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TURKEY GOBBLERS




Art



HAND PRINT TURKEYS
Paint the palm of the child's hand and thumb brown. Then paint each finger a different color. Make the print.  Add a "little red gobbler" to the bottom of the thumb print. When dry add feet to hand print.

COOKIE CUTTER TURKEYS
Help your children trace around turkey cookie cutters on brown paper and cut out the shapes. Let them tear red, yellow, and orange paper into small pieces and glue them onto their turkeys for feathers. Use the turkeys for room decorations, or turn them into puppets by attaching craft stick handles.
 
SHAPE TURKEYS
This is a fun activity to use for reinforcing circles and triangles. Give each of your children a brown paper plate for a turkey body. Provide each child with a brown paper circle to glue on for a head, a dot sticker for an eye, and small orange triangles for a beak and feet. Then give the children large triangles in assorted colors to attach for feathers.

BARNYARD TURKEYS
Give each of your children a paper with a barnyard scene drawn on it. Set out turkey rubber stamps and inkpads in assorted colors. Let your children use the stamps and ink pads to create barnyards full of colorful turkeys.
 
TURKEY STICK PUPPETS
Help each child trace around their hand on a piece of heavy white cardboard or card stock. Each child can decorate their "fingers" with markers or crayons to resemble feathers. Add a face to their "thumb". Attach a red "wobbler" to the thumb, cut from felt or fun foam. Glue to a popsicle stick to complete the puppet!

FEATHER FUN
Collect real feathers in four or five colors, or cut feather shapes out of four or five colors of paper. Let your children use them for the activities below.

    * Group the feathers into piles by color.
    * Count all the red feathers, all the yellow feathers, and so on.
    * Place the feathers on matching colored turkey shapes.

BEADED TURKEY
(improves fine-motor skills, reinforces color recognition, and teaches patterning) Trace a child's hand onto cardboard; then use an X-acto knife to cut out the shape. Have the child squeeze a generous amount of Plaid Tacky
Glue onto the fingers. Starting at the tops of the fingers and working toward the palm, the child presses on colorful beads to create a pattern. Then have him glue on a wiggle eye, a felt beak, and a felt wattle. Use a hot glue gun to attach a cardboard right triangle to the back of the turkey so that it is freestanding.

TOOTSY TURKEYS
In advance, mix brown paint with liquid soap in a shallow pan. To make a turkey, step one bare foot into the tray, then onto a 12" x 18" sheet of construction paper. Allow the paint to dry. With the toes facing down, draw or paint feathers around the foot. Then use markers to draw facial features on the footprint to resemble a turkey. Gobble, gobble!

FINGERPRINT TURKEYS
Take a some brown washable paint and brush a small amount on your fingertip and press down on the paper. You can do this several times and then let dry.  With markers, add features like the eyes, beak, feathers and feet to make little turkeys!

APPLE TURKEYS
These are so cute, and a great way to teach patterning. Give each child an apple, toothpicks, fruitloops, mini coloured marshmallows,cheerios, gumdrops and a marachino cherry. One toothpick goes in the front, for the head, and the cherry is placed through the toothpick.(It should stay near the top). Or bend a thick brown pipe cleaner for the head and add googly eyes.  The children use five or more toothpicks in a semi-circle around the other side  of the apple to form the tail feathers. Children decorate the 'feathers' by placing fruitloops, marshmallows, gumdrops or cherrios through the toothpicks. I always tell the children to end with a marshmallow or gumdrop (in order to keep the cheerios and fruitloops on the toothpick.)Raisins could also be used.
This activity is also great for fine motor skills and most children are able to do this without any help.These apples can serve as table decorations, or as a fun snack!

TURKEY PLACEMATS
1 piece Manila drawing paper for each place mat
1/2 sheet brown construction paper
Pieces of red, yellow, orange, black and dark green construction paper for the tail feathers
Glue Stick
Pencil
Sharpie pen
Scissors
Sheet of paper for pattern
Optional: Enough clear contact paper to cover the front and back of the finished place mat.

Trace the main pattern piece (the turkey body) on the brown construction paper and cut out. Trace and cut 12 large feathers in varied colors. Trace and cut the waddle from red.

Place the turkey on the Manila sheet and lightly outline where he is and set the body aside. Take your colored feather shapes and with the Sharpie draw the detail lines on the feather. Glue the feathers in a fan beginning just inside the outline of the turkey from point A to point B. Place the turkey body on top of the feathers to cover all the ends. Glue the waddle across the turkey's beak. With the Sharpie pen draw the turkey's eye. You may also write your name on the Manila paper to personalize it.

TURKEY
supplies
9" white paper plate
2" squarees in red ,yellow, and brown
glue
crayons or markers

Children will add eyes nose and a waddle to the plate as the turkies face.
Next they will glue 2"squares around the back rim of the plate for the tail feathers.



Snacks



PEANUT BUTTER TURKEYS
Cut turkey shapes out of slices of wheat bread with a cookie cutter. Let your children spread peanut butter on the shapes. Then give them some grated carrot to sprinkle onto their turkeys for feathers.

CORNUCOPIA TREAT
Take 1 large sugar waffle ice cream cone and fill with trail mix with M & M's and honey roasted peanuts.  Wrap with saran wrap (colored kind) and tie the end with a bow.



Misc.



TURKEY PUZZLES
Look for large cardboard turkeys in a store that sells Thanksgiving display decorations. Cut each turkey into five or six puzzle pieces and store the pieces in a separate envelope. Invite your children to work the puzzles by putting the pieces back together again.
 


 Songs, Rhymes & Finger Plays



ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY
  Sing to tune of "O' My Darlin' Clementine"

Albuquerque, he's my turkey,
and he's feathered and he's fine
and he wobbles and he gobbles
and I'm awfully glad he's mine.

He's the best pet you could ever get
better than a dog or cat
Albuquerque, he's my turkey
and I'm awfully glad of that.

Albuquerque, he's my turkey
he's so cozy in his bed
because for our Thanksgiving dinner
[buy the book] we had scrambled eggs instead.

GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE
  Tune: "If you're Happy & You Know It"

"Gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird-
"Gobble, gobble, gobble, ", says the bird.
Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles
And his head goes wobble-wobble
"Gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird.

I’M GLAD I’M NOT A TURKEY
  Tune: "Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?"

I'm glad I'm not a turkey,
a turkey,
a turkey.
I'm glad I'm not a turkey
on Thanksgiving Day.

They'll cook you
and baste you.
And then they'll all taste you.

Oh I'm glad I'm not a turkey
On Thanksgiving Day!

LET'S DO THE TURKEY TROT
  Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

Oh, let's do the turkey trot, turkey trot.
Oh, let's do the turkey trot, turkey trot.
With a wobble, wobble, wobble,
And a gobble, gobble, gobble,
Oh, let's do the turkey trot, turkey trot.

PLUMP TURKEYS
  Tune: "Did You Ever See a Lassie?"

See the turkeys proudly marching
Their bright feathers arching,
We're rulers of the barnyard,
Vain turkeys are we.
We strut oh, so proudly.
We gobble so loudly,
Oh, gobble, gobble, gobble
Plump turkeys are we.
Gobble-Gobble

WHO AM I?
  Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

See my feathers colored bright,
Colored bright, colored bright.
See my feathers colored bright
What a pretty sight.

See my tummy big and fat,
Big and fat, Big and fat,
See my tummy big and fat
What do you think of that?

See my head look all around,
Look all around, all around,
See my head look all around,
For corn up on the ground.

See; me as I strut and sway,
Strut and sway, strut and sway
See me as I strut and sway
This is what I say: Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

TURKEY ON THE FARM
  Tune: "The Wheels on the Bus"

The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble."
The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble."
Thanksgiving Day is near.

The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop.
Chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop.
The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop.
Thanksgiving Day is here.

The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!
Please help me! Please help me!"
The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!"
Thanksgiving Day is here.

The children on the farm say, "Come and hide.
Come and hide. Come and hide."
The children on the farm say, "Come and hide."
Thanksgiving Day is here.

The wife on the farm looks all around.
Looks all around. Looks all around.
The wife on the farm looks all around.
Thanksgiving Day is here.

The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Thanksgiving Day is here.

The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble."
The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble."
Thanksgiving Day has passed.

FAT TURKEY
He's a big fat turkey on Grandpa's farm
Who thinks he's very gay.
He spreads his tail into a great big fan
And struts around all day.

You should hear him gobble at the girls and boys,
He thinks he is singing when he makes that noise.
He'll sing his song a different way
Upon Thanksgiving Day.

FIVE FAT TURKEYS
Five fat turkeys were sitting on a fence. (One hand up)
The first one said, 'I'm so immense.' (Point to thumb)
The second one said, 'I can gobble at you.' (Pointer finger)
The third one said, 'I can gobble, too.' (Middle finger)
The fourth one said, 'I can spread my tail.' (Ring finger)
The fifth one said, 'Don't catch it on a nail.' (Little finger)
A farmer came along and stopped to say (Pointer finger of other hand.)
'Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day.'

FIVE FAT TURKEYS
Five Fat Turkeys are we
We sat all night in a tree
When the cook came around, we couldn't be found
And that's why we're here you see!

HIDE MR. TURKEY
Hide Mr. Turkey
Hide  right now
Thanksgiving Day is coming.
Hide Mr. Turkey
Hide right now
Thanksgiving day is here.

I MET A TURKEY GOBBLER
I met a turkey gobbler,
When I went out to play.
"Mr. Turkey Gobbler ,
How Are you today?"
"Gobble, gobble, gobble,
That I cannot say,
Don't ask me such a question
On Thanksgiving Day!"

MR. TOM TURKEY
Mr. Tom Turkey is strutting about.
His colorful tail is all fanned out.
Gobble, gobble, gobble is all he can say,
Because he'll be eaten on Thanksgiving Day.

MR. TURKEY & MR. DUCK
My Turkey took a walk one day
In the very best of weather
He met Mr. Duck on the way
And they both talked together.
Gobble, gobble, gobble
Quack, quack, quack
Good-by, good-by
And they both walked back.

MY FAT TURKEY
I have a turkey, big and fat
He spreads his tail, (Fan hands at hips)
And walks like that (Strut)
His daily corn he would not miss (Pretend to eat corn)
And when he walks, he sounds like this, ('Gobble, Gobble, Gobble')

THANKSGIVING POEM
The turkey is a funny bird.
His head goes bobble, bobble.
And all he knows is just one word
Gobble, gobble, gobble.

THE TURKEY
A turkey I saw on thanksgiving,
Her tail was spread so wide.
Shhh....don't tell that you've seen her,
For she's running away to hide
(make fist for turkey & spread fingers of other hand for tail, Make a shhhsound)

TURKEY DRESSING
Turkey Dressing, turkey dressing
Gather round, gather round,
Who will get the drumstick
Yummy, yummy drumstick
All sit down, all sit down
Cornbread muffin, chestnut stuffing
pudding pie one foot high
All of us were thinner
Till we came to dinner
Me oh my, Me oh my.

TURKEY’S LAMENT
A turkey sat on a backyard fence
And he sang this sad, sad tune:
"Thanksgiving Day is coming,
Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble
And I know I'll be eaten soon.
Gobble, Gobble Gobble, Gobble
And I know I'll be eaten soon.

A TURKEY NAMED BERT
I love this one - it's a chant
A turkey named Bert thought he'd make up a dance
And he'd dance it for the king and queen
And if he did a good job, and they liked it a lot
They wouldn't eat him, because that would be mean.

He went slide together, slide together (slide to the right)
Shake your tail and wiggle your nose
He went slide together, slide together (slide to the left)
Shake your tail and wiggle your nose

Dance, dance, Bert deserves a chance
Dance, dance, Bert deserves a chance

FIVE LITTLE TURKEYS
Five little turkeys standing by door,
One waddled off, and then there were four.
Four little turkeys under a tree,
One waddled off , and then there were three.
Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, and then there were two.
Two little turkeys in the noon day sun,
One waddled off, and then there was one.
One little turkey better run away,
For soon will come Thanksgiving day.

10 LITTLE TURKEYS
10 little turkeys sat in their pen
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew far away
But the other ...(9) decided to stay!

9 little turkeys sat in their pen
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew out of the gate,
And when he was gone, there were...(8).

8 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew far away
But the other ...(7) decided to stay.

7 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey hid with the chicks,
And when she was gone, there were...(6).

6 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew far away
But the other ...(5) decided to stay.

5 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey hopped out the door,
And when he was gone, there were (4).

4 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew far away
But the other ...(3) decided to stay.

3 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flapped her wings and flew.
And when she was gone, there were ,,,(2).

2 little turkeys sat in their pen.
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew far away.
But the last ...(1) decided to stay.

1 little turkey sat in his pen.
"Hide, turkey, hide!" said the little red hen.
The last little turkey flew off toward the sun
And when he was gone, there were ...(none).



Motor Activities and Games



TURKEY DANCE
   (tune:Turkey in the Straw)
Oh, you turkey to the left (two steps to the left)
And you turkey to the right (two steps to the right)
Then you heel and toe (do motions with foot)
And you scratch with all your might. (scratch floor with foot)
Now you flap your turkey wings (put thumbs in armpit and flap)
While your head goes bobble, bobble. (wobble head)
Turn around and then you say, (turn around)
"Gobble, gobble, gobble!."

WHERE IS THE TURKEY HIDING?
Use a small toy turkey or one you have cut out and made. Tell the children that the turkey is very nervous because he knows that he may become thanksgiving dinner. He is going to run and hide. The children are the pilgrims (make pilgrim hats from newspaper!) and it is their job to find the turkey. Hide the turkey in various locations. For smaller children, place in plain view for the children to see and encourage the children to describe where the turkey is hiding, by using statements as, "under the table, next to the chair, on the desk, in the box" etc.

FOLLOW THE TURKEY
Put on some lively music (or sing the song below). Have your children follow behind you in a line and copy your movements as you strut around like a turkey. Then let the children take turns being the "turkey leader." Since turkeys like to eat corn, encourage the children to add some pecking movements to their turkey strut.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE
A child is chosen to be "it".  "It" closes his/her eyes and sits at the front of the room. Another child is chosen to be the turkey.  The turkey runs and hides in some part of the room/house? When the turkey has been hidden, he/she should be
saying "gobble, gobble, gobble".  "It" tries to guess who it is from the sound of the voice. He/she has three guesses. Little ones can follow the sound and find the turkey :-)

TURKEY TOSS GAME
Take a large brown grocery bag and glue 2 small lunch bags (gathered at the tops) to sides of the bag to look like drumsticks. Then take turns throwing in the stuffing (sock balls or bean bags we call cornbread)!



Flannel Board



TURKEY FELT BOARD ACTIVITY
Cut a turkey shape out of brown felt. Cut out of colored felt a pile of brown straw, a pile of white snow, a blue sky background, a red barn, a yellow bag of corn, and a green tree for the turkey to sit in.

TURKEY FLANNEL BOARD SONG
Place all the items in the song, except for the turkey, on the flannel board. Then sing the song with the children and let them take turns placing the turkey on the appropriate shapes.

  Tune: "Skip to My Lou"

Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha,
Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha,
Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha.
Turkey in the straw, my darling.

Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho,
Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho,
Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho.
Turkey in the snow, my darling.

Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi,
Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi,
Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi.
Turkey in the sky, my darling.

Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn,
Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn,
Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn.
Turkey in the barn, my darling.

Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn,
Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn,
Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn.
Turkey in the corn, my darling.

Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee,
Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee,
Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee.
Turkey in the tree, my darling.

TURKEY FLANNEL BOARD STORY
Turkey walking on a farm before Thanksgiving Day
Met a (whatever farm animal you choose) Horse who said to him, "You'd better run away."
Horse (or other animal) said , "Nehhhh, You'd better run away."
Turkey said, "Gobble, gobble, I think that I will stay."
(go through as many animals as children choose and then last verse:)
Turkey walking on a farm before Thanksgiving Day
Met a farmer who said to him "I think that you should stay"  
Farmer said "I think that you should stay."  
Turkey said,  " I'd better run away."

Chant the tune or make up your own - it has a nice rythym.

5 LITTLE TURKEYS FLANNEL BOARD
Cut out 5 turkey shapes form brown felt and place on the felt board.  Remove one shape at a time to correspond to the story.

Five little turkeys by the barn door,
One waddled away, then there were four.

Four little turkeys out under the tree,
One waddled away, then there were three.

Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled away, then there were two.

Two little turkeys in the noonday sun,
One waddled away, then there were one.

One little turkey -- better run away!
Soon will come Thanksgiving Day.


Other



THE TURKEYS ARE HERE
Trace each child's hand on brown paper.  Then cut them out.  Each child then glues different colored feathers onto the traced hand.  When dry, attach it to a popsickle stick.  At circle time sing this little song to the tune: The Farmer In The Dell
The turkeys are here,
the turkeys are there,
the turkeys, the turkeys,
the turkeys everywhere!
The turkeys are up, (raise turkey)
the turkeys are down (lower turkey)
the turkeys, the turkeys
the turkeys all around (move in circular motion)
The turkeys are in  (pull inward towards chest)
the turkeys are out  (push outward from chest)
The turkeys, the turkeys
the turkeys are all about!!!!!