What do you know about the turkey life cycle? If you are at all like me, then it stands to reason that you know very little about our feathered friends. I have always taken turkey for granted as a tasty staple of the Thanksgiving season.
But, there’s actually quite a lot to know about turkey. It’s an interesting bird. Since the Thanksgiving and Fall season is fast approaching I thought that perhaps we could share some turkey facts and provide a cute little turkey life cycle booklet and activity for kids.
Keep this reference for later. I have other life cycle booklets that are equally educational. For instance, don’t miss the seahorse life cycle activity and facts worksheet.
Table of Contents
13 Turkey Facts to Ponder:
- Did you know that the thing that hangs from the turkey’s head to mid chest is called a Snood? In fact, turkeys have some oddball parts: snood, wattle and beard are all part of their anatomy.
- How can you tell if a turkey is a male or female? The POOP. Female turkey poo is a J shape. Male turkeys excrete fecal matter that looks like a corkscrew. WEIRD but true.
- Turkeys have exceptional eye sight. In fact, it is much better than 20/20 and that permits them to see predators many yards away.
- In fact, despite that ridiculous episode of WKRP in Cincinnati, turkeys can fly and they can swim too.
- John F. Kennedy was the first official sitting president of the USA to pardon his gifted turkey….but Abraham Lincoln unofficially did the same because apparently his son befriended the turkey they had been given.
- At one point in time, the early 1900s, turkeys were almost extinct.
Nutrition and Cooking?
- When buying your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey if stuck figuring out how big it should be, use this rule of thumb. Allow about one pound of uncooked turkey per person. If you want leftovers make it 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds per person.
- Turkey delivers 8 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein according to Ontario Turkey.
- Also according to Ontario Turkey, turkey is naturally low in sodium, which means I need to buy more of it actually. I am all about low sodium here due to high blood pressure monitoring. That’s good for my life cycle not just the turkey life cycle. LOL.
How to Get This and More
Remember to visit my free printables board if you need help looking for free activities for your kids to do. For a high quality print out of the life cycle content do not miss this downloadable Bee Life Cycle activity and you should be off to the races.
Products Needed: Don’t forget to order paper – HP Printer Paper and also be sure to use a good printer. This Epson Eco Tank Printer is amazing. It saves ink like nobody’s business.
Post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission when a purchase is made.
STEAM Activities and More
Don’t miss this summer STEAM activity sheet while you are here. My Pinterest boards have many activities for kids and parents to use all summer long.
There are dozens of lifecycle worksheets. I also have several travel related kid’s learning activities.
All About England is a cute one to start with today and do the tour of Europe with the France Colouring Sheet and workbook.
Pin this for later or download below.
What are you Doing this Spring?
Drop a comment below. Let me know if you and your kids are looking for more activities to do this spring or summer. I’d be happy to help if I can.
Print the above content out by clicking on the download now link. Easy Peasy!
Download here:
Finally, a Few Random Turkey Facts
- While Turkey was indigenous to Plymouth, Massachusetts, there’s no evidence that it was eaten at that first ever Thanksgiving dinner feast.
- Bet you didn’t know that turkeys have two stomachs. That’s probably what you wish you had this Thanksgiving, so that you could eat more turkey.
- A turkey can incubate as many as 18 eggs at a time. But that number is typically between 10 and 12 eggs.
- Gobbler is a male turkey and that’s also the noise he makes.
Enjoy Your Thanksgiving!