Preschool Turkey Lesson Plan: 5 Days of Crafts, Songs & Sensory Play

Gobble up this complete 5-day turkey lesson plan designed for preschoolers, toddlers, and pre-K students. This fun, week-long thematic unit is packed with daily hands-on activities, including five unique turkey crafts, sensory bin ideas, movement games, and catchy songs. Your little learners will explore what turkeys look like, what they eat, and how they move, all while practicing key skills like color sorting and fine motor development. Perfect for a fall or Thanksgiving theme, this resource provides everything you need for a week of engaging, play-based learning about turkeys.

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All About Turkeys: A 5-Day Lesson Plan

Materials Needed

  • Books: Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon, Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano, or other simple, picture-heavy books about turkeys or farm animals.
  • Art Supplies: Construction paper (brown, red, orange, yellow, black), paper plates, googly eyes, glue sticks, child-safe scissors, crayons or markers, brown paint, feathers (various colors), play-doh, leaves, natural items (twigs, acorns).
  • General Supplies: Pictures or simple videos of real turkeys, large paper or poster board, sensory bin, birdseed, plastic bugs/worms, pillows/blankets, painter's tape, a small ball or beanbag.
  • Music: Access to simple songs like "Five Little Turkeys" or "Turkey in the Straw."

Learning Objectives

By the end of this 5-day unit, our little learner will be able to:

  • Identify a turkey by sight and sound.
  • Name at least one thing a turkey eats.
  • Move their body like a turkey (waddle or strut).
  • Create five different turkey-themed art projects.
  • Sort feathers by color.

Day 1: What Is a Turkey?

Introduction: Circle Time (15 minutes)

  • Hook: "I'm thinking of a big bird that says 'Gobble, gobble, gobble!' Do you know what bird that is?" (Wait for response, then reveal a picture of a turkey). "It's a turkey!"
  • Learning Goals: "Today, we are going to learn what a turkey looks like and what it says!"
  • Activity:
    • I do: Point to the parts of the turkey in the picture. "Look! The turkey has a head, wings, and lots of feathers! And this red thing is called a wattle." Make a gobble sound.
    • We do: "Let's all make a gobble sound together! Ready? Gobble, gobble, gobble! Now let's point to the turkey's feathers together."
    • You do: "Can you show me where the turkey's head is? Can you make a gobble sound all by yourself?"
  • Song: Sing "Five Little Turkeys" using fingers to count.

Body: Partner Activity (20 minutes)

  • Activity: Turkey Sound Matching Game
  • I do: "We're going to play a game! I have pictures of different animals: a cow, a duck, and a turkey. I will make an animal sound, and I want you to watch me point to the right animal. 'Moooo.' I'm pointing to the cow!"
  • We do: "Okay, let's do one together. 'Gobble, gobble!' Which animal should we point to? The turkey! Yes! Let's point together."
  • You do: "Now it's your turn! I'll make a sound, and you point to the animal. 'Quack, quack!'" (Continue with different animal sounds, focusing on the turkey).
  • Success Criteria: Child correctly points to the turkey when they hear a gobble sound.

Conclusion: Art Project & Recap (25 minutes)

  • Art Project: Paper Plate Turkey
  • I do: "We're going to make our own turkey! Watch me. I'll take this brown paper plate and some colorful paper feathers. I'll glue the feathers on the back like a big fan." Glue on a few feathers, googly eyes, and a red paper wattle.
  • We do: "Let's glue your first feather on together. You put the glue on, and I'll help you press it down. Great job!"
  • You do: "Now it's your turn to be the artist! You can glue all the feathers on your turkey. Where do you want to put the eyes?"
  • Recap: "Look at your amazing turkey! What does a turkey say? That's right, 'Gobble, gobble!'" Display the artwork proudly.

Day 2: What Do Turkeys Eat?

Introduction: Circle Time (15 minutes)

  • Hook: "Good morning! Our turkey friend from yesterday is feeling hungry. What do you think turkeys like to eat for breakfast?"
  • Learning Goals: "Today, we'll learn about what turkeys eat to fill their tummies!"
  • Activity: Read a simple story about a turkey or farm animals eating. Show pictures of turkeys eating seeds, berries, and bugs.
  • Talking Points: "Turkeys love to peck, peck, peck the ground to find food. They eat little seeds, yummy red berries, and wiggly bugs! Yum yum for the turkey!"

Body: Partner Activity (20 minutes)

  • Activity: Turkey Food Sensory Bin
  • I do: "Look at this bin! It's full of birdseed, pretend bugs, and red pom-poms for berries. Watch me use my fingers to peck like a turkey and find some food. Peck, peck, peck... oh, I found a wiggly worm!"
  • We do: "Let's find some food together. Can we find three red berries for our turkey friend? One... two... three! Good job!"
  • You do: "Now it's your turn to explore! Can you dig in the seeds and find a bug? What else can you find for the turkey to eat?" Let the child explore freely.
  • Success Criteria: Child can identify at least one "food" item in the bin (seeds, bug, or berry).

Conclusion: Art Project & Recap (25 minutes)

  • Art Project: Fingerprint Turkeys
  • I do: "We're going to make tiny turkeys with our fingers! I'll dip my thumb in the brown paint and press it on the paper. See? That's the turkey's body."
  • We do: "Let's do your first one together. I'll help you dip your thumb. Now, press it right here. Perfect!"
  • You do: "Okay, you can make more turkey bodies! When the paint is dry, you can use a marker to draw little legs and a face. You can make a whole turkey family!"
  • Recap: "Wow, so many little turkeys! What did we learn they like to eat? That's right, seeds and bugs!"

Day 3: Where Do Turkeys Live?

Introduction: Circle Time (15 minutes)

  • Hook: "We know what turkeys say and what they eat. But where do they sleep at night? Where is their home?"
  • Learning Goals: "Today, we are going to learn about a turkey's home!"
  • Activity: Show pictures of turkeys in two places: a farm (in a coop) and a forest (roosting in a tree).
  • Talking Points: "Some turkeys live on a farm with other animals. They sleep in a cozy barn. Other turkeys are wild and live in the big forest. They fly up into trees to sleep at night to stay safe!"

Body: Partner Activity (20 minutes)

  • Activity: Build a Turkey Nest
  • I do: "Wild turkeys make nests on the ground for their eggs. Let's pretend to be turkeys and build a nest. I'll put this big blanket down first to make it soft."
  • We do: "Let's build the walls of our nest together with these pillows. Can you help me put a pillow right here? Perfect! Now our nest is safe."
  • You do: "Our nest needs to be cozy! Can you put some smaller blankets or stuffed animals inside? Now you can curl up in the nest like a baby turkey!" (Engage in pretend play).
  • Success Criteria: Child actively participates in building and playing in the "nest."

Conclusion: Art Project & Recap (25 minutes)

  • Art Project: Nature Turkey Craft
  • I do: "We found these beautiful leaves and twigs outside. I'm going to make a turkey that lives in the forest. I'll draw a turkey body, and then glue on leaves for the feathers and a twig for the legs."
  • We do: "Let's pick out a big leaf for your turkey's tail. Where should we put the glue?"
  • You do: "Now you can make your own nature turkey! You can use leaves, twigs, or anything we found outside to decorate it."
  • Recap: "Your forest turkey is beautiful! Where do wild turkeys live? In the forest! And where do other turkeys live? On the farm!"

Day 4: How Do Turkeys Move?

Introduction: Circle Time (15 minutes)

  • Hook: "Let's stand up! Can you waddle like a duck? Can you hop like a bunny? How do you think a turkey moves?"
  • Learning Goals: "Today, we're going to move our bodies just like turkeys do!"
  • Activity: Watch a short video of turkeys walking/strutting. Play a movement song like "Turkey in the Straw."
  • Talking Points: "Turkeys waddle when they walk, like this! (Waddle from side to side). And when they want to show off their big feathers, they STRUT! They puff out their chest and walk very proud. They can also fly, but just for a little bit to get up into a tree."

Body: Partner Activity (20 minutes)

  • Activity: Turkey Strut Obstacle Course
  • I do: "Welcome to the turkey course! Watch me. First, I'm going to waddle along this tape line. Then, I will crawl under the chair tree. Last, I will flap my wings and 'fly' to the pillow nest!"
  • We do: "Let's do the first part together. Hold my hand and let's waddle down the line. Waddle, waddle, waddle."
  • You do: "Now it's your turn to go through the whole course! Can you show me your best turkey strut? Get ready, get set, go!" (Cheer them on).
  • Success Criteria: Child attempts to mimic turkey movements (waddle, strut, flap).

Conclusion: Art Project & Recap (25 minutes)

  • Art Project: Handprint Turkey
  • I do: "This is a classic! I'm going to paint my palm brown and my fingers different colors. Then I'll press my hand down on the paper... and... ta-da! My fingers are the feathers and my thumb is the turkey's head!"
  • We do: "Okay, which color do you want for your first finger feather? Red? Let's paint it together. It might tickle!"
  • You do: "Hold your hand nice and flat and press it down hard! Great job! After it dries, you can draw a little eye and feet."
  • Recap: "Look at your turkey hand! It's amazing! Can you show me again how a turkey waddles?"

Day 5: Turkey Feathers & Colors!

Introduction: Circle Time (15 minutes)

  • Hook: Hold up a collection of colorful craft feathers. "Look at all these beautiful, soft, colorful... what are these?" (Wait for response). "Feathers! Today is all about feathers!"
  • Learning Goals: "Today, we will learn about the colors of turkey feathers and sort them!"
  • Activity: Show pictures of real turkeys, pointing out the different colors (brown, black, red, green, bronze).
  • Talking Points: "Turkey feathers are so pretty! They have many colors to help them hide in the forest. Can you see the color brown? Can you see red?"

Body: Partner Activity (20 minutes)

  • Activity: Feather Color Sort
  • I do: "I have some colored paper here: a red paper, a yellow paper, and a brown paper. I'm going to find all the red feathers and put them on the red paper. See? This one is red."
  • We do: "Let's find a yellow feather together. Is this one yellow? Yes! Let's put it on the yellow paper."
  • You do: "Now it's your turn. Can you find all the brown feathers and put them on the brown paper? What other colors can you find?"
  • Success Criteria: Child can sort at least two different colors of feathers into correct piles.

Conclusion: Art Project & Final Recap (25 minutes)

  • Art Project: Big Collaborative Turkey
  • I do: On a large piece of poster paper, I have drawn a big turkey body. "Our last project! We are going to give this big turkey some beautiful feathers. I'm going to glue a yellow feather right here."
  • We do: "Let's glue a red feather on together. You choose where it goes!"
  • You do: "Now you can decorate the whole turkey! You can use all the feathers we sorted. You can also use crayons to add color."
  • Final Recap (Show What You Know): "Our week is over! Look at all the amazing turkey art we made! Can you tell me one thing you learned about turkeys? What sound do they make? What do they eat? Show me how they waddle! You are a turkey expert!"

Differentiation Options

  • For Simpler Learning: Focus on one core concept per day (sound, food, movement). Use hand-over-hand guidance for all art projects. Ask simple yes/no questions ("Does a turkey say 'moo'?").
  • For an Added Challenge: Introduce more vocabulary like "wattle," "snood," "tom," and "hen." Ask open-ended questions like, "Why do you think turkeys need feathers?" Encourage the child to create their own stories about the turkeys they create in their art projects. Add number concepts, like counting the feathers or fingerprints.

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