I don't know why children enjoy doing this old finger play, but they do. I think it's the "music" of the words.
Mr. Turkey and Mr. Duck
Mr. Turkey went for (Start with hands behind your back.)
A walk one day (Bring right thumb out in front of you.)
In the very best
Of weather.
He met Mr. Duck (Bring left thumb out in front.)
Along the way
And they talked (Have thumbs look at each other.)
Together.
“Gobble, gobble, gobble.” (Wiggle right thumb.)
“Quack, quack, quack.” (Wiggle left thumb.)
“Good-bye.” (Bow right thumb.)
“Good-bye.” (Bow left thumb.)
And they both walked back! (Wiggle thumbs behind your back.)
Mr. Turkey went for (Start with hands behind your back.)
A walk one day (Bring right thumb out in front of you.)
In the very best
Of weather.
He met Mr. Duck (Bring left thumb out in front.)
Along the way
And they talked (Have thumbs look at each other.)
Together.
“Gobble, gobble, gobble.” (Wiggle right thumb.)
“Quack, quack, quack.” (Wiggle left thumb.)
“Good-bye.” (Bow right thumb.)
“Good-bye.” (Bow left thumb.)
And they both walked back! (Wiggle thumbs behind your back.)
Gobble, gobble. (Teacher says.)
Who is that? (Children respond.)
Mr. Turkey (Children and teacher say together.)
Big and fat!
He is big and fat and he (Spread arms wide.)
Gobble, gobble, gobbles. (Wiggle from side to side with hands on hips.)
He spreads his tail and he (Fan arms behind you.)
Gobble, gobble, gobbles. (Wiggle from side to side with hands on hips.)
But when Thanksgiving Day is here, (Point finger.)
Then it’s our turn to
GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! (Pretend to spoon food in your mouth!)
Turkey Handshake
Turkey Soup
Make turkeys from lunch sacks by making strips from the middle of the bag to the end as shown. Have children paint or color the strips. Cut on the lines to make tail feathers. Fill a zip baggie with 1 cup rice. Put it in the bag. Twist the sack around the bag of rice to make the body. Add a head and dangly feet. Attach the recipe for turkey and rice soup and send home for a table decoration.
TURKEY AND RICE SOUP!
remains of turkey
3 quarts water
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 cup rice
1 cup frozen peas
Place turkey in a large pot with 3 quarts water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer 30-45 minutes until the meat falls off the bone. When it cools, debone the turkey and strain the broth. Cook the onion, celery, and carrot in the broth for 30 minutes. Add turkey meat, rice, and peas and simmer 30 minutes more.
3 quarts water
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 cup rice
1 cup frozen peas
Place turkey in a large pot with 3 quarts water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer 30-45 minutes until the meat falls off the bone. When it cools, debone the turkey and strain the broth. Cook the onion, celery, and carrot in the broth for 30 minutes. Add turkey meat, rice, and peas and simmer 30 minutes more.
How to Cook a Turkey
Let each child dictate how to cook a turkey. Write down exactly what they say! Type their recipes up and run off a copy for each child to take home and share with their families.