How to Make a Thanksgiving Turkey: Arts and Crafts for Kids

A bunch of ideas for how to make a Thanksgiving turkey arts and crafts project for kids. Use these easy Thanksgiving crafts for little hands before or after Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, creativity! If you’re looking for ways to keep the little ones entertained while celebrating the season, Thanksgiving turkey arts and crafts are the perfect solution. These festive crafts allow kids to express their creativity while learning about the significance of the holiday. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or caregiver, crafting turkeys is a fun and educational way to engage children and get them excited for Thanksgiving.

In this blog post, we’ll explore a variety of turkey crafts that kids can enjoy making at home or in school. We’ll discuss why you’ll love these ideas, the benefits of turkey crafts during the Thanksgiving season, the supplies you’ll need, variations of turkey crafts, and different ways you can use these creative projects.

Why You’ll Love These Thanksgiving Turkey Crafts

Fun for Kids of All Ages

Turkey crafts are an easy, accessible way to get children involved in the Thanksgiving spirit. Whether you’re working with toddlers, preschoolers, or older kids, there’s a turkey craft idea for every age group. Toddlers might enjoy simple handprint turkeys or paper plate turkeys, while older kids can tackle more complex projects like 3D turkeys or turkey-themed wreaths. These activities can be adjusted to the child’s skill level, making them a versatile option for families with multiple kids or classroom groups.

Keeps Kids Engaged

The holiday season can get hectic with cooking, planning, and hosting family gatherings. Thanksgiving turkey crafts are a great way to keep the kids busy while you prepare for the holiday. Instead of turning to screen time, set up a craft station where kids can stay engaged with creative activities that promote learning, fine motor skills, and artistic expression. Plus, the crafts they create can double as charming decorations to display around the house!

Why Turkey Crafts Are a Great Way to Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanksgiving is all about coming together and reflecting on what we’re grateful for, and turkey crafts offer an interactive way for kids to participate in the celebration. Crafting Thanksgiving turkeys provides a hands-on learning experience that can help children understand the meaning of the holiday. As they make their turkeys, you can talk with them about the tradition of Thanksgiving, what it represents, and why we give thanks.

Additionally, these turkey arts and crafts make for excellent bonding moments. Whether you’re sitting down with your own children or hosting a group activity with friends or classmates, crafting together allows you to share stories, laugh, and create memories. It’s a perfect way to slow down and appreciate quality time during the holiday season.

Craft Supplies for Making Turkey Arts and Crafts

Creating turkey crafts requires only a few basic supplies that are easy to find at any craft store, dollar store, or around the house. Here’s a list of common materials you can gather to make these easy crafts for Thanksgiving-themed art projects:

• Paper plates – Great for making the body of a turkey.
• Colored construction paper – Ideal for feathers, beaks, and other details, you’ll want a variety of different colors.
• Googly eyes – To give the turkey some personality.
• Glue sticks – Essential for putting your turkey together.
• Scissors – For cutting out feathers and shapes.
• Markers or crayons – Perfect for adding color and detail to your turkey.
• Pom-poms – A fun option for making turkey heads or bodies.
• Feathers – Real or faux feathers add texture and dimension to turkey crafts.
• Pipe cleaners – Great for making legs or curly feathers.
• Toilet paper rolls – An easy material for making 3D turkeys.
• Craft foam – Can be used to create a sturdy base or embellishments.
• Coffee Filters – These are an inexpensive craft supply for kids to have on hand to make thankful turkeys and more!
• Acrylic Paint – Another art supplies staple. It dries fast to make these easy turkey crafts a breeze.

These supplies offer endless possibilities for turkey crafting, allowing you to create everything from simple, flat designs to more complex and layered pieces for turkey day.

Cute Turkey Crafts for Kids

Thanksgiving is a holiday where family and togetherness are celebrated. But the real star of the show is the Thanksgiving turkey. While the preparation and cooking usually falls to an adult, there’s no reason the kids can’t get involved in some way, too. Let them feel part of the festivities by making one of these 12 turkey crafts for kids.

Variations and More Ideas for Using Turkey Arts and Crafts Ideas

Turkey crafts can be customized to fit different themes, occasions, and ages. Here are a few variations to try out:

1. Handprint Turkeys – A classic and simple option where kids trace their hand and use the outline to create the turkey’s body and feathers. You can use paint, construction paper, or markers to decorate.
2. Paper Plate Turkeys – Turn a simple paper plate into a colorful turkey by adding feathers, googly eyes, and a beak. This is great for younger children as it’s easy to assemble.
3. 3D Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys – For a more advanced project, use toilet paper rolls to create 3D turkeys. Add feathers, a beak, and pipe cleaner legs for an adorable standing turkey.
4. Turkey Hats – Let the kids create wearable turkey hats out of construction paper and other materials. This variation is perfect for a fun Thanksgiving parade around the house or classroom!
5. Turkey Leaf Craft – Collect leaves from outside and use them as feathers for your turkey. This eco-friendly option brings a bit of nature into your craft project.

By varying the materials and methods, you can cater to different interests and skill levels, ensuring that every child has fun while making their turkey.

Ideas for Ways to Use Turkey Crafts

These Thanksgiving turkey crafts aren’t just fun to make—they’re also perfect for a variety of purposes:

• Thanksgiving Table Decorations – Use the turkeys as adorable centerpieces or placeholders for your holiday table Thanksgiving decorations.
• Classroom Displays – Teachers can display the students’ turkey crafts on a bulletin board to create a festive environment in the classroom.
• Thanksgiving Cards – Turn your turkey crafts into cards that kids can send to family members or friends, adding a personal touch to holiday greetings.
• Holiday Gifts – Have the kids make turkey crafts to give as thoughtful, homemade gifts to grandparents or other loved ones.
• Thanksgiving Party Activity – If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving gathering or classroom party, set up a turkey craft station for the younger kids to enjoy during the event.

The possibilities are endless, and turkey crafts are sure to bring smiles to everyone who sees or receives them.

Conclusion: Get Crafting This Thanksgiving!

Now that you know how to make a Thanksgiving turkey arts and crafts, it’s time to gather your supplies and get creative with your kids! These turkey crafts provide a wonderful way to bond, learn, and celebrate the Thanksgiving season together. Not only will they keep your little ones entertained, but they’ll also serve as festive decorations, gifts, or even classroom projects.

Get started today by trying one of the turkey craft ideas mentioned in this post. Whether it’s a simple handprint turkey or a more intricate 3D turkey, your kids will love crafting and sharing in the Thanksgiving spirit.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page or share it with fellow parents, teachers, and caregivers! If you try any of these turkey crafts, be sure to let us know how it turned out. We’d love to see your festive creations!

More Fun ideas for Thanksgiving Traditions and DIY Projects:

• ​Thankful Dice Game Printable
• Leftover Labels
• Thanksgiving Tags, Flags and Cards Printable
• Thanksgiving Coloring Bookmarks
• Thanksgiving Word Search
• Thanksgiving Word Scramble
• Thanksgiving Don’t Eat Pete
• Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
• Turkey Cupcakes
• Thanksgiving Movies to Watch
• Pinecone Turkey Place Card Holders Craft

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