If you are looking for Turkey Trouble classroom activities for the month of November, you are in the right place! I know it’s not even Halloween yet, but I’ve already got Thanksgiving on the brain! I wanted to share one of my favorite books with you all and a list of some engaging activities to go along with it to help brighten your classroom up this holiday season!
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano is a delightful and humorous book that’s perfect for the Thanksgiving season. The story follows a clever turkey who disguises himself as different animals to avoid becoming the Thanksgiving dinner. For early elementary teachers, this book offers a fantastic opportunity to engage young learners in both math and reading activities. In this post, we’ll explore tons of Turkey Trouble Classroom Activities that will be sure to make your classroom a festive place to be this turkey season!
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Turkey Trouble Classroom Activities: Phonemic Awareness
1. Beginning Sound Hunt
Read the story and ask students to listen for words that start with a specific sound (e.g., the /t/ sound in “turkey”). Then have them raise their hands or use turkey-shaped paddles when they hear words with the target sound.
2. Syllable Counting
Select words from the book (e.g., turkey, disguise) and clap out the syllables as a class. Have students take turns clapping out the syllables in various words from the story.
3. Sound Substitution
Choose a word from the book and say it aloud to the class (e.g., “turkey”). Ask students to replace the initial sound with a different sound to create a new word (e.g., “burkey”).
4. Phoneme Isolation
Provide students with picture cards representing objects from the story. Ask them to identify the beginning, middle, or ending sound in each word.
5. Rhyming Turkeys
Select words or objects from the story that rhyme (e.g., turkey, jerky; cow, bow). Create rhyming pairs and have students identify the rhyming words.
Turkey Trouble: Phonics
1. Turkey Letter Matching
Grab these turkey ABC task cards and print, cut, and laminate. Then have students match the uppercase and lowercase turkey letters together.
2. Turkey Target Sounds
Find words from the story with your current phonics skill (ex. long vowels) and have students say the words, circle their target sound, then write the words and practice blending the sounds together.
3. Turkey Word Mapping
Choose simple words from the book (e.g., cow, pig, bow) and write each word on separate cards. Have students count the sounds, blend the sounds to say the word, and then write the word on their fall themed word mapping mats.
Turkey Trouble Classroom Activities: Reading Comprehension
1. Story Sequencing
After reading the book, Turkey Trouble, provide students with a set of images representing key events from the story. Have students work individually or in groups to arrange the images in the correct sequence to retell the story.
2. Character Analysis
Using the character traits map from this Turkey Graphic Organizer Bundle, encourage students to discuss the character of the turkey in the story. Be sure to ask questions like, “How does the turkey feel at different points in the story?” and “What strategies does the turkey use to avoid being dinner?” Then have students draw and write about their favorite character from the book.
3. Creative Writing
Invite students to imagine a new disguise for the turkey. What other animal could the turkey impersonate? Have them write a short story or draw a picture to accompany their idea. This Turkey Disguise Writing Activity includes everything you need to implement this lesson with minimal prep after reading the story.
You could also choose to read the book, How to Catch a Turkey, as part of your larger turkey themed unit and allow students to write a hilarious version of how they would catch a turkey using this How to Catch a Turkey Activity.
4. Vocabulary Exploration
Explore Thanksgiving-related vocabulary words from the book (e.g., feast, disguise, grateful). Then create a vocabulary wall or word bank where students can add new words they encounter during the reading.
5. Reader’s Theater
Turn Turkey Trouble into a reader’s theater script, assigning students different roles to read aloud with expression and practice fluency. Encourage students to act out the story using props and costumes.
You might find these Turkey Graphic Organizers helpful if you plan to implement any of the above activities.
Turkey Trouble Classroom Activities: Math
1. Counting Feathers Craftivity
Create turkey cutouts and attach removable feathers (using Velcro or magnets). Assign each feather a number. Ask students to count the feathers on their turkey and write down the total on their turkey’s belly.
2. Turkey Number Matching
Grab these Turkey Ten Frame Task Cards and print, cut, and laminate. Then have students match the numbers and ten frames together. Number 1-20 are included with this set!
3. Turkey Trouble Addition and Subtraction
Complete turkey themed addition and subtraction word problems!
4. Turkey Feather Measurement
Provide students with turkey feathers (real or paper). Have them measure the feathers using non-standard units like paperclips or cubes. Discuss and compare the lengths of different feathers.
Other Thanksgiving Books You Will Love
- Turkey Trouble
- How to Catch a Turkey
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey
- Balloons Over Broadway (about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade)
and several others if you just want to view my November Read Alouds board.
It’s Turkey Time!
Turkey Trouble is a wonderful book that will spark creativity and imagination in your classroom. I hope you found an activity to fit your students’ needs that will brighten up your classroom in the month of November. If you’re looking for other Turkey themed lessons, check out all of my Turkey Resources on TpT!
Happy Turkey Season,
Megan