The Presidential Turkey Pardon
ESL Lesson PlansThe Presidential Turkey Pardon

The Presidential Turkey Pardon

This engaging ESL lesson on the Presidential Turkey Pardon is designed for B1 level kids and teens who want to learn English through fun cultural traditions. Students explore the history of this unique U.S. Thanksgiving event, match presidents with the names of pardoned turkeys, and watch a short news clip for listening comprehension. The worksheet includes vocabulary, listening, and discussion activities that build speaking confidence and cultural awareness. Perfect for classrooms or self-study, this lesson helps learners practice English while discovering an entertaining piece of American history.

Skills

  • Can understand the main points and important details in stories and other narratives (e.g. a description of a holiday), provided the delivery is slow and clear.
  • Can enter unprepared into conversations on familiar topics.
Online Interactive
Based on CEFR
Fully Customizable
1

Have you ever heard of the Presidential Turkey Pardon?

Look at the image of the event below. What do you think happens there?
2

Watch the news clip about the Presidential Turkey Pardon and mark the statements as True or False.

3

Guess which turkeys were pardoned by these U.S. presidents. Which of the turkeys' names is your favorite?

4

Discuss the questions below.