Stuff the Turkey: A Thanksgiving-themed Climbing Activity

Participants create “turkeys” and then climb to “stuffing ingredients” that they toss into the “turkey.”

Grade Level: 2 and up

• “Stuffing ingredients” (Bean bags, plastic foods, small objects), 5-10 per panel
• Hoops, ropes, juggling scarves, poly spots, cones, etc. to create multiple “turkeys”

Advance Set Up: 

Gather a variety of equipment (hoops, ropes, juggling scarves, poly spots, cones, etc.) so that several groups of children can create turkeys as described below in the activity.

Place “stuffing ingredients” on hand holds across the climbing wall, high and low, many per panel.

Activity:

First, divide the group into smaller groups of 4-6 children. Have them work cooperatively to create a turkey using any of the available equipment and the following guidelines/information:

• Turkeys should look like turkeys.
• Turkeys will be used as targets, so they should have an open area where the “stuffing ingredients” will land.
• Keep in mind how challenging or accessible you want your turkey target to be. The size of the target as well as its distance from the climbing wall are factors that determine challenge level.
• Work cooperatively to create the turkey and its placement.

Once the “turkeys” have been created, climbers can begin climbing. They’ll do so one at a time and should stop periodically (while remaining on the climbing wall) to remove a stuffing ingredient from the climbing wall and try to stuff the turkey by having the object land inside the turkey. Climbers should climb for a predetermined amount of time or wall traverses.

Note: “Stuffing ingredients” will need to be periodically replaced on the climbing wall, either by the supervisor or by the climbers, depending on their ages.

Variations: 

• Create turkeys the day before the climbing activity if there is not enough time for the turkeys and the climb in one time period.
• Have a contest and award a ribbon for Turkey That Looks Most Like a Turkey, Most Stuffed Turkey, Least Stuffed Turkey, Most Creative Turkey, Least Amount of Equipment Turkey, Silliest Turkey, etc.
• As a group, create one very large turkey instead of multiple turkeys.

Standards: 1, 2 & 3

Grade-Span Learning Indicators:

• Motor Skills: 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.8, 1.5.21
• Movement & Fitness Concepts: 2.2.1, 2.2.4, 2.5.4, 2.5.5, 2.8.7
• Social Skills: 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.2.7, 3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.5.6, 3.8.2, 3.8.6, 3.8.7, 3.12.2, 3.12.6, 3.12.7