Tough Turkey Scales

This is a fun activity where student write the name of the scale on the turkey's feathers.  I laminated my cards and students wrote on them.  You could also stick them in a sheet protector and have students write on them with a dry erase marker.  Another option is to use Bingo Chips with the letters on them and have the students arrange the chips in the correct order.

I also have a Tough Turkey Worksheet that has students write the alphabet and intervals.

Tough Turkey Scales
Example of how to complete a Turkey Scale:

Tricky Turkey

These worksheets have students fixing Mr. Tricky Turkey's mistakes.  I find students love correcting things and pretending to be the teacher.

  Tricky Turkey Level 1

Tricky Turkey Level 2

Thanksgiving Songs

Celebrate  Sung to: The Ants go marching one by one 

The pilgrims are coming to celebrate  Hurrah Hurrah
The pilgrims are coming to celebrate Hurrah Hurrah
The pilgrims are coming so don't be late
They'll sing and dance to celebrate
And we'll all have fun so hurry and don't be late! 

The Natives are coming to share their food Hurrah Hurrah

The Native are coming to share their food Hurrah Hurrah

The natives are coming so don't be late

They'll sing and dance and celebrate

And we'll all have fun so hurry and don't be late.

Other Verses:

The children are coming to play some games

The mothers are coming to cook the food

The fathers are coming to trade their goods

Idea # 1: Choose children to represent the different people in the song and act out the story.

Idea #2: Talk about the games children might play in those times, what the fathers might trade, how the mothers cook the food.

Sail The Mayflower Sung to:  Row Row Your Boat

Sail, Sail ,Sail the Mayflower 

Gently across the sea Merrily , Merrily , Merrily 

Pilgrims now are free. 

Chop Chop Chop the wood

Put in a pile

Build a little log cabin

That will make you smile

Children find a partner and sit facing each other.  They stretch arms and hold hands with their partner as they rock back and forth to “Sail Sail”  

During “Chop Chop” they pat each others hands and then make a house by reaching their hands up and putting them together with their partners.

Another Ten little Natives
1 little, 2 little 3 little Natives,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little Natives,
7 little, 8 little 9 little Natives,
10 little Native boys and girls.

They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over,
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over,
They jumped in a boat and the boat flipped over,
10 little Native boys and girls.

They swam and they swam and they swam to their mother,
They swam and they swam and they swam to their mother,
They swam and they swam and they swam to their mother,
10 little Native boys and girls.

She hugged them, kissed them, and sent them to bed,
She hugged them, kissed them, and sent them to bed,
She hugged them, kissed them, and sent them to bed,
10 little Native boys and girls. 

Idea #1: Have the children pop up while you count the Natives.  

Idea #2: Act out the songs motions.

Idea #3: Count backwards 10 little, 9 little, 8 little Natives

Turkey in the brown straw (Sung To: Skip To My Lou My Darling)

Turkey in the brown straw, Ha, ha, ha, ha

Turkey in the brown straw Ha, ha, ha, ha

Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, ha

Turkey in the brown straw

Turkey in the white sleigh, hey, hey, hey

Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi

Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn

Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn

Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee

Turkey in the purple plum, hum, hum, hum, hum

Turkey in the pink bow, ho, ho, ho

Turkey in the black show, hoo, hoo, hoo

I have the children guess what 'H' word will rhyme. 

Driver Driver

  This old road is hard and bumpy (Alternate pat on legs)

  Five fat turkeys wild and jumpy (Hold us fingers, wiggle on 'wild', hands up on       
            'jumpy')

   Driver driver not so jerky (Pretend to drive)

   Or you'll make us loose a turkey (Wag finger)

           Driver! Driver! Stop I say! (Pretend to drive, hold up hand on 'stop')

   One fat turkey got away! (Hold up number of turkey)

   Repeat each verse until just one turkey is left and say:

             Driver! Driver! stop I say!

   Let's save this turkey for Thanksgiving Day!

Idea #1: Count down from 10, taking two away each time for skip counting

Idea #2: Count down form 12 taking different amounts away each time for subtraction

Ten Days of Thanksgiving

On the first day of Thanksgiving the natives gave to me.
A pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the second day of Thanksgiving the natives gave to me
Two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.
On the third day of Thanksgiving the natives gave to me

Three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the fourth day of Thanksgiving, the natives gave to me
Four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.
On the fifth day of Thanksgiving, the natives gave to me
Five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the sixth day of Thanksgiving, the natives gave to me
Six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the seventh day of Thanksgiving, the natives gave to me
Seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the eighth day of Thanksgiving, the natives gave to me
Eight woven blankets, seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the ninth day of Thanksgiving, the natives gave to me
Nine ears of corn, eight woven blankets, seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the tenth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me.

Ten loud tom-toms,nine ears of corn, eight woven blankets, seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Chief headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch. 

I make up motions for each one of the days and talk about how the Native Americans used these items.


Use these pictures for "Turkey in the Brown Straw" and "Ten Days of Thanksgiving"
Turkey in the Brown Straw

Ten Days of Thanksgiving

Musical Mayflower Level Three

Here is another Thanksgiving worksheet that includes the intervals 6th, 7th and Octave.  Follow the directions to successful get the mayflower around the high seas.

Musical Mayflower Level Three

Calendar Songs

Today is Monday (To the tune of "Frere Jacques)

Today is Monday (Today is Monday)
April 12th (April 12th)
1998 (1998)
That's the date (That's the date).

Tuesday, Tuesday(to the tune of Frere Jacques)

Tuesday, Tuesday,
Tuesday, Tuesday,
All day long, all day long,
Yesterday was Monday, tomorrow will be Wednesday,
Oh, what fun! Oh, what fun!

Sunday, Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Sunday, Monday (to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday too.
Wednesday, Thursday just for you.
Friday, Saturday that's the end .
Now let's say those days again!
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday!

Every Week has 7 days Sung to "If you're happy and you know it"

Every week has 7 days, yes it does.
Every week has 7 days, yes it does.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Every week has 7 days, yes it does. (clap, clap)

And today is (name of the day 2x), yes it is.
And today is (name of the day 2x), yes it is.
And today is (name of the day 2x)
Yes today is (name of the day 2x)
And today is (name of the day 2x) yes it is.

The Months of the Year (To the Tune of "Three Blind Mice")

January, February, March,  April, May, June.
July, August, September, October, November, December.
These are the twelve months of the year.
Now sing them together so we can all hear.
How many months are there in a year?
Twelve months in a year.

Calendar Song (To the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle")

When we do the calendar
We learn the month the date the year.
Every week day has a name
There are lots of numbers that look the same.
So let's begin to show you how
We do the calendar right now.

Today is Sunday

Today is Sunday, today is Sunday, Sunday swimming,
All you happy children we wish the best to you.

Today is Monday, today is Monday, Monday marching,
All you happy children we wish the best to you.

Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday, Tuesday tip toe,
All you happy children we wish the best to you.

Today is Wednesday, today is Wednesday, Wednesday walking
All you happy children we wish the best to you.

Today is Thursday, today is Thursday, Thursday throwing,
All you happy children we wish the best to you.

Today is Friday, today is Friday, Friday flying,
All you happy children we wish the best to you.

Today is Saturday, today is Saturday, Saturday Sit down!

Days of the week (to the tune of "The Addams Family")

Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week,
Days of the week,
Days of the week. (snap snap)

There's Sunday and there's Monday,
There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,
There's Thursday and there's Friday,
And then there's Saturday.

Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week,
Days of the week,
Days of the week. (snap snap)

Months of the Year (to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")

January, February, March, and April,
May, June, July, August, and September,
October, November, and December,
These are the months of the year.

Days of the Week (to the tune of "Oh My Darling Clementine")
There are seven days, there are seven days,
There are seven days in the week.
There are seven days, there are seven days,
There are seven days in the week.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Today is Song (To the tune of "Frere Jacques")

Today is _______.
Today is _______.
All day long, all day long.
Yesterday was ______.
Tomorrow will be _______.
Oh what fun!
Oh what fun!

Days of the Week Sung to: Yankee Doodle

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Don’t ask me not to sing it again

Because I’ll do it anyways

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Oh, if you know the month Sung to: If you’re happy and you know it

Oh if you know the month, shout it out

Oh if you know the day, whisper it now

Oh if you know the date clap it now

Books about the Days of the week

1. Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward 
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle 
3. Today Is Monday by Eric Carle

Check out these Great Resources!