Thanksgiving STEM Activity | Spinning Turkey Craft

Description

A turkey that spins on the way down? Your students will want to try it again!

This Thanksgiving STEM activity gives kindergarten, first, and second graders a chance to build a paper turkey spinner and investigate how its folds affect the way it falls. Students color and cut out their turkey, fold the tabs, attach a paperclip, and let it go. Then the testing begins!

Which folds help the turkey spin best? Students make predictions, try different tab positions, and draw or write about what happens. The class prediction graph makes it easy to compare students’ ideas before testing.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Two turkey spinner templates

• Step-by-step teacher directions

• Class prediction graph

• Spinning Turkey Challenge recording page

• Build, Draw, Write pages with two writing-line options

• A photo of a completed turkey

MATERIALS:

Printed turkey templates, scissors, and one paperclip per turkey. Crayons are optional. Both turkey designs need a paperclip attached at the bottom.

Use Turkey Twirl for a Thanksgiving science lesson, November STEM activity, or Fun Friday. Follow the template directions for a quick activity, or use the prediction, recording, and writing pages to extend the investigation.

Students practice making predictions, observing motion, comparing results, and using what they learn to improve their spinner.

Designed for grades K–2. Younger students may need help cutting around the turkey.

Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.
Not for public display.