November is the perfect time to bring some turkey-themed fun into the classroom! I love activities that keep little hands busy while helping children practice important early math and literacy skills.
Whether you're teaching kindergarten, special education, or a classroom with a wide range of learning needs, hands-on centres are a great way to provide meaningful learning opportunities while keeping children engaged.
Today, I'm sharing five turkey-themed activities that can easily be adapted to meet the different needs of your students.
1. Turkey ABC Order
Alphabet sequencing is an important early literacy skill, and these colourful turkey cards make practicing the alphabet a little more fun!
Children arrange the turkey cards in alphabetical order. Both uppercase and lowercase letters are included, making it easy to adjust the activity to suit different learners.
Ways to differentiate:
- Start with just five or six letters.
- Provide an alphabet strip for children who need visual support.
- Challenge confident learners to arrange the entire alphabet.
- Use two printed sets of cards for an alphabet matching game.
2. Colourful Turkey Patterns
These bright little turkeys are perfect for practicing patterning skills!
Children use the turkey cards to extend existing patterns or create their own.
Start with simple AB patterns before introducing more challenging combinations.
Ways to differentiate:
- Begin with two colours.
- Provide a partially completed pattern.
- Have students copy a pattern before extending it.
- Encourage confident learners to create and explain their own patterns.
3. Turkey Write the Room
Sometimes children need to get up and move!
Write the Room is one of my favourite ways to combine literacy practice with movement.
Place the turkey sight-word cards around the classroom. Children walk around the room, find the cards, and record the words on their response sheets.
Ways to differentiate:
- Display fewer words for children who are just beginning.
- Have children match words to a visual reference instead of writing.
- Provide adult support for students who need help recording their answers.
- Challenge more advanced learners to use the words in sentences.
4. Counting Turkeys
Counting becomes much more meaningful when children can manipulate objects rather than simply looking at numbers on a worksheet.
In this activity, children place the correct number of turkey pieces onto numbered mats.
The activity includes numbers from 1 to 20.
Ways to differentiate:
- Begin with numbers 1–5.
- Gradually increase the number range.
- Encourage children to touch and count each turkey as they place it.
- Ask children to check their work by counting again.
- Use real manipulative instead of the cut out turkeys.
5. Turkey Number Order
Number sequencing is another important early math skill.
These numbered turkey cards can be arranged in order from 1 to 100, allowing you to use the same activity with students working at different levels.
Ways to differentiate:
- Begin with numbers 1–10.
- Increase to 1–20 as children become more confident.
- Give students a number line for support.
- Challenge confident learners to begin at a number other than one.
Making Centers Work for Different Learners
One of the things I love about hands-on centres is how easily they can be adapted.
Not every child needs to complete the same number of cards or work at the same level.
Some children might work with five alphabet cards while others sequence the entire alphabet. Some might count three turkeys while others work with numbers to 20.
By adjusting the number of pieces, providing visual supports, and offering different ways to respond, the same activities can be used with a wide range of learners.
And because the materials can be laminated and reused, they make a great addition to your November classroom centres.
Ready for Some Turkey Fun?
All five activities are included in my Thanksgiving Turkey Kindergarten Math and Literacy Activities resource, along with four additional hands-on activities.
The complete resource includes nine math and literacy centres, instructions, and recording sheets.
You can find it in my TPT store, A Special Kind of Class by clicking on the picture below.
Happy teaching!
