Fourth Grade Turkeys Are Not Your Average Gobblers

By Tanjua Damon

Turkeys are more than just birds on the Thanksgiving table. For Middle Gate fourth graders, turkeys are something they create using problem solving skills and imagination.

The four fourth grade classes at the elementary school are given an assignment to create a turkey by using supplies at home or choosing to buy objects to design their two-legged fowl. The students have about two weeks to design and construct their turkeys before they are put on display in the hallways at school.

The students created interesting birds this year. Some are considered alive, while others are considered dead. No, none of them are actually breathing, but some were created so that if they were real they could be eaten.

Julie DeAngelis used some feathers that her father brought home from hunting to add to the gourd she bought at Cherry Grove Farm. She used a glue gun to stick the feathers to the gourd, which remarkably had the shape of a turkey.

“His name is Roskoe because it is a unique name,” Julie said. “I couldn’t think of anything else.”

Kristine Hansen used the computer to help her design a turkey that uses a pumpkin as a body and some paper to add the features. She named her turkey Dinky.

“We got it off the Internet. My mom didn’t really want to make a complex type of turkey,” Kristina said. “She wanted us to do something little so we could put it on the table for Thanksgiving Day.”

The assignment allows students to use their imaginations and come up with a turkey that is unique, but looks like the bird made famous by Thanksgiving.

Mary Alicea recycled a milk cartoon, plastic and paper cups, and a paper towel roll as well as saved her family from picking up some leaves that she used as the feathers. Mary named her turkey Grandma because she put a white bonnet on its head.

“I liked it but I didn’t know what to put for the legs so I didn’t put any,” Mary said. Her construction tip: “Always use a hair dryer to glue the leaves on.”

Julia Pendagast took a different approach to the turkey assignment and created a delicious-looking turkey that could be mistaken for Thanksgiving dinner. It included baked potatoes and green beans.

“I like doing stuff like this. I thought it was really fun,” Julia said. “I might have made an entire dinner if I had had enough time. I think it taught me to think thoroughly before you do something.”

Some of the students also realize that Thanksgiving is a little bit different this year. Many are trying to find more ways to spend time with family and appreciate what they have.

“Normally we just have Thanksgiving with my whole family,” Julia said. “This year we’re going to help at a women’s shelter for a few hours.”

Kristin Stoller created her turkey to look more like a live turkey you might see walking on a farm. She used foam and a brown cloth covering. She used some purple feathers for a tail and created a cute face with some eyes and a beak.

“I wanted it to be a very nice Thanksgiving turkey that doesn’t get cooked and hangs out in a barn yard,” Kristin said. “This year I’m giving thanks for all we have.”

Taylor Hennessey kept her turkey simple. She recycled a toilet paper roll, traced her hands for the hind feathers and drew a face and wattle on a piece of paper and attached it.

“I decided to use the simple things I had at home. I just like mine the way it is,” Taylor said. “I learned that if you want to have a good turkey, you don’t have to spend hours on it. If you find simple things to make a turkey it will be really good.”

 Samantha Moore’s turkey is a wonderful centerpiece for a Thanksgiving meal. She designed a turkey using flowers, a can, and pipe cleaners. She used dried flowers arranged just right to give the effect of a turkey shape and added accessories to it.

“I thought it was a really good idea,7” Samantha said. “It smells good too.”

Steven Rollo made a turkey out of papier-mâché. He used balloons to create the body coated with newspaper and glue, which he let dry before painting the bird brown.

“I always heard about papier-mâché and thought it was cool,” Steven said. “I learned that you should concentrate and take your time because if you rush it will come out bad. I wanted mine to be nice.”