Lesson Plans

THIS WEEK'S COVER STORY: Turkeys on the Town

STANDARD OF THE WEEK
SCIENCE STANDARD—Understanding how living things interact with their environment. Students will learn how turkeys have moved from the forests to cities in Massachusetts.

READ-ALOUD BACKGROUND
Total Turkeys:

  • Over the past 100 years, the population of wild turkeys in the United States has grown from 30,000 to about 7 million. Some wild turkeys make their way into cities and towns because they can find an easy food source there—birdseed left for them by humans!

Which Is Which?:

  • Male turkeys have a long, red fleshy area that grows from the forehead over the beak. It is called a snood. They also have red, green, copper, bronze, and gold feathers. Female turkeys have only brown or gray feathers. That helps keep them hidden when they sit on their nests.

Turkey Trivia:
Here are some more facts about wild turkeys:

  • Wild turkeys are native to Northern Mexico and the Eastern United States.
  • They mainly eat bugs, seeds, grass, and berries.
  • Wild turkeys live in flocks, or groups, in the forest.
  • The United States once considered choosing the turkey as its national bird. The eagle was chosen instead.

CRITICAL THINKING

  • Analyze: Why are wild turkeys moving to cities in Massachusetts?

REFERENCE

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