
Next, ask the children to name their favorite ways to eat turkey. Place their answers onto a tally sheet and let them help you determine the totals. Afterward, let them play the “Race the Thanksgiving Turkeys” counting game. Instructions and the materials needed to play the game are available through the Education website. You may also want to let the kids practice writing the number “28”, which is the average amount of time that it takes a turkey egg to hatch.
Music
Continue by teaching the students a few turkey rhymes, finger play exercises and songs. There are many different ones to choose from. Titles to look for include “One Fat Turkey”, “The Turkey” and “I’m a Great Big Turkey.” Once the kids get tired of singing and dancing, take out the handwriting worksheets.
Handwriting
Lastly, teach the children how to write the letter “T” as well as the words “tom”, “jake”, “turkey”, “gobble” and “wild.” There are several websites that have readymade and customizable worksheets that you could use for such an activity. Among them are First School WS and Twisty Noodle.
Source: Personal Experience
More from this contributor:
How to Get the Most Value Out of a Holiday Turkey
Top 5 Tell-Tale Signs that a Wild Turkey Lives Nearby
5 Items to Take on Turkey Hunting Trips in Spring
How to Bard a Holiday Turkey
