Hi Families…
A few of the children have been talking about the wild turkeys that they have been seeing on Cape Cod, either by their house or in the woods while walking.
To make a “Shape Turkey” all you need is a brown paper bag and some different types of scrap paper (ie. wrapping paper, old junk mail, newspaper, etc.).
What is the lesson (overall purpose)? That children can identify the differences between a “Tom”, “hen” and a “poult”.
Have you ever wondered what Turkey (the country in the Middle East) and the American bird have in common? A case of mistaken identity resulted in the American Turkey being named after the country. When the Spanish first found the bird in the Americas more than 400 years ago they brought it back to Europe. The English mistakenly thought it was a bird they called a "turkey" so they gave it the same name. This other bird was actually from Africa, but came to England by way of Turkey (lots of shipping went through Turkey at the time). The name stuck even when they realized the birds weren't the same.
Turkey TermsCaruncle - brightly colored growths on the throat region. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.
Gizzard - a part of a bird's stomach that contains tiny stones. It helps them grind up food for digestion.
Hen - a female turkey.
Poult - a baby turkey. A chick.
Snood - the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.
Tom - a male turkey. Also known as a gobbler.
Wattle - the flap of skin under the turkey's chin. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.
MA Guidelines/Standards:
*Living things and their environment:2.7: birds in your neighborhood
*Living Things and their environment: 2.8: Observe and describe how neutral habitats provide for the basic needs of animals (shelter, food, water, air, light).
Learning Outcomes: to learn about the turkeys on Cape Cod.
Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
Turkey hen calls to poults: https://youtu.be/Q-QEhio8AgI
Turkey Facts: https://youtu.be/SnIU1iJgmVE
Turkey Songs: https://youtu.be/jwBNuxbpIJ8
Turkey Pokey https://youtu.be/VxfajHBG9Rg
Materials:
-Scrap paper
-marker
-glue stick
-brown paper bag
-pair of scissors
-a piece of paper (to glue your turkey onto if you would like).
Activity (Procedure):
To create your shape turkey:
-either trace shapes or cut shapes out of your scrap paper (triangle, square, circle, etc.).
-Then you can either cut out a large circle for its body or trace the bottom of your shoe.
Activity Wrap Up: Have you seen any turkeys in your neighborhood? Where were they when you saw them? What time of day was it? Which turkey do you like the best? Tom/Gobbler? Hen? or Poult/chick? Why or why not?
How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment) talk about turkeys. See what they remember. Dance the Turkey Pokey to review the body parts of a turkey.
How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
Game: Poult, Hen, Tom! (Duck, Duck, Goose)
Sit in a circle (3 or more people work the best). Walk around tapping each person on the head saying Poult or Hen. But when you say Tom...the other person must chase you walking like a turkey saying Gobble Gobble Gobble. If the player who was tagged catches the tapper, the tapper will land in the oven (middle of the circle)
Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
If you don’t have paper, you can use objects from nature (acorns, sticks, twigs, leaves, etc.).
A few of the children have been talking about the wild turkeys that they have been seeing on Cape Cod, either by their house or in the woods while walking.
To make a “Shape Turkey” all you need is a brown paper bag and some different types of scrap paper (ie. wrapping paper, old junk mail, newspaper, etc.).
What is the lesson (overall purpose)? That children can identify the differences between a “Tom”, “hen” and a “poult”.
- tom - a male turkey
- hen - a female turkey
- poult - a baby turkey
Have you ever wondered what Turkey (the country in the Middle East) and the American bird have in common? A case of mistaken identity resulted in the American Turkey being named after the country. When the Spanish first found the bird in the Americas more than 400 years ago they brought it back to Europe. The English mistakenly thought it was a bird they called a "turkey" so they gave it the same name. This other bird was actually from Africa, but came to England by way of Turkey (lots of shipping went through Turkey at the time). The name stuck even when they realized the birds weren't the same.
Turkey TermsCaruncle - brightly colored growths on the throat region. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.
Gizzard - a part of a bird's stomach that contains tiny stones. It helps them grind up food for digestion.
Hen - a female turkey.
Poult - a baby turkey. A chick.
Snood - the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.
Tom - a male turkey. Also known as a gobbler.
Wattle - the flap of skin under the turkey's chin. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship.
MA Guidelines/Standards:
*Living things and their environment:2.7: birds in your neighborhood
*Living Things and their environment: 2.8: Observe and describe how neutral habitats provide for the basic needs of animals (shelter, food, water, air, light).
Learning Outcomes: to learn about the turkeys on Cape Cod.
Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
Turkey hen calls to poults: https://youtu.be/Q-QEhio8AgI
Turkey Facts: https://youtu.be/SnIU1iJgmVE
Turkey Songs: https://youtu.be/jwBNuxbpIJ8
Turkey Pokey https://youtu.be/VxfajHBG9Rg
Materials:
-Scrap paper
-marker
-glue stick
-brown paper bag
-pair of scissors
-a piece of paper (to glue your turkey onto if you would like).
Activity (Procedure):
To create your shape turkey:
-either trace shapes or cut shapes out of your scrap paper (triangle, square, circle, etc.).
-Then you can either cut out a large circle for its body or trace the bottom of your shoe.
Activity Wrap Up: Have you seen any turkeys in your neighborhood? Where were they when you saw them? What time of day was it? Which turkey do you like the best? Tom/Gobbler? Hen? or Poult/chick? Why or why not?
How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment) talk about turkeys. See what they remember. Dance the Turkey Pokey to review the body parts of a turkey.
How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
Game: Poult, Hen, Tom! (Duck, Duck, Goose)
Sit in a circle (3 or more people work the best). Walk around tapping each person on the head saying Poult or Hen. But when you say Tom...the other person must chase you walking like a turkey saying Gobble Gobble Gobble. If the player who was tagged catches the tapper, the tapper will land in the oven (middle of the circle)
Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
If you don’t have paper, you can use objects from nature (acorns, sticks, twigs, leaves, etc.).