I’m THANKFUL for this low-prep yet rich listening and following directions activity for teletherapy. Here are step-by-step instructions to make the best hand turkeys that can be leveled up or down for kiddos of all ages in your caseload.
Ask the parents to have available a sheet of white computer paper and crayons (i.e., brown, red, purple, orange, green). I begin by modeling tracing my hand on my whiteboard so the child can all see well over the computer screen. I talk about how I firmly place one hand, palm down and fingers spread apart, on the sheet of white computer paper. Starting on one side of my wrist, I trace with the black crayon around my hand until I reach the other side of my wrist.
Next, I give this simple direction: "Trace your hand like you saw me do with your black crayon." This is always the first step. I ask the child to show me their paper up once finished. A parent or caregiver can help ensure the child is on the right track and has a general outline or turkey shape.
At this point in the activity, the directions depend on the listening and language level of the child. They can be one-step, one-step with descriptors, two-step, and more complex directions and descriptions. One-step directions are easy to think of but here are ideas for more complex instructions.
Using the black pencil or crayon, draw a line from the start point to the endpoint to finish the body of the turkey.
Draw another line from the bottom of each finger to the next to create the feathers.
Color a small black circle near the end of the thumb to make the turkey’s eye.
Below the eye, on the outside of the thumb, draw two ovals that make the gobbler.
On the tip of the thumb, draw one triangle for the beak.
In the middle of the turkey, draw the wing.
Draw two straight lines at the bottom of the turkey to make legs.
At the end of each line, draw three more little lines for the toes.
Using the brown, red, purple, orange, green crayons, color each of the fingers a different color.
Color the rest of the body of the turkey brown.
Using the orange crayon, color the beak.
Color the gobble red.
You may want to have the listener add grass under the turkey, a tree behind the turkey, a sun in the sky, falling leaves, or a pilgrim hat on the turkey.
We then show each other our turkeys. I draw my turkey off-screen before the session. We compare and contrast our hand turkeys fostering thinking and conversational skills. To extend the activity, let the child take a turn being the teacher and give directions to a parent, sibling, or friend.
