Turkey in Disguise Riddles: 12 Free Who Am I? Riddles for Kids
Turkey in disguise riddles are hands-down the silliest way to sneak a little critical thinking into Thanksgiving week! These turkeys do NOT want to end up on anyone’s table, so they’ve dressed up as everything from a firefighter to a pineapple.
With these free Turkey in Disguise riddles, kids listen to three clues, look at three disguised turkeys and figure out who each turkey is pretending to be. Is that a cow? A doctor? A turkey with a very fancy mustache?
If you’ve ever read Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano (affiliate link) with your class, you already know how much kids LOVE the idea of a turkey hiding in plain sight. That silly turkey tries disguise after disguise to stay off the Thanksgiving menu and it’s the book behind all those adorable turkey in disguise projects. (I mean, a turkey dressed as a mermaid? Too funny!)
These 12 free turkey in disguise riddles take that same giggly idea and use it for inferencing practice in preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade. Head down below to grab the turkey in disguise riddles in Google Slides®, Seesaw® or as a printable!
Recommended Grade Level:
Why Turkey in Disguise Riddles Are So Good for Little Learners
Turkey in disguise riddles might look like a goofy holiday game (and they are!), but there is SO much learning tucked inside every single one. When a child hears “I wear a white coat” and “I listen to your heart,” they have to hold both clues in their mind, think about what they already know and land on one answer. That’s called inferencing and it’s one of the biggest skills behind reading comprehension.
Really, an inference is just a conclusion we reach by putting clues together with what we already know. As kids get older, the books they read leave more and more for the reader to figure out. Kiddos who have practiced “reading between the lines” with these easy turkey riddles are so ready for that!
(And they think they’re just playing a game.)
Shhh…we won’t tell them.
My daughter LOVES disguising a turkey each year… and pumpkins too. This year her pumpkin’s disguise was Elmo and I can’t wait to see what she will disguise her turkey in our upcoming Thanksgiving activities.
Love these turkey in disguise riddles? Try even more “Who Am I?” riddles with your kids!
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What Skills Do Kids Practice with Turkey in Disguise Riddles?
These turkey in disguise riddles might look like a bunch of turkeys playing dress up… but, there’s SO much learning hiding under those bunny ears. Here’s what’s really happening while your kiddos giggle their way through each riddle.
✅ Making Inferences
Each turkey in disguise riddle gives kids three clues and three turkeys to choose from. They have to think about every clue to find the one turkey that fits, and the pictures give little ones the support they need to get there.
✅ Listening Comprehension
Every turkey in disguise riddle slide has an audio button that reads the clues aloud. Kids have to listen to ALL three clues (not just the first one!) before they choose.
I know, I know…
That’s a big ask in the weeks before Thanksgiving break, when everyone is basically bouncing off the walls. I mean, when aren’t they bouncing off the walls… But that’s exactly why it’s such great practice!
✅ Using Key Details
This is my favorite part of the turkey in disguise riddles! On the astronaut riddle, the first clue is “I wear a helmet.” But wait… the firefighter turkey wears a helmet too! Only the next clue, “I fly in a rocket,” gives the answer away.
Ninja tip: stop after the first clue and ask, “Could it be the firefighter? Why or why not?”
✅ Community Helper and Animal Vocabulary
The turkey disguises include community helpers like a doctor, a firefighter and a chef, plus animals like a cow, a pig and an elephant. Each turkey in disguise riddle describes what that helper does or what that animal looks like, which is SO helpful for ELL students and kiddos working on speech and language goals.
✅ Early Reading Practice
The turkey riddle clues use short, simple sentences with lots of high-frequency words like I, am, a and the. Your early readers can read the clues all by themselves (hello, confidence boost!) while pre-readers follow along with the audio.
✅ Speaking in Full Sentences
When kids answer with “You are a firefighter turkey!” (and not just a one-word shout), they practice building complete sentences. Bonus points if they can tell you which clue helped them crack the turkey in disguise riddle!
12 Turkey in Disguise Riddles for Kids (with Answers)
Want to use these turkey riddles away from the screen? Here’s the full list with answers, so you can read one aloud at circle time or use it as your Thanksgiving riddle of the day.
- I wear a helmet. I fly in a rocket. I visit the moon. Who am I? Answer: An astronaut
- I make a buzzing sound. I make honey. I have yellow and black stripes. Who am I? Answer: A bee
- I hop. I can wiggle my nose. I have long ears. Who am I? Answer: A bunny
- I have black and white spots. I give milk. I say, “Moo!” Who am I? Answer: A cow
- I wear a white coat. I listen to your heart. I help you feel better. Who am I? Answer: A doctor
- I have big ears. I am gray. I have a long trunk. Who am I? Answer: An elephant
- I wear a helmet. I ride on a big truck. I put out fires. Who am I? Answer: A firefighter
- I have a tail. I live in the sea. I wear a swimsuit. Who am I? Answer: A mermaid
- I have a curly tail. I am pink. I say, “Oink!” Who am I? Answer: A pig
- I am yellow. I have a spiky green top. I am a fruit. Who am I? Answer: A pineapple
- I am wearing a blue shirt. I have glasses. I have a big mustache. Who am I? Answer: A man with glasses and a mustache
- I wear a tall hat. I work in a kitchen. I make yummy food. Who am I? Answer: A chef
How to Use These Turkey in Disguise Riddles
I also LOVE how easy these turkey in disguise riddles are to use! Pick Google Slides, Seesaw or the printable pages and you’re ready for Thanksgiving week.
Google Slides®
Open the turkey in disguise riddles in Present mode and the game does the rest! Kids click the speaker to hear the clues, then click the turkey they think answers the riddle. The game moves along on its own with each click, so there’s nothing to drag, type or move.
A “Yay!” slide sends them to the next turkey riddle, and an “Oops!” slide lets them try again. Self-checking slides mean fewer “Is this right?” questions while you’re working with a small group. Win-win!
Seesaw®
Add the turkey in disguise riddles to your Seesaw library and assign them to your class. Kids circle the turkey that matches each riddle, and their work comes right back to you, so it’s easy to see who’s got it and who needs another round.
Printable Riddle Pages
Print the turkey in disguise riddle pages, slide them into sheet protectors and grab a dry-erase marker. Kids circle the turkey that answers each riddle, wipe it clean and pass it to a friend. Easy peasy!
Ways to Play
- Morning Meeting: Share one turkey in disguise riddle a day. With 12 riddles, you have one a day for most of November. Your kiddos will be BEGGING for the next one!
- Whole Group: Project the Google Slides version and have kids hold up 1, 2 or 3 fingers to show which turkey they think solves the riddle.
- Literacy Centers: Add the printable turkey riddles in sheet protectors with a dry-erase marker for independent practice.
- Home or Homeschool: Read a turkey in disguise riddle at breakfast or around the Thanksgiving table and see who solves it first. (Fair warning: the grown-ups get competitive too!)
How to Get the Activity
- Enter your email below and then check your inbox to get the turkey in disguise riddles.
- When you open the file, click the format you’d like to use: Google Slides® or Seesaw®. The printable riddle pages are in the same file.
- If you are downloading the Google Slides version you will be prompted to “Make a copy”. This is an important step you need to complete to make sure you get a version to share with your students!
- In Slides, make sure you are in “Present” mode, as opposed to “Edit” mode. You will see the “Present” button in the upper right-hand corner.
- In Slides, just click on the the answers and the slides will progress with a “Yay!” or “Oops!” to keep them moving through the riddles.
- If you choose the Seesaw version, click the Seesaw image to instantly add it to your Seesaw library.
- Use the Text tool (click on the large T) to be able to highlight each symbol to move it.
Differentiation Tips for Turkey in Disguise Riddles: Supporting All Learners
Every class has a mix of listeners, readers and riddle experts (and at least one kiddo who shouts the answer before you finish the first clue). Luckily, these turkey in disguise riddles are super easy to adjust without adding a single minute of extra prep.
For Children Who Need More Support
- Name all 3 disguises together before reading any clues. Words like astronaut, chef and mermaid may be brand new for some kids.
- Read one clue, then have kids point to every turkey that could still be the answer. Watching the choices shrink makes each clue feel concrete.
- Start with the most familiar answers, like the cow, the pig and the bunny, before moving to the astronaut and chef riddles.
For On-Level Practice
- Read all 3 clues before kids choose, then have them check that their turkey matches every clue.
- After each clue, ask which turkey they can rule out and why, like “It can’t be the pig because pigs don’t make honey.”
- Pair kids up so one partner reads or plays the clues while the other solves. Then they switch!
For an Extra Challenge
- Cover the picture choices and have kids solve the riddle from the clues alone.
- Have kids name something else that fits the first clue, like a construction worker for “I wear a helmet.”
- Have kids invent a brand new turkey disguise, like a dog, a police officer or a ballerina, then write or dictate 3 clues for a friend to solve.
For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support
- Speech: Use the clues as a describing model. Have kids describe one of the leftover turkeys the same way: what it looks like, what it does and where you’d find it.
- ELL: Pair each new word with a gesture, like pretending to listen with a stethoscope or stir a pot.
- OT: On the printable, have kids circle their answer starting at the top to practice the pre-writing circle stroke.
- Special Education: Cover two clues with sticky notes and reveal them one at a time, or cover one turkey so there are only two choices.
More Ways to Have Fun with Turkey in Disguise Riddles
Once your kiddos are hooked on turkey in disguise riddles (and trust me, they will be!), keep the Thanksgiving fun going with these easy ideas.
Design Your Own Disguise
After you read Turkey Trouble, give each child a blank turkey and let them dress it up as anything they want. Then have them write or dictate three clues for their very own turkey in disguise riddle and see who can guess the disguise. Club members can grab the printable Turkey in Disguise craft to make this one super easy.
Thankful Turkey Talk
Pick a disguise and talk about why we’re thankful for that helper or animal. “We’re thankful for doctors because they help us feel better.” “We’re thankful for cows because they give us milk.” It’s such a sweet way to build gratitude into Thanksgiving week (and my favorite way to wrap up turkey riddle time).
Sort the Disguises
Print the turkey pictures from the turkey in disguise riddles and sort them into groups: community helpers, animals and other silly disguises. It builds classification skills and gets kids chatting.
Turkey Charades
Have kids act out a turkey disguise while classmates guess. Buzzing like a bee, hopping like a bunny and spraying a fire hose make for some very silly charades!
Turkey Trouble and More Books to Pair with Your Turkey Riddles
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If you only read one book with these turkey in disguise riddles, make it Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. It’s the story that started the whole turkey in disguise craze, and it’s the perfect warm-up before riddle time.
Read it first, then ask your kiddos, “What disguise would YOU pick if you were the turkey?” (Get ready for some very creative answers!)
Looking for even more cozy read-alouds for November?
Grab our favorite fall books for kids here. Look for books with lots of describing words, then challenge your students to make up their own turkey in disguise riddle about one of the characters.
Turkey in Disguise Riddles FAQ
What are turkey in disguise riddles?
Turkey in disguise riddles are “Who Am I?” riddles about turkeys dressed up in costumes so no one finds them on Thanksgiving. Kids use three clues to figure out which disguise the turkey is wearing.
What book goes with turkey in disguise riddles?
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano is the perfect match! It’s the story behind the turkey in disguise craze, and reading it first gets kids excited to figure out who each disguised turkey is pretending to be.
How do riddles help kids learn to read?
Riddles practice inferencing, which means putting clues together to figure something out. That’s the same thinking children use to understand stories, so riddles help to build a strong foundation for reading comprehension.
Are these turkey in disguise riddles free?
Yes! All 12 turkey in disguise riddles are free in Google Slides, Seesaw and printable versions. Enter your email below and they’ll land right in your inbox.
Can I use these riddles with kids who can’t read yet?
Absolutely! Every digital turkey in disguise riddle slide has an audio button that reads the clues aloud, and the picture choices give extra support. On the printable, simply read the clues to your little ones.
Do my students need Google or Seesaw accounts?
Students need access to whichever platform you share the activity through. You can also project the Google Slides version or use the printable pages with your whole group, so no student accounts are needed.
More Fall Fun from I Teach Too:
- Fall Sorting Activities for Preschoolers
- Leaf Counting to 20
- Fall Letter Recognition Activities
- Apple Life Cycle Activity
- Pumpkin Counting to 20
- Squirrel and Acorn Patterns
Want every I Teach Too digital activity in one spot (including these turkey in disguise riddles)? Club members get instant access to the whole library, plus hands-on Life Over C’s printables. Take a peek inside the Life Over C’s Club!
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