Volunteers needed in May!   Click here to sign up.
 Site Areas: 
  HOME  
  ABOUT US  
  FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS  
  HOW TO HELP  
  NEWS  
  READING CLUBS  
Printer-friendly version   

Turkey Goes to School



Last updated Thursday, September 23, 2021

Author: Wendi Silvano
Illustrator: Lee Harper
Date of Publication: 2021
ISBN: 1542023645
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Sep. 2021

Synopsis: School is starting soon and Turkey can't wait. Each day, he and his barnyard friends practice their writing and math. But when the school bus rolls up, they are booted off. It turns out that animals aren't allowed to attend school. Pig calls it "hogwash", and Turkey agrees. All he has to do is find a way to show the students and the principal that turkeys - and their friends - do belong in school. With a gobble, gobble here; a gobble, gobble there; and a few clever costumes, he just might.

Note to readers:
•  This is a charming book about school and animals - every child loves animals
•  I recommend dressing up (hat?) like a fam animal (such as the turkey shown in the Pinterest page)
•  Also, practice our animal 'voices' sounds :)

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What is your favorite farm animal?
•  What would be a good reason to have farm animals come to school?

Vocabulary

•  Disguise - wearing something to look different - a costume
•  Foul- means a mistake when playing a sport AND sounds like turkey
•  Pilfered—took something “Pig pilfered a cart cart with food.”
•  Critters-a animal like a farm animal, not dangerous animals

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Are you glad the teacher let farm animals stay at school?
•  If you could choose a farm animal to bring to school, which one would you bring?

Craft ideas:
•  Let's disguise ourselves. I am going to be a ___________________.
•  Or we can cover our faces and make farm animal sounds and guess! moo//oink oink//gobble gobble/ neigh neigh
•  Make a Grandparents’ Day card (Sunday, September 12, made a federal holiday in 1978 by President Carter to acknowledge the close bond between grandparents and their grandchildren)
•  Check our craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/september-2021-back-to-school-fun/

Special activities:
•  Sing "Old MacDonald had a Farm" for more animal sounds.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!