A guide for using our resources

Students will compare turkeys to other birds and learn about their anatomy.

Vocabulary: poults, snood, wattle

Science Focus: turkeys

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 key details; RI.1.8 text evidence; RF.1.3 phonics and word analysis; SL.1.1 collaborative conversations; L.1.2 standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling; L.1.6 use new vocabulary; W.1.8 write to answer questions

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• No Turkey for Thanksgiving is a great way to integrate a common holiday in the United States and host classroom discussions regarding traditions. Some students may not celebrate Thanksgiving in your classroom or school, and this book gives insight to children, both celebrating and not, about the importance of individual families.

• Before reading the article, draw a picture or display a photograph of a turkey. Ask students to assist in labeling the parts of the turkey. Remind students that a label shows a reader where something is in an illustration. Once fi nished reading the article, ask students to use their Scholastic News to help them add or correct labels that are missing.

• Work together to find and circle the following words in the article: some, they, are. Use a different color for each word.

Skill: writing, fine-motor skills

Materials: Turkey Template skill sheet, paper plates, scissors, crayons or paint, construction paper, or other art materials

• This activity lets students explore the various parts of a turkey—and make a cute craft!
• Give each student the Turkey Template skill sheet to cut out parts of the bird. Use the feather on construction paper to make diff erent color feathers.
• Provide half a paper plate for each student to glue on the body parts. They can color or paint the plate brown before gluing on the parts.
• Use additional art materials to make your own variation on the craft. Here are some ideas:
  • Glue craft feathers to the top of the turkey instead of the paper feathers.
    
  • Cut slits along the rounded edge of the paper plate to make “feathers,” and weave yarn around them.
    
  • Add googly eyes to the face of the turkey.
    
• Have students write about one body part on their turkey on the sentence strip. Then have them tape the strip to the bottom of the plate to show what they learned!