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If you’re here, you obviously love the book Run Turkey Run by Diane Mayr. If you have never read it, oh man you’re are in for a treat! If you purchase ONE Thanksgiving book this year, make it this one. Poor Turkey realizes that his peaceful life on the farm is about to be literally cut short if he doesn’t run away from the farmer. Every classroom I have ever read this to has asked for it to be read over and over. I don’t know how much that has to do with my dramatic reading or the content. It’s a classic for a reason!
Because I love this book so much, I came up with five new ways to extend the turkey scheananigans!
You’ll need the following:
- Run Turkey Run Book
- Various farm animals, most important are turkey, pig, duck, and horse
- Small toy barn
- Small toy house
- Small bucket
- Toys to represent the farmer and his family
- Any farm toys you may have
- Three Part Card Printable, download by clicking link below!
First up I created a small world sensory bin based on the story. You could make this as elaborate or as simple as you would like. If I was recreating this in a home I don’t think I would use a bin. I’d probably set each area up in a different spot on a small table or shelf.
Throughout his journey on the farm, Turkey travels from the house to the mud with the pigs. From there he goes to the duck pond where he is chased to the horse barn. Finally he ends his run in the forest where he hides behind a tree!
While you are reading the story, have your child move Turkey from place to place while the farmer chases him! You could take turns being the turkey and the farmer. Once your child is familiar with the story, encourage her to retell the story on her own using the bin!
Using the same sensory bin and the printable cards, your child can match objects to the corresponding card. This is great way to increase vocabulary. You can also continue to work on retelling the story as you talk about each object.
Ask questions like: Where did Turkey see this? Did Turkey go here before the forest or after the forest? Are the pigs in the mud messy or clean?
The 3 part cards are also wonderful for card to card matching. This is perfect for younger toddlers who are just beginning to work on visual discrimination. For older children you can cut off the label of one card to match words. Simply lay one set of cards on the floor or table while you give your child the matching set. Have him lay the match on top of the other card.
One of our favorite ways of using 3 part cards is playing memory. Before I laminated my set, I taped construction paper to the back to prevent someone from cheating, I won’t name names or anything!!
The next two activities require a little artistic skill! I drew a quick “map” of the farm. I made sure to include the main areas plus a few more to go with the stickers I had. If you don’t have farm themed stickers you could use the toys you used in your sensory bin.
Our farm map is a two for one type of activity! As a checking for understanding activity, I’ll have my kids move the turkey along the dotted line stopping at each area. This also works some fine motor skills! With an older child you could have them write the line themselves. You could also cover the line with stickers or dot markers if working fine motor skills is your goal.
The farm animal stickers turn this into an easy art project after you have the kids stick them around the farm.
If you’ve like these activities make sure you pin them to share with your friends!
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The Teaching Nanny 
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