A game for
Thanksgiving
Aunt Annie's Crafts
Turkey Trot Board Game
What you will make -
Here's a race game that the whole family can make together and then play! It's great for after Thanksgiving dinner fun. Just print the game board patterns, then cut and glue. That's all it takes to make the game board for Turkey Trot.
The Turkey Trot game and rules are based on the Game of Goose—a race game with roots dating back centuries. There are many different game boards and rules for the Game of Goose, which is sometimes call the Game of Life. See the rules for playing Turkey Trot at the end of the project.
Checkout other Thanksgiving and fall crafts.
Here's what you need -
- Cardstock or computer paper
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Optional supplies: Markers or crayons, poster board or lightweight cardboard, and clear contact paper.
This project is rated EASY to do.
How To Make Turkey Trot Board
Read all of the steps before starting.
- Step 1: Choose printable patterns and print
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Choose a game board to make. Download and print the pattern(s).
Print the patterns for all four sections of the game board—Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Left, and Lower Rright. Or print the Small Game Board pattern for a game board that fits on one page. You can print on computer paper or directly on white cardstock.Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.
All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.
- Step 2: Color (optional)
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If you printed black&white patterns, color each game board section with any colors you like. You might color the spaces with alternating colors. Pick two contrasting colors or leave half the spaces white. Save time by leaving the blank egg spaces white.
- Step 3: Cut
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Trim the printed patterns to the outline around the section, or within ¼ to ½ inch of the outline. If you leave a border, make its depth the same on all four game board sections. Be careful to cut the angled sides of the glue tabs precisely. This will help the game board go together better.
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Step 4: Glue Sections Together
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Once you have cut all four sections, glue or tape them together. To do this, lay out the sections in their correct positions. Slide the glue tab on each section under the adjoining section. Join the first section with the second section. Proceed around the board doing one seam at a time. Be careful to align the game board's track at each seam.
Tip: If you printed on computer paper, you can make the game board more durable by gluing it to cardboard—poster board works well.
- Step 5: Cover with Contact Paper (optional)
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Protect your game board from getting dirty with clear contact paper. Cut two pieces of clear contact paper about ½ inch larger than the game board in both dimensions. Apply one piece of contact paper to the back of the board and the other piece to the front. Be sure to center everything and to smooth out any air bubbles. Trim the contact paper, leaving a small border.
Contact paper is self-adhesive shelf liner usually available on rolls in hardware and discount stores.
Continue below for Turkey Trot rules.
How to Play Turkey Trot
Here's what you need: 2 dice and 1 unique
looking playing piece per player. You can use game tokens from other
games or make your own using
Aunt Annie's Modeling Dough.
In a pinch you can use colorful cereal as game pieces.
Number of players: Two or more.
Object of game: To be the first player to
reach the last space, exactly. Other players continue playing for
places.
Before you start: Throw the dice to determine
the order of play. The player with the highest total on the dice goes
first, then play goes around the board to the left.
- Players race around the board from start to finish. A piece is moved based on the throw of two dice.
- If a piece lands on a forward facing turkey, the piece is moved forward the same count again. If a piece lands on a backward facing turkey, the piece returns to the space it came from.
- If a piece lands on the umbrella, it floats up to the space marked with the cloud.
- If a piece lands on a space marked with dice, the player gets to throw the dice and move again on the same turn.
- If a piece lands on a stop sign, the player loses the next turn.
- If a piece lands on the jail, the player loses the next two turns. The player gets an early release if another player lands on the jail, taking their place.
- A player's piece must land exactly on the last space to win. If the throw is too high, the piece is moved forward to the last space and then backward with the rest of the count on the dice.
Before you start -
- Make a place to work.
- Read all the directions.
- Get everything you need to do the project.
- Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it.
Are you ready?
Okay, get started!!!
Enlarge
Tip: The small Turkey Trot game board prints to a
single sheet of paper or cardstock. It is best for games played by just
two players.
Tip: Make a more durable game board by gluing it to poster board.
Tip: Protect your game board by sandwiching it between layers of clear contact paper.