The Great Turkey Race is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
"The Great Turkey Race" by Steve Metzger is an entertaining children's book that centers around a lively Thanksgiving competition. The story unfolds as three turkeys, Ollie, Cassy and Wing decide to participate in a series of races and events to determine who will become the guest of honor at the Thanksgiving feast. Each turkey competes in different competitions and games such as a dance battle, running, throwing and high jumping to determine which turkey will be the Thanksgiving turkey! As the race ensues, the turkeys encounter humorous mishaps and obstacles, adding excitement and laughter to the story. The colorful illustrations and engaging text capture the turkeys' determination and their comical antics along the way. In the end, the turkey's realize that being the Thanksgiving turkey means they become the Thanksgiving meal! During the last race all the turkeys work together to run away and not become the Thanksgiving turkeys! Emphasizing the importance of friendship and the spirit of Thanksgiving "The Great Turkey Race" is a delightful tale that blends humor, competition, and the values of cooperation and sportsmanship.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Analyze the setting of this book. Discuss where and when it takes place.
- Cause and effect can be a difficult skill for students. This book is a perfect mentor text for teaching this skill.
- Practice making predictions throughout the book. Encourage students to check and see if their predictions were correct.
- Introduce students to proper nouns using examples from the story.
- Teach students a new suffix and give examples from the book.
- Have a class discussion on the importance of sportsmanship.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- A Plump And Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
- A Turkey For Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
- Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler
- Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
- How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
