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The turkey has become entrenched in American tradition and is a symbol of freedom and celebration. Each year, the president pardons a lucky turkey from becoming dinner. Your class can pardon a bird too and participate in this presidential tradition by adopting a turkey from Farm Sanctuary! The following lesson plans can be used to evaluate the presidential pardoning and what it means to the students and society at large.
Activities and Discussion Topics
- Read the following presidential plea for turkeys given by Bill Clinton. After reading this as a class, discuss why only one turkey is pardoned. Then ask students to write a plea to the president for the pardoning of all turkeys in America.
"Tomorrow, 45 million turkeys will make the ultimate sacrifice for America's feast. But not this one. I'm granting this turkey a permanent reprieve. After many years in the coop, he's on his way to a farm in Virginia to bask in the sun, collect his hard-earned pension, and enjoy his golden years. And that's one less turkey in Washington. [Laughter.] Happy Thanksgiving. [Applause.]"
-President Bill Clinton, National Turkey Pardoning Ceremony, The White House Rose Garden, November 26, 1997
- " Your class can pardon its own turkey by sparing a bird's life through Farm Sanctuary's adopt-a-turkey program. For more information, visit www.FarmSanctuary.org.
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