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The month of November can be weird at school– you’ve just finished up Halloween and October craziness, and there’s barely any time until Christmas season. November is a short month with Thanksgiving break in the middle, so it can be hard to know what to teach for the two or three weeks that you’re teaching. If you need a one off Thanksgiving lesson (that’s fun and free!), then you should try a turkey rhythm craft!
Or if you need an elementary music center for Thanksgiving, you can make this turkey rhythm craft into a centers game! (Details below.)
This turkey rhythm craft is completely free, and it has a variety of rhythm options, so you can use it with every grade level, no matter what rhythm you’re learning.
You can laminate this turkey activity and use it for centers, or you can have students glue their turkeys to a paper and use as a craft– or a bulletin board decoration!
Click here to download the turkey rhythm craft free!
Turkey Rhythm Craft Materials:
- Turkey craft (free!)
- Paper
- Glue sticks
- Crayons (optional)
How to use the turkey rhythm craft:
First off, make sure you download the craft here!
This turkey rhythm craft includes a lot of options. First off, check out the file and print out the pages you need. Depending on what grade level you are using this with, you’ll need to print out the rhythms that your kids need– but you can also print out JUST the ones that they need (so just quarter and eighth or rest or half notes, etc).
Second, use your turkey rhythm craft printables to cut out the pieces. If you’re using these for centers, you’ll want to print them out, laminate, and cut them. (Click here to learn more about prepping centers)
If you’re using it as a craft, then I just cut in the middle of the feathers, so they are in rectangles, and have the kids cut the feathers out in more detail.
Have students pick out a paper, turkey, feathers, and create their rhythm! You can use the time signatures, and even add the bar lines to include multiple measures if you want to do that. I like to put them all on the table or on the floor in the front, and have students choose what they need.
I have students raise their hand and check their measures before I let them glue. I keep the glue, and I give them the glue after I double check that it is correct.
Decorate! Have students draw on their turkeys to add more interest.
Use the turkeys to decorate a bulletin board or have students take them home– their parents will love to see the work they’ve been doing!
Make sure you grab your turkey craft here!
Need more Thanksgiving lessons? Check out this post about Thanksgiving music lessons.
Happy teaching!
Becca
