If you teach young learners, you’ve got to check out this simple song and dance. It’s called The Turkey Dance, and as you can imagine, it gives children a chance to dance like . . . . turkeys!!
While many countries give thanks at this time of year, an American tradition is turkeys. When I was a child, we made turkey drawings by tracing along the edge of our hand. These hand drawings became turkeys! So celebrate turkeys and try out the The Turkey Dance. It’s really easy to do.
Here are the lyrics, which go to the tune of “Turkey in the Straw.”
The Turkey Dance
Words by Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina, music adapted from Turkey in the Straw
copyright © 2013 by Kathleen Kampa
Spoken: It’s Thanksgiving Day. Let’s move like turkeys.
First, move your elbows! (imagine wings)
Move your elbows, do the Turkey Dance.
Move your elbows, do the Turkey Dance.
Stamp your feet and shout “Hooray!”
It’s Thanksgiving Day.
2. Now move your hips. . . (imagine a tail)
Move your hips, do the Turkey Dance.
Move your hips, do the Turkey Dance.
Stamp your feet and shout “Hooray!”
It’s Thanksgiving Day.
3. Now move your knees. . . .
4. Now move your head . . . .
5. Now move your whole body!
Teacher’s Notes:
In this dance, students are pretending to be turkeys.
Before you put on the music, show students a picture of a turkey like the one in this blog.
I usually start with a little TPR by teaching this part of the song first– “Stamp your feet, then shout ‘Hooray!'” Stamp your feet, then jump in the air on “Hooray.” On “It’s Thanksgiving Day!” put your hands together.
My students added their own ideas between the verses. Some children enjoyed saying “Gobble! Gobble!” while others liked to say “Thank You” in a language they know.
Now teach the body part movements. Say “Move your elbows.” These are the turkey’s wings.
Repeat with each body part listed below: hips/tail, knees, head, and whole body.
1. Make turkey wings by moving your elbows.
2. Make a tail by putting your hands behind your back and moving your hips.
3. Move your knees like you’re strutting.
4. Move your head forward and back.
5. Choose your favorite movements or make some new ones. Dance!
Here is a very, very short clip of young learners from my English class enjoying The Turkey Dance. It’s easy to do. It will be give some idea of the movement.
For this catchy “hoedown” professional version that children LOVE to dance to, listen to The Turkey Dance on iTunes!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! No matter where we live, we all give thanks this season for the blessings we have.
Kathy and Chuck
Kathy has produced two music CDs for very young learners, Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone, which build English language skills through movement while nurturing creativity and imagination! Grown and loved by real kids!
Kathy’s second children’s CD, Jump Jump Everyone, includes songs to move to, seasonal songs, and lots of transitional songs. For more kid-tested music and movement activities, check out my music on iTunes.
Kathy’s CD’s and downloads are available at numerous locations:
ETJ Book Service Japan
Mad Robin Music and Dance, Seattle, Washington
Kathy Kampa is a teacher, author, and teacher-trainer who specializes in working with young learners. As a PYP (Primary Years Program) teacher in Tokyo, Japan, she uses a globally-minded and inquiry-based approach to teaching through which students develop 21st-century skills. She also supports the development of English language skills by creating songs, chants, and TPR/movement activities targeted to young learners’ needs.
Kathy and her husband Charles Vilina are also co-authors of Magic Time, Everybody Up, the Oxford Discover(ELTon award), and Beehive, all published by Oxford University Press.
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