Here’s a fun list of turkey songs for Preschool and Elementary Music Class that you can try with your kids this Thanksgiving. Most include movement so your kids can actively practice steady beat and express their silly selves!
Turkey Stop
I like this song because there are sudden “stops” incorporated so children can practice listening and freezing. I use this as an entrance activity in November. During the “tango like a turkey” verse, I tell children to dance dramatically, then then dance over to their seats and sit down.
A Turkey
This is a fingerplay that I’ve adapted for my younger classes. It includes sounds for male and female turkeys. I also looked up some turkey sounds for gobblers and hens and played them for students.
A Turkey
A turkey went for a walk one day,
In the very best of weather.
He met a duck along the way, and they talked together.
Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Quack, quack, quack.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
And then they both walked back.
Repeat with a female turkey and cluck instead of gobble.
A Turkey Ran Away
This a cute song about foods that run away before they are made into a dinner. I like to have the kids act out the foods (or create them with their hands–for instance, ball up their fists to make potatoes) and do a little jog around the room for the running sections. I often use this as an activity to enter the classroom.
A Pumpkin Ran Away
This is the same song as “My Turkey Ran Away” but it includes a steady beat playalong if you’d like students to tap instruments to the beat.
Ten Little Turkeys
This is my go-to line-up song in December. Students fly like a silly turkey over to the door one at a time. If there are more than ten students, I’ll tap two children to fly to the door until the number matches the song. Sometimes the final “turkey” will flap over to the door before I tap them because I pretend that I will have the last turkey for dinner!
Five Fat Turkeys
This one’s a classic. I like to play a game where I hide paper turkeys and have students look for a turkey. Here are the instructions. I made the game during Covid so there are some touch-free adaptations you could use if your classes are especially sniffly this time of year.
If you are looking for more turkey fun, check out this Pre-K & Kindergarten Music Lesson:
I also have bundle which includes the lesson plan above as well as printable activities and a “Five Fat Turkeys” game for a range of elementary grades if you need them here!
I hope some of these ideas are helpful as you teach during this busy time of year!
