This November, you can incorporate many fun Thanksgiving preschool activities into your preschool theme. My preschool how to cook a turkey writing template is a great way to start. I can’t wait to share this and a few of my other favorite free Thanksgiving printables with you for added learning fun this month!
Today, I’m excited to share a fun “How to Cook a Turkey” activity printable with you. This simple craft incorporates coloring, writing, creativity, fine motor skills practice, and sequencing. Plus, it makes a really cute Thanksgiving keepsake.
Ready to get your own paper turkey craft and printable Thanksgiving worksheet? Grab your glue stick and keep reading to learn more about how you can use this fun craft in your classroom or homeschool lesson plans.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means it’s time to start preparing for this beloved American holiday. For kindergarten teachers Thanksgiving offers a wonderful opportunity to teach young students about this tradition through engaging activities. One of the most fun and hands-on ways to do this is by having the class learn how to cook a turkey! This activity allows children to take an active role in discovering how a turkey is prepared, while reinforcing concepts like sequencing, following directions, and working together.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to cook a turkey with your kindergarten class. We’ll cover how to prepare for the activity, go through the cooking process, and wrap up with some ideas for extensions and supplemental materials. Let’s get started!
Preparing for the Activity
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Explain the Activity – Tell students they will be learning how to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. Go over basic rules and expectations for working together respectfully.
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Show Pictures of Turkeys – Have students look at photos of whole turkeys, both inside and outside. Talk about the turkey’s features – feathers, wattle, drumsticks, wings, etc.
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Vocabulary – Introduce key vocabulary words like mix, stuff, baste, roast, etc. Make sure students understand each cooking term.
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Materials Needed – Provide students with chefs hats, aprons, utensils for pretend play. Have paper and coloring supplies available too.
How to Cook a Turkey Step-by-Step
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Buy the Turkey – Show a frozen turkey and talk about picking one out at the grocery store. Emphasize getting a thawed turkey.
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Clean the Turkey – Demonstrate removing giblets and rinsing the turkey. Explain why cleaning is important.
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Brine the Turkey – Explain that soaking the turkey makes it very flavorful. Show how to make a simple brine.
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Prepare the Stuffing – Show pictures of typical stuffing ingredients. Have students help mix pretend stuffing.
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Stuff the Turkey – Use a stuffed animal or visual to show how stuffing goes inside the turkey.
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Tie the Legs Together – Demonstrate tying the drumsticks with string to hold the stuffing in.
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Put Turkey in Pan – Pretend to place stuffed turkey in roasting pan. Explain why a pan is needed.
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Rub Oil on the Turkey – Act out rubbing oil all over the turkey to help brown it.
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Roast the Turkey – Pretend to put turkey in the oven. Explain roasting at high heat.
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Baste the Turkey – Show using a baster to coat the turkey in juices while cooking.
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Test if Done – Explain using a thermometer to check if the turkey is fully cooked.
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Remove from Oven – Demonstrate safely taking the hot turkey pan out of the oven.
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Let Turkey Rest – Discuss letting the turkey sit before carving it.
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Carve the Turkey – Show how to carve the turkey by cutting slices of breast meat.
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Eat and Enjoy! – Have students pretend to eat the turkey. Talk about why Thanksgiving meals are special.
Follow Up Activities and Resources
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Have students sequence the cooking steps using pictures or by retelling.
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Make paper chef hats and aprons for a dramatic pretend play.
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Write a recount of the experience through dictation or class book.
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Make models of turkeys using fingerprints on feathers.
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Sing songs about turkeys to reinforce new vocabulary.
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Readbooks about Thanksgiving traditions.
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Incorporate counting, patterning, or sorting using turkey images.
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Send home simple Thanksgiving recipes or crafts to extend learning.
Cooking a turkey is an engaging way to teach young learners about Thanksgiving traditions. By actively participating in each step of the process, children gain knowledge of cooking techniques, sequencing, and working together as a group. Tying in reading, writing, art, and other activities makes the lesson even more memorable. With some preparation and creativity, how to cook a turkey can be a delightful activity for your kindergarten classroom!
How to Cook a Turkey Printable Thanksgiving Worksheet
I just love this printable Thanksgiving worksheet all about how to cook a turkey. Reading all the cute stories preschoolers invent about how to cook a turkey is adorable and entertaining!
Want to hear what your preschoolers have to say?
Grab this writing prompt all about how to cook a turkey and discover the steps your preschoolers think are most important.
Let’s see if they know how to cook a turkey in the correct order. They might surprise you or make you laugh!
Then, create an adorable Thanksgiving turkey craft to go along with your preschool writing. Don’t forget to share these cute Thanksgiving preschool activities with grandparents and friends for the very best holiday memories.
Free How to Cook a Turkey Writing Template
In this bundle of totally free Thanksgiving printables, you’ll get an adorable cut-and-paste turkey craft your preschool and kindergarten students can use to create their own turkey friend this November.
Cut-and-paste Fall crafts are great for helping preschoolers build fine motor skills for handwriting and dexterity.
These printable turkey template ideas will make it easy to have some Thanksgiving fun with your preschoolers and keep the learning going too.
You can use this printable turkey craft to create a keepsake for family members, use them to decorate the children’s table at your Thanksgiving dinner, or make an adorable bulletin board for your classroom.
You’ll get all the printable parts for these cute turkeys for free. You can print them on colorful card stock or let your preschoolers build fine motor skills by coloring their turkey’s feathers different colors.
Letting your students choose how to decorate their easy Thanksgiving turkey craft always turns out so precious. I love seeing all the unique turkeys the younger kids and older students come up with.
Pair these free Thanksgiving printables with some of our favorite Thanksgiving read alouds for even more learning fun! Check out a few of my favorites:
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you.
Kids explain how to cook a turkey
How do you make a Turkey for kids?
Here’s another turkey craft for kids that requires simple materials, but creates a unique Thanksgiving decoration or centerpiece. Start by prepping all the components. Paint a plastic spoon brown and let dry. Cut feathers, a beak, waddle, and feet out of construction paper, and set aside.
What can a preschool student do with a Turkey?
Families can color turkeys, put decorations on it, pictures, and whatever else they like–it is all about what the preschool student and their family want to do so that they have their own beautiful and unique family turkey.
What is a good Turkey craft for preschool?
Another favorite turkey craft for preschool is Pinecone Turkeys! I live in an area where pinecones are plentiful, so pinecone turkeys are a great craft for this time of year. The one pictured above is from a few years ago when I used pipe cleaners for the waddles, but now I just use paper. Here is a list of supplies needed:
What are the best Turkey activities for toddlers?
Since the big bird is part of the late November celebrations, turkey activities for toddlers are a must. One of the most fun-filled turkey activities for toddlers is Turkey Balloon Rockets. All you need is a couple of balloons, craft foam turkeys, string, tape, and drinking straws.