Tom the Turkey's Great Escape


Tom the Turkey's Great Escape
Tom the turkey was not like the other turkeys. He did not like to gobble and strut. Tom liked to think and plan. One day, Tom heard the farmer talking about Thanksgiving. "That turkey is going to be our main course!" the farmer said. Tom's eyes went wide. He knew he had to escape!
First, Tom tried to hide. He squeezed behind the big red barn. But the farmer found him. Then, Tom tried to fly away. He flapped his wings as hard as he could. He flew over the fence! But the fence was not very high, and he landed right back in the yard. Oh no!
Tom needed a better plan. He saw the farmer's daughter playing dress-up. An idea popped into Tom's head like a corn kernel in a hot pan! He tiptoed to the shed and found an old hat and a colorful scarf. He put them on. He looked just like a person!
Tom walked right past the farmer. The farmer scratched his head. "That's a funny-looking fellow," he said. But he didn't know it was Tom! Tom walked down the road and into the forest. He was free! That Thanksgiving, the farmer had chicken. And Tom the turkey ate berries and nuts in his new home.
- Gobble:
- The sound a turkey makes.
- Disguise:
- To change how you look so people don't know you.
- Main course:
- The biggest and most important part of a meal.
- strut:
- To walk in a proud way with your head held high.
- tiptoed:
- Walked very quietly on the tips of your toes so no one would hear.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
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Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What did Tom the turkey hear the farmer say?
- 2Where did Tom first try to hide?
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About this fiction passage for Lower Elementary
“Tom the Turkey's Great Escape” is a fiction reading passage about Thanksgiving, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (217 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.


