Looking for some fun free How to Catch a Turkey activities to go along with the popular Thanksgiving picture book? I’ve created a set of printable worksheets that are perfect for adding a little reading, writing, and creativity to your Thanksgiving lessons!
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton is a silly Thanksgiving story about a turkey who escapes just before the school Thanksgiving play. As the students try to catch him, he races through the school, creating all kinds of hilarious chaos along the way!
I love how this story combines humor, excitement, and a sweet message about overcoming fears. It’s a wonderful choice for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary students, especially during November when Thanksgiving activities are in full swing.
To make learning even more fun, I’ve created four free How to Catch a Turkey worksheets that include letter recognition, handwriting practice, coloring, and a creative turkey costume activity.
These printables are easy to prepare, require very few supplies, and work wonderfully for homeschool lessons, classroom literacy centers, small groups, and Thanksgiving-themed learning.
Be sure to enter your email in the form near the end of this post to get your FREE printable activities!
What’s Included in These Free How to Catch a Turkey Activities?
This free printable packet includes four activities designed to help young learners practice important early learning skills while enjoying the story.
Each worksheet features turkey-themed illustrations and activities that can be completed at home or in the classroom.
1. Turkey’s Stage Costume Activity
One of my favorite parts of How to Catch a Turkey is that Turkey isn’t trying to escape Thanksgiving dinner. He’s nervous about being in the school play!
This inspired me to create a fun activity called Turkey’s Stage Costume.
Students will help Turkey feel brave and confident by designing a special costume for his big performance.
They can draw and color their own costume directly onto the turkey illustration.
Encourage children to get creative! Maybe Turkey needs a superhero cape, a fancy hat, a colorful vest, or even a pair of silly glasses.
This activity is a wonderful way to encourage:
- Creativity and imagination
- Fine motor skills
- Self-expression
- Story comprehension
- Conversations about feelings and confidence
After students finish their designs, invite them to share their costumes and explain why they chose them.
You can also ask, “How do you think your costume would help Turkey feel brave?”
I think this is a great opportunity to talk about feeling nervous and how encouragement from others can help us try something new.
2. Letter T Is for Turkey Handwriting Worksheet
Next is a simple letter T handwriting worksheet that helps children practice recognizing and writing the letter T.
The worksheet features uppercase and lowercase T, a turkey illustration, and handwriting lines for practicing the word “turkey.”
Students can color the letters and turkey before tracing and writing the word.
This worksheet helps develop:
- Uppercase and lowercase letter recognition
- Letter-sound connections
- Handwriting and letter formation
- Fine motor coordination
- Vocabulary development
For younger learners, I recommend focusing on identifying the letter T and tracing the word.
Older students can practice writing “turkey” independently or think of other words that begin with T, such as tree, turtle, and table.
It’s a simple way to incorporate alphabet learning into your Thanksgiving activities.
3. Letter T Turkey Maze
If your children or students enjoy mazes, they’ll love this Turkey Letter T Maze!
Instead of following a traditional maze path, students must find their way through a collection of letters by following only the uppercase letter T.
They can color, circle, or use dot markers to mark each correct letter as they work their way from the starting arrow to the finish.
This activity helps children practice:
- Letter recognition
- Visual discrimination
- Problem-solving
- Hand-eye coordination
- Following directions
I especially like activities that combine learning with a little challenge. Children get to practice an important literacy skill while feeling like they’re playing a game.
For extra practice, have students say the letter name or sound each time they find another T.
You can even laminate the worksheet and use dry-erase markers to make it reusable for literacy centers.
4. Turkey Coloring and Word Tracing Page
The last free worksheet combines coloring with handwriting practice.
Students will color a fun turkey illustration and trace the word “turkey” at the bottom of the page.
This simple activity is perfect for younger learners who are still developing their pencil control and early writing skills.
Coloring also provides an opportunity to practice staying within lines, recognizing colors, and strengthening the small muscles needed for writing.
I recommend using this worksheet as a quiet activity after reading the story or as an independent Thanksgiving literacy center.
You could also encourage students to use different colors for the turkey’s feathers or talk about the different parts of a turkey as they color.
How to Use These Free How to Catch a Turkey Worksheets
One of the things I love about printable activities is how easily they can fit into different learning environments.
Whether you’re homeschooling, teaching a classroom full of students, or looking for something educational to keep children busy, these worksheets are simple to incorporate into your day.
Start With a Thanksgiving Read-Aloud
I recommend beginning with How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace.
Before reading, show children the cover and ask them what they think the story might be about.
You can ask questions such as:
- Why do you think someone is trying to catch a turkey?
- Where do you think the turkey might hide?
- What would you do if a turkey ran through your school?
- Do you think the turkey wants to be caught?
As you read, pause occasionally to discuss what is happening and encourage children to make predictions.
After finishing the story, talk about why Turkey was running away and how the story ended.
These simple conversations help strengthen listening comprehension and encourage children to think about the characters and events.
Create a Thanksgiving Literacy Center
The letter T worksheets are perfect for a Thanksgiving-themed literacy center.
Place the tracing worksheet, letter maze, and coloring page in a folder or activity tray along with crayons, pencils, and dot markers.
Children can rotate through the activities while practicing letter recognition, handwriting, and fine motor skills.
For reusable centers, place the worksheets inside dry-erase pockets or laminate them.
Encourage Creative Storytelling
The Turkey’s Stage Costume worksheet is a wonderful opportunity to extend the story.
After children finish drawing their costumes, encourage them to imagine what happens when Turkey steps onto the stage wearing their design.
Ask them to describe their costume and explain how Turkey feels.
Older students can even write a few sentences about their creation.
This turns a simple drawing activity into a fun storytelling and creative writing exercise.
Learning Skills Children Practice With These Thanksgiving Printables
Although these activities are designed to be fun, they also provide opportunities to strengthen important early learning skills.
Early literacy: Letter recognition, beginning sounds, and vocabulary development help build a foundation for reading.
Handwriting: Tracing and writing activities help children practice letter formation and pencil control.
Fine motor development: Coloring, drawing, and using dot markers strengthen the small hand muscles needed for writing.
Creativity: Designing a costume encourages children to use their imagination and express their ideas.
Reading comprehension: Connecting the activities to the story encourages children to remember important events, understand characters, and discuss feelings.
I believe themed printables are especially helpful because they allow children to practice familiar skills in a fresh and engaging way.
Get the Full How to Catch a Turkey Activity Packet
If your children or students enjoy these free worksheets, you can continue the fun with my full How to Catch a Turkey book companion activity packet, available in my shop!
The complete packet includes additional reading, writing, literacy, and creative activities designed to complement the story.
With the full set, you can extend your Thanksgiving lessons beyond the four free worksheets and create a more complete book study.
It’s a great option for homeschool families, kindergarten teachers, first-grade classrooms, literacy centers, and Thanksgiving-themed lesson plans.
Make a Simple Paper Plate Turkey Craft
If you’re looking for another hands-on activity to pair with the story, a paper plate turkey craft is a fun addition!
I love incorporating crafts into book-themed lessons because they give children an opportunity to work on fine motor skills while creating something they can proudly display.
For this craft, children will transform a paper plate into a colorful Thanksgiving turkey using construction paper, paint, and a few basic supplies.
Supplies Needed for Your Paper Plate Turkey Craft
- One 9-inch paper plate
- Brown washable paint
- Paintbrush
- Red, orange, yellow, and brown construction paper
- Googly eyes or paper eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black marker
Need craft supplies?
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How to Make a Paper Plate Turkey
- Paint the paper plate. Have children paint the front of their paper plate brown and allow it to dry completely.
- Create the feathers. Cut several large feather shapes from red, orange, and yellow construction paper.
- Attach the feathers. Glue the feathers to the back of the paper plate so they extend above and around the upper half of the plate.
- Add the eyes. Glue two googly eyes or paper eyes near the top center of the plate.
- Make the beak. Cut a small triangle from orange construction paper and glue it below the eyes.
- Add the wattle. Cut a small curved shape from red construction paper and attach it beside the beak.
- Finish your turkey. Allow the glue to dry, then display your completed turkey craft!
Fun Ways to Extend the Turkey Craft
You can turn this simple craft into an additional learning activity by having children count the feathers or identify their colors.
For older students, write a word describing Turkey from the story on each feather.
Some examples include nervous, fast, funny, scared, and brave.
You could also have children write something they’re thankful for on each feather to create a Thanksgiving gratitude turkey.
More Thanksgiving Books to Read With Kids
If your children enjoy How to Catch a Turkey, there are several other fun Thanksgiving picture books that pair wonderfully with seasonal worksheets and crafts.
Here are a few books worth adding to your Thanksgiving reading list.
How to Catch a Turkey By Adam Wallace
This hilarious story follows a turkey who escapes just before a school Thanksgiving play. It’s a fun choice for encouraging problem-solving and creative thinking. After reading, invite children to design their own turkey-catching invention.
Run, Turkey, Run! By Diane Mayr
Another funny Thanksgiving story about a turkey trying to avoid becoming dinner. This book pairs wonderfully with Turkey Trouble for comparing characters, problems, and solutions.
Bear Says Thanks By Karma Wilson
This sweet story focuses on friendship, kindness, and gratitude. It’s a lovely choice for introducing conversations about thankfulness during the Thanksgiving season.
A Plump and Perky Turkey By Teresa Bateman
A clever turkey named Pete outsmarts the people who want him for Thanksgiving dinner. This story makes a fun comparison with Turkey Trouble, especially when discussing clever characters and creative solutions
More Free Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
If you’re planning a Thanksgiving unit or simply looking for more educational activities for November, I have several other free printables that pair nicely with these worksheets.
Here are a few more Thanksgiving activities you might enjoy:
- Free Turkey Trouble Activities: Extend another hilarious turkey story with themed literacy worksheets and activities.
- Free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey Activities: Practice story comprehension, sequencing, and early literacy.
- Free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages: Simple coloring activities for preschool and elementary students.
These activities are great for building a Thanksgiving learning unit without spending hours preparing materials.
You can mix and match worksheets, crafts, and read-alouds to create lessons that work for your children’s ages and abilities.
Pin These Free How to Catch a Turkey Activities for Later!
Planning your Thanksgiving lessons ahead of time? Be sure to save these free How to Catch a Turkey worksheets to your favorite Pinterest board!
That way, you’ll have them ready whenever you need a fun Thanksgiving literacy activity, book companion, or printable worksheet for your children or students.
You can also share this post with other homeschool parents and teachers who might enjoy adding these activities to their November lesson plans.
Get Your Free How to Catch a Turkey Activities Here!
Ready to get started?
I’ve created these four free How to Catch a Turkey printable worksheets to help make your Thanksgiving lessons a little easier and more enjoyable.
Your free download includes:
- Turkey’s Stage Costume Drawing Activity
- Letter T Is for Turkey Handwriting Worksheet
- Letter T Maze
- Turkey Coloring and Word Tracing Page
These worksheets are available as a PDF, making them easy to print at home or in the classroom.
To get your free printables, simply enter your email address in the form below and click the download button. Your PDF will open instantly so you can print your worksheets and start using them right away!
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Final Thoughts on These Free How to Catch a Turkey Activities
Thanksgiving is such a fun time to incorporate seasonal stories, hands-on crafts, and educational worksheets into your lessons.
I created these free How to Catch a Turkey activities to give parents and teachers a simple way to extend a favorite Thanksgiving picture book while helping children practice important early learning skills.
From letter tracing and recognition to creative costume designing, these activities offer a little something for everyone.
Whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving homeschool lesson, preparing classroom literacy centers, or looking for a quiet activity after storytime, I hope these printables make your day a little easier!
Don’t forget to grab your free worksheets above, and be sure to explore my other Thanksgiving printables for even more seasonal learning fun!
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