Thanksgiving is the perfect time to bring a little laughter into your homeschool lessons or classroom, and these free Turkey Trouble activities are a fun way to combine reading, writing, and creativity! If you’re familiar with Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano, you already know that Turkey has quite the problem to solve. With Thanksgiving approaching, he needs to come up with a clever plan to stay off the dinner table!
I created these free Turkey Trouble worksheets to give preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary students an opportunity to practice important early learning skills while enjoying this silly Thanksgiving story.
This free printable packet includes letter tracing, a letter recognition maze, a turkey coloring page, and a creative turkey disguise activity. They’re 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 set!
What Is the Book Turkey Trouble About?
Written by Wendi Silvano, illustrated by Lee Harper
Turkey Trouble follows a clever turkey who realizes that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and he might be the main course!
Determined to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner, Turkey decides to disguise himself as different farm animals. He tries everything from dressing like a horse to pretending to be a cow, pig, and sheep. Unfortunately, his disguises aren’t quite convincing enough.
Just when it seems like Turkey has run out of ideas, he comes up with one final plan that makes for a wonderfully funny ending.
I think this book is a wonderful choice for Thanksgiving because it encourages children to think creatively, make predictions, and explore different ways to solve a problem.
It’s also a great opportunity to discuss perseverance. Turkey doesn’t give up when his first disguise fails. Instead, he keeps trying new ideas until he finds a solution.
What’s Included in These Free Turkey Trouble Activities?
I wanted to create a small collection of printable activities that would work well alongside the story without requiring a lot of preparation.
The free packet includes four student activity pages designed to practice letter recognition, handwriting, fine motor skills, and creative thinking.
1. T Is for Turkey Letter Tracing Worksheet
The first worksheet introduces the uppercase and lowercase letter T with an adorable turkey illustration.
Students can color the turkey, trace the word “turkey,” and practice writing the letter T on the provided handwriting lines.
This worksheet is especially helpful for preschool and kindergarten students who are learning to recognize letters and develop proper letter formation.
For an additional activity, ask children to think of other words that begin with the letter T, such as tree, turtle, and table. You can also practice making the /t/ sound together before beginning the worksheet.
2. Turkey Trouble Letter T Maze
Next is a fun letter recognition maze that gives students a chance to practice identifying the uppercase letter T.
Students follow the path of letter T circles from the beginning of the maze to the end. They can color the circles with crayons or use dot markers to mark their path.
I especially like letter mazes because they turn a simple recognition exercise into a fun little challenge.
You can make this activity reusable by placing the worksheet inside a dry-erase pocket and letting students complete the maze with a dry-erase marker.
For younger learners, encourage them to say the letter name each time they find another T.
3. Turkey Trouble Coloring and Word Tracing Page
This worksheet features a funny illustration of Turkey lying on a serving platter, along with the word “turkey” at the bottom of the page.
Students can color the illustration and trace the word to practice handwriting and letter recognition.
Coloring activities are a wonderful way to strengthen fine motor skills while giving children an opportunity to slow down and enjoy a creative activity.
You can also use this worksheet to start a conversation about the story. Ask children why Turkey is worried about Thanksgiving and what they think he should do.
For students who are ready for an additional challenge, encourage them to write the word “turkey” independently on the back of the page.
4. Turkey Trouble Disguise Drawing and Writing Activity
This might be my favorite activity in the free packet!
Students get to become costume designers and help Turkey come up with a brand-new disguise.
The worksheet features a large turkey illustration that children can decorate however they choose. They might turn Turkey into a superhero, firefighter, dinosaur, or even a Thanksgiving pumpkin!
Once they’ve finished drawing and coloring their disguise, students complete the sentence:
“I’m not a turkey. I’m a ______.”
I love activities like this because there’s no single correct answer. Children get to use their imaginations, practice writing, and share their creative ideas.
You can even have students present their finished disguises to the class and explain why they think their costume would fool Farmer Jake.
Why I Love These Turkey Trouble Worksheets for Early Learning
One of the reasons I enjoy creating book companion activities is that they give children more opportunities to connect with the stories they’re reading.
Instead of simply finishing a book and moving on, students can explore the characters, practice important skills, and think more deeply about what happened.
These free Turkey Trouble activities offer several educational benefits.
- Letter recognition and phonics: The letter T worksheets help young learners recognize the letter, practice its sound, and connect it to a familiar word.
- Handwriting development: Tracing activities give children practice forming letters while strengthening the small muscles needed for writing.
- Fine motor skills: Coloring, tracing, and using dot markers encourage hand-eye coordination and pencil control.
- Creative thinking: The turkey disguise worksheet challenges students to come up with an original idea and explain their choices.
- Reading comprehension: When paired with the book, these activities encourage children to recall story details, discuss characters, and make predictions.
I also love that these activities can be adapted for different ages and learning levels. Younger students can focus on coloring and letter recognition, while older students can spend more time writing and explaining their ideas.
How to Use These Free Turkey Trouble Printables
These worksheets are simple to incorporate into your Thanksgiving lesson plans, whether you’re teaching at home or in a classroom.
Start With a Turkey Trouble Read-Aloud
Begin by reading Turkey Trouble together.
Before opening the book, show children the cover and ask what they think the story might be about.
As you read, pause occasionally to ask questions such as:
- Why is Turkey trying to hide?
- Which disguise do you think is the funniest?
- Why do you think his disguises aren’t working?
- What would you do if you were Turkey?
- How did Turkey finally solve his problem?
These simple questions encourage children to pay attention to story details while practicing prediction and problem-solving skills.
Set Up a Thanksgiving Literacy Center
If you’re teaching in a classroom, these free Turkey Trouble worksheets would make a great addition to a Thanksgiving literacy center.
Place the letter tracing worksheets, crayons, pencils, and dot markers in a small basket where students can access them independently.
You could also provide dry-erase pockets so students can practice the letter maze multiple times.
For homeschool families, the activities can easily be incorporated into a morning learning routine or Thanksgiving-themed lesson.
Create a Turkey Disguise Display
After students complete their turkey disguise worksheets, display their creations on a bulletin board or wall.
A fun display title could be:
“These Turkeys Are in Disguise!”
Children will enjoy seeing the different costumes their classmates created.
You can also turn this into a speaking activity by asking each child to introduce their disguised turkey and explain why their costume is convincing.
Get the Complete Turkey Trouble Activity Packet in My Shop
If your children or students enjoyed these free Turkey Trouble activities, I also have a much larger Turkey Trouble book companion packet available in my Shopify shop!
The complete set includes additional reading, writing, and hands-on learning activities designed to help you turn this funny Thanksgiving story into a more complete literacy lesson.
With the full packet, you can extend the story into multiple lessons instead of using it for just one read-aloud.
Some of the activities in the complete collection include:
- Story elements, comprehension questions, and retelling activities
- Story sequencing and beginning, middle, and end worksheets
- True or false and story detective activities
- Creative writing and turkey disguise activities
- Vocabulary, word searches, and alphabet practice
- Additional Thanksgiving-themed games, crafts, and literacy activities
The complete packet is a great option for homeschool families planning a Thanksgiving unit, teachers preparing literacy centers, or anyone looking for more ways to explore Turkey Trouble.
More Thanksgiving Picture Books to Read With Kids
If your children enjoy Turkey Trouble, there are several other wonderful Thanksgiving picture books that pair nicely with seasonal crafts and learning activities.
I love recommending picture books alongside printables because reading gives children an opportunity to build vocabulary, explore new ideas, and connect their learning to a story.
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.
You can also use these books to create a Thanksgiving-themed reading basket and encourage children to choose a different story each day.
Easy Paper Plate Turkey Craft to Go With Turkey Trouble
After reading the story and completing the worksheets, why not add a fun Thanksgiving craft?
This simple paper plate turkey craft is a great way to extend the lesson while giving children an opportunity to practice cutting, gluing, and following directions.
I love paper plate crafts because they’re affordable, easy to prepare, and can be adapted for different ages.
Supplies Needed for Your Paper Plate Turkey Craft
- One 9-inch paper plate
- Brown washable paint and a paintbrush
- Red, orange, yellow, and green construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Googly eyes or white and black paper circles
- Pencil
Need craft supplies?
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How to Make Your Paper Plate Turkey
- Paint the front of a paper plate brown and allow it to dry completely.
- Cut several large feather shapes from colorful construction paper.
- Glue the feathers to the back of the plate, arranging them in a fan shape.
- Cut a small orange triangle for the beak and a red wattle from construction paper.
- Glue the googly eyes, beak, and wattle onto the front of the plate.
- Cut two orange turkey feet and glue them to the bottom of the plate.
- Allow everything to dry before displaying your finished turkey craft.
Turn Your Turkey Craft Into a Story Activity
To connect the craft to Turkey Trouble, encourage children to think about how they could disguise their paper plate turkey.
You might provide extra construction paper, yarn, fabric scraps, or other craft materials so children can create a costume.
For example, students could make a cowboy hat, superhero mask, or silly glasses for their turkey.
Afterward, ask each child to explain their disguise and why they think it would work.
This is a fun way to combine storytelling, creative thinking, and hands-on learning in one activity.
More Free Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
If you’re planning a Thanksgiving unit, I have several other printable activities and crafts that you can add to your lessons.
These resources work wonderfully alongside Thanksgiving picture books and can help you keep children learning throughout the holiday season.
Some additional activities to explore include:
- Build a Turkey Craft: A hands-on Thanksgiving activity that gives children an opportunity to create their own colorful turkeys.
- Paper Plate Turkey Craft: An easy Thanksgiving art project using everyday craft supplies.
- Thanksgiving Coloring Pages: Great for quiet time, early finishers, and classroom activities.
I like combining different types of activities throughout a Thanksgiving unit so children have opportunities to practice reading, writing, creativity, and fine motor skills.
Pin These Free Turkey Trouble Activities for Later
Planning your Thanksgiving lessons ahead of time? Be sure to save these free Turkey Trouble worksheets to your favorite Pinterest board so you can easily find them when you’re ready to start your Thanksgiving activities.
They’re perfect for Thanksgiving lesson plans, preschool and kindergarten literacy centers, homeschool learning, and fun seasonal activities.
You can also follow me on Pinterest at @missyprintabledesign for more free worksheets, printable crafts, and educational activities for kids.
Get Your Free Turkey Trouble Activities Here
Ready to add these fun Thanksgiving worksheets to your lessons?
I created this free Turkey Trouble printable packet to make it easy for parents and teachers to incorporate reading, writing, and creativity into their Thanksgiving learning activities.
The free download includes four student activity pages featuring letter tracing, a letter T maze, turkey coloring and word tracing, and a creative turkey disguise writing worksheet.
To get your free Turkey Trouble activities, simply enter your email address in the form below and click the download button. Your printable PDF will open instantly, so you can save it and start printing right away!
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Make Thanksgiving Learning Fun With Turkey Trouble
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to bring seasonal stories, hands-on crafts, and educational activities into your homeschool or classroom.
I hope these free Turkey Trouble activities help make your Thanksgiving lessons a little easier to prepare and a lot more enjoyable for your children or students.
Whether you’re practicing letter recognition with preschoolers, helping kindergarten students develop handwriting skills, or encouraging older children to create their own turkey disguises, there are plenty of ways to make learning fun with this silly Thanksgiving story.
And if you’re looking for even more ways to explore the book, don’t forget to check out the complete Turkey Trouble activity packet in my Shopify shop.
Happy Thanksgiving, and happy learning!
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