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Thanksgiving Coding Activity: Turkey on the Run!

Find the correct sequence to help turkey escape before he becomes dinner in this Thanksgiving coding activity for kids!

Find the correct sequence to help turkey escape before he becomes Thanksgiving dinner in this unplugged coding worksheet for kids! #teachkidstocode #freeworksheets #thanksgivingactivitiesforkids #STEM #STEAM #unpluggedcoding #hourofcode

This free worksheet is great to print to use in a classroom or even at home! We like to practice verbalizing our sequences as well because it helps to practice coding concepts in different ways in order to master them!

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Why are Unplugged Coding Activities Important?

Unplugged coding activities are designed to build the foundation of coding. These activities are essentially games and activities that teach children how to think logically about objects, how to break down large tasks into smaller tasks that are easier to complete, and how to identify errors.

Working hands-on makes coding concepts tangible and unplugged coding activities are ideal for young coders. Unplugged coding activities are pretty easy to setup. We recently used basic coding concepts to code artwork!

You might also enjoy: Leftover Candy Corn Unplugged Coding Preschool Sequences Activity

Why Teach Preschoolers to Code?

Teaching toddlers and preschoolers to think like computer programmers only strengthens their ability to interact and make logical connections with computers as they grow.

Unplugged coding activities offer parents and educators a unique opportunity to get children as young as 2 started with logical thinking activities without the need for a computer.

My toddler could work an iPhone at 6 months old, so why not teach her coding at 2yrs old? With activities like these, she is well on her way to thinking like a computer programmer, which opens a whole new world of possibilities for her as she grows and explores careers.

As a girl who can code, I want my girls to understand that careers in technology are available to them!

You might also enjoy this: Frosty Sequences Unplugged Coding Worksheet for Kids

Find the correct sequence to help turkey escape before he becomes Thanksgiving dinner in this unplugged coding worksheet for kids! #teachkidstocode #freeworksheets #thanksgivingactivitiesforkids #STEM #STEAM #unpluggedcoding #hourofcode

How to Catch a Turkey 

how to catch a turkey toddler turkey art activity

We paired our turkey coding activity with How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton. How to Catch a Turkey is the seventh book in the “How to Catch” series that includes other books such as How to Catch an Elf, How to Catch the Tooth Fairy, How to Catch a Monster, and more! My toddler and I also made some pretty neat How to Catch a Turkey Storybook art!

“Thanksgiving time is here again, but there’s a turkey on the run! Can you catch this tricky bird before the school play has begun?”

How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton

Looking for more books about Thanksgiving? Check these out!

Turkey on the Run! Thanksgiving Unplugged Coding Activity

One part of computer programming is having a solid plan. Computer programmers make a plan in order to think of problems that might appear and solutions for how they are going to deal with them.

Recommended: Teach Kids Binary Code with this 5-bit Binary Code Challenge

How are Sequences involved in Coding?

Sequences help children to recognize patterns that make the world around them more understandable and predictable. Sequences are one of the three basic structures in programming along with selections and loops.

With these three structures, any task can be diagrammed. In a sequence, an action leads to another actions that follows in a predetermined order or pattern.

Not only is sequencing an important concept to learn for coding, it is also incredibly important for identifying components in stories by sequencing events.

How to Use this Thanksgiving Unplugged Coding Worksheet for Kids

Find a safe route for Turkey to escape before he becomes Thanksgiving dinner! There is only one correct sequence to save Turkey!

Circle the correct move for each step below to write your sequence. We like to use dry erase pocket sleeves for our worksheets in order to protect them or use dry erase markers with them. 

You can also pair this unplugged coding activity with Let’s Go Code to build the maze, code out our steps, and take turns being Turkey! Gobble Gobble!

Find the correct sequence to help turkey escape before he becomes Thanksgiving dinner in this unplugged coding worksheet for kids! #teachkidstocode #freeworksheets #thanksgivingactivitiesforkids #STEM #STEAM #unpluggedcoding #hourofcode
Find the correct sequence to help turkey escape before he becomes Thanksgiving dinner in this unplugged coding worksheet for kids! #teachkidstocode #freeworksheets #thanksgivingactivitiesforkids #STEM #STEAM #unpluggedcoding #hourofcode

PIN THIS IMAGE TO SHARE THIS GREAT UNPLUGGED CODING ACTIVITY WITH FRIENDS!

Find the correct sequence to help turkey escape before he becomes Thanksgiving dinner in this unplugged coding worksheet for kids! #teachkidstocode #freeworksheets #thanksgivingactivitiesforkids #STEM #STEAM #unpluggedcoding #hourofcode

Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Find more Thanksgiving activities for kids!

Meet Toni, the Maker Mom behind Our Family Code

A picture of Toni, the author, wearing a green tie dyed shirt.

Hey there, I’m Toni! I’m a software engineer and Maker Mom that finds my joy in unleashing my children’s curiosity by exploring STEAM concepts with my fantastic five!

When I’m not chasing toddlers or raising tweens, you can find me tearing things up and putting them back together over here at Our Family Code.

I am the owner and content creator of multiple educational websites designed to increase access to STEAM & STEM education with a focus on teaching computer science and coding to kids of all ages!

You can also find out more about me by visiting ToniGardner.com!

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Originally published November 8, 2018

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TechyKids Canada

Friday 11th of December 2020

These are some really good ideas and you have explained them so well. Thanks for sharing!

teachworkoutlove

Thursday 8th of November 2018

all great books and fun activities !!!

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