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It’s November which means it’s finally time to pull out this Triangular Turkey puzzle for Thanksgiving. How many different triangles can you find in this picture of a Thanksgiving turkey?
I ran across this triangular turkey puzzle in a Martin Gardner book (Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers) this summer, and I knew I had to add it to my list of activities for November.
I’m looking forward to some interesting conversation and debates with my students over this puzzle! This isn’t a super complex puzzle, so it would be suitable as a great class opener.
Free Download of Triangular Turkey Puzzle
Triangular Turkey (PDF) (4909 downloads )
Triangular Turkey (Editable Publisher File ZIP) (1439 downloads )
THANKSGIVING MATH RESOURCES
Looking for more free printable Thanksgiving resources? This activity is featured in my collection of Thanksgiving Math Activities and Puzzles. You’ll find 15 more creative ideas for incorporating Thanksgiving into your classroom!
Puzzle Solutions
I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.
However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.
If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.
Tiffany Steele
Wednesday 17th of November 2021
Is there a right answer for it?
Sarah Carter
Wednesday 17th of November 2021
Yes, there is one correct answer for this puzzle.
Tracy
Wednesday 17th of November 2021
Love the turkey triangles
Mikayla Olsen
Monday 15th of November 2021
I love this activity! I think it is important to have some puzzles and activities that can be implemented into the math classroom that still has some relation to the material. I have recently done this with some of my math classes in Algebra 1 and Geometry classes with the use of plotting points in the cartesian plane to make an image as well as having students solve algebraic puzzles and color coordinating their answers with an image!
Jack Fernbacher
Saturday 13th of November 2021
This is a great activity Sarah! I agree that it would be a good warmup because it could help all students participate in a conversation at tables and in front of the whole classroom. It seems like math doesn't get related very much to current events, so I think this is a fun way for students to relate math to the holidays. Another addition to this activity could be asking what other shapes students see to make the activity a little longer.
Sarah Carter
Wednesday 17th of November 2021
Great suggestions!
Amanda Reynolds
Friday 5th of November 2021
I love this idea, this reminds me of the Pythagorean triangle stacking activity that I do with my Math 8 kids as an extension.