If you’re looking for fun There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey printables, I’ve created a free set of Thanksgiving worksheets and activities to go along with this silly Thanksgiving story! These activities are a great way to bring a little extra learning and laughter into your preschool or kindergarten lessons while practicing important early literacy and fine motor skills.
I love creating book companion printables because they give children an opportunity to connect with the stories they’re reading through hands-on activities. Instead of simply reading a book and putting it away, you can extend the fun with letter recognition, tracing, coloring, and interactive storytelling.
These free Thanksgiving 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 address in the form near the end of this post to grab your FREE printable set!
And if you’re looking for even more activities to go along with the book, I also have a complete 90-page There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey activity packet available in my shop!
About There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey by Lucille Colandro, illustrated by Jared Lee, is a silly Thanksgiving story featuring the familiar Old Lady who somehow manages to swallow all kinds of unexpected things!
This time, the story begins with a turkey, followed by several other surprising objects that eventually lead to a funny Thanksgiving surprise.
Children will enjoy the rhyming words, repetitive storytelling, and colorful illustrations as they discover what the Old Lady swallows next.
I think books with repetition and predictable patterns are especially helpful for younger learners because they encourage children to participate in the story. Even children who aren’t reading independently can begin recognizing familiar phrases, remembering what happened, and making predictions about what might come next.
This story is also a fun choice for Thanksgiving because it introduces holiday vocabulary while giving children plenty of opportunities to practice sequencing, retelling, and listening comprehension.
What’s Included in These Free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey Printables?
I’ve put together four fun activities that focus on early literacy, handwriting, letter recognition, and storytelling.
These free worksheets are designed with preschool and kindergarten learners in mind, although some activities can also be used with first graders who need additional practice.
1. T Is for Turkey Letter Tracing Worksheet
Let’s start with a little Thanksgiving alphabet practice!
This printable features an uppercase T, lowercase t, and an adorable turkey for children to color. Students can also trace and write the word “turkey” using the provided handwriting lines.
I like activities that combine letter recognition with handwriting because children can practice several skills on one simple worksheet.
Skills practiced:
- Uppercase and lowercase letter recognition
- Letter formation
- Word tracing
- Handwriting
- Fine motor coordination
You can also encourage children to think of other words that begin with the letter T, such as table, tree, and turtle.
2. Thanksgiving Letter T Maze
Next is a fun letter recognition maze!
Children will follow the uppercase letter T through the maze by coloring or using dot markers to mark the correct circles.
This activity is a great way to help younger learners recognize the letter T among other letters of the alphabet.
Skills practiced:
- Letter identification
- Visual discrimination
- Hand-eye coordination
- Following directions
- Fine motor skills
For an extra hands-on activity, children can use small counters to cover the correct letters before coloring them.
You could also laminate the worksheet and let students use dry-erase markers to complete the maze more than once.
3. Old Lady Coloring and Name Tracing Page
Of course, we can’t forget the Old Lady herself!
This worksheet features a large picture of the Old Lady for children to color, along with the words “Old Lady” in dotted tracing letters.
It’s a simple activity that works especially well after reading the story.
Children can color the character while practicing pencil control and handwriting.
Skills practiced:
- Coloring
- Pencil grip and control
- Letter formation
- Word recognition
- Fine motor development
You can also turn this into a quick story discussion by asking children to describe the Old Lady.
Was she silly? Funny? Hungry? What was the strangest thing she swallowed?
These simple questions encourage children to think about the character while practicing descriptive vocabulary.
4. Feed the Old Lady Thanksgiving Story Activity
This might be my favorite activity in the free set!
The Feed the Old Lady activity includes a colorful Old Lady picture with a cut-out mouth and picture cards featuring the different objects from the story.
Children can cut out the picture cards and pretend to feed the Old Lady as they retell what happened.
The picture cards include a turkey, football, hat, dog, shoe, wheels, and cornucopia.
Skills practiced:
- Story sequencing
- Retelling
- Listening comprehension
- Vocabulary development
- Cutting and fine motor skills
This is a wonderful activity for making storytime more interactive, especially for children who enjoy hands-on learning.
You can use the picture cards during the read-aloud or save them for afterward to see how many objects children remember.
How to Use These Free Thanksgiving Book Companion Activities
One of the things I love about printable activities is how easily they can fit into different learning environments.
You don’t need to plan an entire Thanksgiving unit to enjoy these worksheets. You can use just one activity during the day or combine all four for a fun book-themed lesson.
Start With a Thanksgiving Read-Aloud
Begin by reading There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey together.
As you read, encourage children to listen for rhyming words and pay attention to the different objects the Old Lady swallows.
You can pause occasionally to ask questions such as:
- What did the Old Lady swallow first?
- What do you think she will swallow next?
- Which object was the funniest?
- Can you remember what she swallowed before the dog?
- What happened at the end of the story?
These questions help children practice listening, recalling information, and making predictions.
Practice Thanksgiving Letter Recognition
After reading, bring out the T Is for Turkey tracing worksheet and letter maze.
These two activities work nicely together because they both focus on recognizing the letter T.
Start by having children identify the uppercase and lowercase letters on the tracing worksheet.
Then let them complete the letter maze independently or with a little help.
For children who are just beginning to recognize letters, you can point to the uppercase T and ask them to find another one that looks the same.
Retell the Story With the Feed the Old Lady Activity
Once children are familiar with the story, it’s time for some interactive fun!
Print the Feed the Old Lady pages, carefully cut out the mouth opening, and cut apart the picture cards.
For a sturdier activity, I recommend printing the Old Lady on cardstock.
You can also attach the Old Lady picture to the front of a small cardboard box or paper bag, with an opening behind her mouth so the cards can be dropped inside.
As children retell the story, they can feed the Old Lady the matching pictures.
This activity is particularly helpful for practicing story sequencing because children can physically arrange and interact with the objects as they remember the events.
Easy Ways to Extend These Thanksgiving Printables
If you have a little extra time, there are several ways to turn these four free activities into even more learning opportunities.
Make a Story Sequencing Game
Place the picture cards from the Feed the Old Lady activity on a table and mix them up.
Ask children to arrange the objects in the order they appeared in the story.
For younger children, you can leave the book nearby so they can look back at the pictures for clues.
Older students can try sequencing the cards independently before checking their answers.
Practice Counting With the Picture Cards
The Feed the Old Lady cards can also be used for a simple counting activity.
Ask children to count how many objects the Old Lady swallowed.
You can also sort the cards into different groups, such as things you can wear, things you can eat, or things that have wheels.
It’s a fun way to introduce early math and sorting skills using materials you already printed.
Create a Thanksgiving Vocabulary Activity
Choose a few words from the story, such as turkey, football, hat, and shoe.
Have children name each picture, identify its beginning sound, and clap the syllables.
For an additional challenge, ask students to use each word in a sentence.
Turn the Worksheets Into Reusable Learning Centers
If you’re planning to use these activities in a classroom or homeschool setting, consider laminating the letter maze and tracing worksheets.
Children can complete them using dry-erase markers and wipe them clean when they’re finished.
You can also store the Feed the Old Lady picture cards in a small envelope or resealable bag to keep everything organized.
This makes the activities easy to bring out again during Thanksgiving week.
Get the Full 90-Page There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey Activity Packet
If you enjoyed these free printables and want to extend the learning even further, I’ve also created a complete 90-page There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey activity packet available in my shop!
The full book companion includes a variety of Thanksgiving reading, writing, math, literacy, and hands-on activities designed for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary learners.
It’s a great option for homeschool Thanksgiving lessons, classroom centers, small-group instruction, and book-themed learning.
What’s Included in the Full 90-Page Packet?
Reading Comprehension & Story Activities
Story elements, characters and setting, sequencing, retelling, comprehension questions, true or false, cause and effect, story detective activities, and creative writing prompts.
Literacy & Fine Motor Activities
Rhyming words, beginning sounds, letter recognition, alphabet tracing, ABC order, sentence building, word searches, tracing, and cutting practice.
Math & Early Learning Activities
Counting, addition and subtraction, number tracing, number order, color by number, graphing, patterns, shapes, symmetry drawing, and mazes.
Crafts & Interactive Activities
Story retelling puppets, a Turkey Feather Name Craft, Label the Turkey, and a My Thanksgiving Parade Float activity.
I designed this packet to provide plenty of variety so you can choose activities that work best for your children’s ages and learning levels.
Whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving literacy center, a homeschool book study, or a full week of themed activities, you’ll have lots of options to choose from.
More Thanksgiving Books for Kids to Read
If you’re planning a Thanksgiving-themed reading week, there are several other picture books that pair nicely with this story.
I think adding a few different Thanksgiving books to your reading plans is a wonderful way to introduce new vocabulary, encourage conversations, and give children more opportunities to practice comprehension.
Here are a few Thanksgiving picture books worth adding to your book basket.
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Turkey knows Thanksgiving is coming, and he’s determined not to become the main course! This funny story follows his attempts to disguise himself as different farm animals.
It’s a great book for discussing problem-solving, predictions, and creative thinking.
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
A turkey is loose in a school, and everyone is trying to catch him! This entertaining story is full of silly situations and makes a fun addition to Thanksgiving storytime.
Children can even draw their own turkey trap after reading.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro
If children enjoy the Thanksgiving version, they’ll probably love this fall-themed story too!
It features the same silly Old Lady and repetitive storytelling pattern, making it a wonderful companion for practicing sequencing and retelling.
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
This sweet story about friendship and gratitude is a lovely choice for introducing conversations about thankfulness.
It pairs especially well with simple Thanksgiving writing or drawing prompts about things children are thankful for.
The Great Turkey Race by Steve Metzger
Three turkeys compete in a series of contests to become the special Thanksgiving turkey.
This story offers opportunities to discuss competition, friendship, and working together.
Need books for your Thanksgiving lessons?
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Make a Simple Paper Plate Turkey Craft
If you’re looking for another hands-on activity to go along with your Thanksgiving read-aloud, a paper plate turkey craft is a fun addition!
I think crafts are a wonderful way to give children a creative break between worksheets while still practicing important fine motor skills.
This simple turkey craft can be completed using a paper plate, construction paper, and a few basic craft supplies.
Supplies Needed for Your Paper Plate Turkey Craft
- One 9-inch paper plate
- Brown washable paint
- Paintbrush
- Red, orange, and yellow construction paper
- White and black paper for the eyes
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
Need craft supplies?
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How to Make a Paper Plate Turkey
- Paint the front of the paper plate brown and allow it to dry completely.
- Cut several large feather shapes from red, orange, and yellow construction paper.
- Glue the feathers behind the upper half of the paper plate so they fan out around the turkey’s head.
- Cut two white circles and two smaller black circles to create the turkey’s eyes.
- Cut an orange triangle for the beak and a small red wattle.
- Glue the eyes, beak, and wattle onto the brown paper plate.
- Allow the glue to dry before displaying your finished turkey.
You can also let children write something they’re thankful for on each feather before attaching it to their turkey.
This makes a cute Thanksgiving classroom display or a special craft to take home.
More Free Thanksgiving Printables and Activities for Kids
Looking for more Thanksgiving activities to add to your homeschool lessons or classroom plans?
I’ve created several other free Thanksgiving printables and crafts that are easy to prepare and fun for young learners.
Simple Thanksgiving-themed coloring activities that are perfect for quiet time, early finishers, and classroom centers.
A fun Thanksgiving craft that encourages creativity and helps children develop cutting, gluing, and fine motor skills.
Let children color, cut, and assemble their own Thanksgiving turkey with a printable craft template.
These activities can be used individually or combined to create a fun week of Thanksgiving learning.
Pin These Free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey Printables for Later!
Planning your Thanksgiving lessons ahead of time?
Be sure to save these free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey printables to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find them when you’re ready to use them!
They’re perfect for Thanksgiving preschool activities, kindergarten literacy centers, homeschool read-alouds, and seasonal classroom fun.
You can also share this post with another parent or teacher who might enjoy these free Thanksgiving book companion activities.
Get Your Free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey Printables Here!
Ready to grab your free Thanksgiving worksheets?
I’ve made it easy to get started! Simply enter your email address in the form below and click the download button.
Your free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey printables will open instantly after you click the download button, so you can save and print them right away.
Your free download includes:
- T Is for Turkey letter tracing worksheet
- Letter T maze
- Old Lady coloring and word tracing page
- Feed the Old Lady interactive storytelling activity
These printables are perfect for adding a little extra fun to your Thanksgiving read-aloud without spending hours preparing activities.
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Final Thoughts on These Free Thanksgiving Book Companion Activities
I hope these free There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey printables make planning your Thanksgiving lessons a little easier!
I love creating activities that combine learning with fun, and this silly Thanksgiving story provides so many opportunities for practicing early literacy, handwriting, sequencing, and storytelling.
Whether you’re using the letter tracing worksheet, completing the letter maze, coloring the Old Lady, or feeding her the different objects from the story, these activities are a simple way to make your Thanksgiving read-aloud more interactive.
And remember, if you’d like even more ways to explore the story, you can grab my complete 90-page activity packet in my shop.
Happy Thanksgiving, and happy learning!
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