Let’s Talk Turkey

Thanksgiving is next week and as everyone knows we often refer to this day of giving thanks as “Turkey Day”. This year before “Turkey Day” gather your students and talk about turkeys. Ask them what they think of when they hear the word “turkey”. Are their thoughts about domestic or wild turkeys? What is the difference? Use Project WILD’s “Let’s Talk Turkey” to explore the history of Wild Turkeys.

For information on the history of Wild Turkeys in Iowa visit:
Iowa DNR Wildlife Wild Turkey Restoration http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/files/files/turkey_restoration.pdf

Young Child Extension

Ask young children if they have ever seen a turkey. Where was it? What did it look like? Talk about what turkeys look like and where they live and the difference between wild and domestic turkeys. For more ideas and for snacks and crafts use Growing Up WILD’s “Terrific Turkeys”

Book List

Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 2008. All About Turkeys. Scholastic, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 2009. I'm A Turkey! Scholastic, Inc.
Balian, L. 2003. Sometimes It's Turkey, Sometimes It's Feathers. Star Bright Books, Inc.
Bateman, T. 2004. A Plump and Perky Turkey. Marshall Cavendish, Inc.
Bloxam, F. and J. Sollers. 2005. Little Tom Turkey. Down East Books.
Johnston, T. and R.F. Deas. 2004. 10 Fat Turkeys. Scholastic, Inc.
May, J. and J. Hamberger. 1973. Wild Turkeys. Holiday House, Inc.
Patent, D.H. and W. Munoz. 1989. Wild Turkeys,Tame Turkey. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Spirn, M.S. and R.W. Alley. 2000. The Know-Nothings Talk Turkey (I Can Read Book 2). HarperCollins Children's Books.
Stemple, D. and T. Lewin. 2001. High Ridge Gobbler: A Story of the American Wild Turkey. Boyds Mills Press.
Steinberg, D. and L. Conrad. 2005. The Turkey Ball. Penguin Group (USA).

Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 2008. All About Turkeys. Scholastic, Inc.
Balian, L. 2003. Sometimes It's Turkey, Sometimes It's Feathers. Star Bright Books, Inc.
Bateman, T. 2004. A Plump and Perky Turkey. Marshall Cavendish, Inc.
Bloxam, F. and J. Sollers. 2005. Little Tom Turkey. Down East Books.
May, J. and J. Hamberger. 1973. Wild Turkeys. Holiday House, Inc.
Spirn, M.S. and R.W. Alley. 2000. The Know-Nothings Talk Turkey (I Can Read Book 2). HarperCollins Children's Books.
Stemple, D. and T. Lewin. 2001. High Ridge Gobbler: A Story of the American Wild Turkey. Boyds Mills Press.
Steinberg, D. and L. Conrad. 2005. The Turkey Ball. Penguin Group (USA).

Grades 6-8
May, J. and J. Hamberger. 1973. Wild Turkeys. Holiday House, Inc.
Patent, D. H. and W. Munoz. 1992. Wild Turkey: Tame Turkey. Sandpiper.
Stemple, D. and T. Lewin. 2001. High Ridge Gobbler: A Story of the American Wild Turkey. Boyds Mills Press.

Grades 9-12
Dickson, J. G. 1992. The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management. Stackpole Books.
Eiche, S. 2006. Presenting the Turkey: The Fabulous Story of a Flamboyant and Flavorful Bird. Centro Di.
Williams, L. E. and G. W. Griffen. 1993. Wild Turkey Country. Northword Press.