Hands On Thanksgiving Activity and Word List

I’ve found that the more “hands on” an activity is, the more my students participate and enjoy the work we are doing.  By putting a speech or language spin on a classic Thanksgiving activity, you can target a wide range of goals – and have some fun too!

Getting Started

First the students trace their hands on pieces of paper.  Next, they draw the legs and feet at the bottom and add a beak and wattle to the thumb.  You can either have them draw an eye or glue a googly eye on the thumb.  Depending on which goals you are targeting, you may want the students to make multiple turkeys, or maybe even a flock of turkeys!

Making it Work

Now that your students have made their turkeys, what can you target?  Just about anything!  Try out some of these ideas or come up with your own.

Have your students…

• write a Thanksgiving word that contains their target sound on each finger.  They can practice the word on the first finger one time, the word on the second finger twice, etc.  This can also serve as a take home practice page.
• write a main word (e.g., turkey) on the palm and descriptive words or a sentence on each finger (e.g., It’s a bird, It has a wattle, etc.).
• write what they are thankful for on each finger.
• follow directions for coloring their turkey (e.g., Put three orange stripes on the first finger.)

As a free bonus, here is a list of Thanksgiving words for you to use for discussing vocabulary or as stimulus words for articulation.  Keep it handy when you’re trying to think of seasonal words to use in your sessions.