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US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches. Print at 100% for craft pieces; use Fit to page if your printer clips the margins. An adult should help with scissors and fitting wearable crafts.
Roll a turkey is a low-preparation drawing game for a family table or November classroom center. Each die result adds a feature to a turkey. The game gives children practice recognizing numbers and following a small rule chart while making a different bird every time. All you need is the printable rule sheet, scrap drawing paper, pencils and one six-sided die.
How to use this printable
- Give each player drawing paper and put the rule chart where everyone can see it. Use one die for the group or a die for each pair.
- On a turn, roll once: 1 adds a body, 2 a head, 3 eyes, 4 a beak and wattle, 5 feet and 6 a feather.
- If a player rolls a feature already drawn, add a funny detail to that feature. Each roll of 6 adds another feather rather than replacing an earlier one.
- Finish after ten rounds or when the group agrees to stop. Name the turkeys and let each player explain a favorite unexpected detail.
Make the activity your own
For a cooperative version, pass one page around the table and let each player add the feature rolled. For early learners, draw a body at the start so every number immediately leads to an addition. Older children can tally the results and compare which number appeared most often. No player needs to be eliminated, and a turkey does not need perfect anatomy to count as a successful drawing.
Printing and questions
Print the PDF on US Letter paper in portrait orientation. Start with one copy and check the preview before making a classroom set. Use ordinary paper for a worksheet, or cardstock when the finished piece needs to stand up to handling.
Must I roll a body before drawing the head?
Not in these rules. Draw features wherever you like and connect them later. That keeps everyone involved on every turn.
How many people can play?
Any small group can play if turns stay short. Pairs work particularly well in a classroom center.