Trot Out the Creativity with Turkey-Themed Art Activities
Take the traditional handprint turkey to the next level with art activities that integrate writing, color, poetry, and family involvement
By Alison Panik
One of the stars of the Thanksgiving holidays is the turkey. Seen by adults as the main course, for children turkeys inspire wonder and whimsy. The nature of the creature with its lush, colorful plumage and its noble bearing make it a compelling subject for art activities as well. The large amount of feathers characteristic of the turkey offer a symbol of the classroom community. Each feather, while unique in itself, is also part of a larger body, a larger display of life. The turkey as a subject offers students the opportunity to contribute to a larger work.
There are a variety of ways to use turkeys as an inspiration for a classroom lesson. Students could cut out construction paper feathers, and use each piece to tell a part of a class story. Turkeys could be used as the background for a poem students practice together. Students can also create their own turkeys using pine cones and construction. Any of these activities can be used as a way to begin a lesson on turkeys, Thanksgiving, or what students have to be thankful for. It could also lead to a discussion of the Pilgrims and their experience coming to America on the Mayflower.
The lesson plans below provide a variety of turkey-themed art-based activities for both the regular classroom teacher and the art specialist.
Turkey Art Lesson Plans:
Create cooperative stories with students of all grade levels. This imaginative take on turkey feathers could be done in small groups, leaving time for students to share their stories with the whole group. Set some parameters for the activity, such as providing story starters and agreeing on appropriate subject matter. The metallic colored pencils suggested in this activity look quite vibrant on construction paper, making the activity extra fun for the writers.
This is a fun “family homework” assignment that brings the creativity of each family to your classroom door. I would include the students in the planning step, allowing them to create the torn paper turkey body with the teacher. This activity could also be done on a larger scale for a whole grade, or even the whole school. Created for the primary grades, this lesson could be lots of fun for older students as well.
This lesson would be a fun introduction or culminating activity when done in conjunction with the "I am Thumb Body!" activities above. Also incorporates a favorite poem, which students can sing while actively incorporating hand and body motions.
This is a simple lesson for pre-kindergarten and special needs students. Add some creativity to this lesson by inviting children to write poems about their turkeys.
"I am Thumb Body!" - Little Artists
The traditional handprint turkey can launch an art exploration of primary and secondary colors, the art of Ed Emberly, and the excitement of using hands and feet to create representational art. This five-session lesson for primary grades is full of great ideas.