Thanksgiving Turkey Read-Aloud Companion | Story Sequencing and Rhyming

Give preschool and kindergarten learners a way to retell the story with pictures after hearing There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! by Lucille Colandro, illustrated by Jared Lee. This 23-page companion works for a whole-group read-aloud, a small-group literacy center, or one-on-one practice. Use your own copy of the book.

Six hands-on activities

• Feed the Storyteller. Choose one of three face templates in different skin tones. Cut out seven illustrated story objects and feed them through the opening in order.

• Put the Story in Order. Start with a sequencing mat that shows picture cues, then try the version with numbered boxes alone.

• Story Question Cards. Ask eight questions with three illustrated choices per card. Children can point to an answer or mark it with a counter.

• Listen and Cover. Read seven teacher clues and have children cover the matching objects on the picture mat.

• Sort Story Objects. Use two mats and 14 picture cards to distinguish the seven objects swallowed in the story from seven other items.

• Feed a Rhyme. Match four pairs of picture cards by their ending sounds, then feed each pair to the storyteller.

Four black-line student worksheets cover cut-and-paste sequencing, story object recall, rhyme matching, and drawing and writing about a parade float. The teacher guide includes setup instructions, oral prompts, and an answer key. Learners can describe their floats aloud, dictate a sentence, or write on the handwriting guides.

Print the US Letter PDF at actual size. For the feeding prop, an adult prepares a paper bag, scissors, and tape. Use scissors and glue for cut-and-paste work and optional counters for the listening game. The PDF is designed for printing and has fixed activity pages.