Kids can count and sort Turkey feathers with this fun printable Thanksgiving math activity. Perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners.
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Grab a copy of our free Thanksgiving Turkey Game printable and start counting, sorting, and learning numbers with us, you can even add some playdough and let your kids build turkeys as they learn. My kids had so much fun with this activity, we played it over and over again.
To add to your Thanksgiving fun, make the cutest Handprint and Footprint Turkey Craft , have your kiddos try these Thanksgiving and Turkeys Notebooking Pages, and check out the Ultimate List of Thanksgiving Turkey Ideas where I know you will find something for you and your kiddos to enjoy.
Check out all our Thanksgiving Ideas Here <–
SUGGESTED TURKEY BOOKS:
BECAUSE ALL ACTIVITIES ARE BETTER WITH A BOOK! These are some of our absolute favorite books to read on Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Turkey Feather Count & Sort Activity
Free Printable: Turkey Game (Comes in color and Black & White available to download at the end of this post)
Objective: Counting, Sorting, Number Recognition, One to one correspondence
Supplies:
Play dough-preferably green, brown, yellow, red, and orange-but any color will work.
Paper-green, brown, yellow, red, and orange (We used paint samples)
Counters (optional)
Counting mat (optional)
The numbers on the turkey go from 0-10. If you want to do larger numbers you could use two turkeys to make a number (Example: 2 & 0 to make the number 20). I printed out 20 feathers (2 sheets), but you could print out more or less.
To Prepare the Turkey Activity:
Cut out the game pieces, and separate play dough into 10 pieces. I suggest laminating the pieces so they stay nice for multiple uses. If you don’t have a laminator or laminating sheets, tape a toothpick to the bottom of the feathers so they are easy to poke into the play dough.
Counting and Number Match
Game 1:
Let the child pick a turkey and place it in a ball of play dough. Have them count out feathers to match the number on the turkey and stick them in the play dough.
Once all the feathers were in place we used our counting mat to put the turkey on top of its matching number.
Game 2:
Make piles of feathers, with different amounts (ranging from 1-10) feathers. Next, have your child count them and place them in the play dough.
Finally, select the turkey with the matching number of feathers and place it in the play dough.
We used our counting mat with counters. Every time she put a feather in the play dough, she placed a counter on her mat. This helped increase the number of times she saw each number.
Color Sorting
Game 3:
Layout one piece of red, green, orange, brown, and yellow paper/paint samples. Give the child a pile of feathers and encourage them to place the feathers on matching paper.
Mr. Tickles would ask, “Here mommy, here mommy?” Once he had decided where he thought his feather should go. If he guessed incorrectly I would say, “Your feather is yellow, and that paper is red. Can you find the yellow paper?” He would look around and find the right spot.
Game 4:
Give the child 4 balls of play dough that are red, green, orange, yellow, and brown. We didn’t have brown play dough, so we used white. If you don’t have the right color of play dough, just use one color of play dough, and stick each ball on top of matching colored paper. Give the child a pile of feathers and encourage them to stick the feathers in the matching play dough.
DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE HERE:
Don’t see the box? CLICK HERE to be directed to the download. Please pin to share our printable with others. While you are here, take a look at more of our Free Printables.
ADD TO THE FUN WITH THESE GREAT IDEAS!
Looking for even more Turkey and Fall Ideas? Here are some presented by the Creative Preschoolers Team:
Turkey Crafts for Preschoolers by Artsy Momma
Alphabet Turkey Match by I Heart Crafty Things
Fall Puffy Paint Leaves by Pink Stripey Socks
Thankful Turkey Corkboard by Handmade Kids Art
(Originally posted 11/7/2014, Updated 11/7/2023)
This is a cute idea! Thank you so much for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday (Capri + 3). I am off to pin it now.
Hi Theresa, Thanks so much for visiting and the pin! 🙂
Such a smart and fun idea! Just letting you know I am linking to this post at Simply Creative Kids. You're welcome to submit your projects to my site.
Thanks so much for the invite and for sharing our activity!
What a fun idea! 🙂 Love it.
Thanks so much and thanks for the shout out on Instagram!
Love that you incorporated playdough! Yay for your new blog layout! So excited for you that you were able to get it live already 🙂
Hi Amanda, thanks so much! I am glad the new layout is up too, thanks for all your suggestions! 🙂
adorable!! Turkey Fun!
Hi Susen, Thanks so much!
I love this! Such a fun idea! 🙂
Hi Rachel, Thanks so much, I am thrilled you love it!
This is great! I love how you stuck them in playdough for the 3D effect 🙂
Thanks so much!!! 🙂 Such a nice compliment from a talented printable maker.