This colourful “Thankful Turkey”, made from a paper plate and a cardboard roll, is a fun Thanksgiving craft for all ages, and creative way to encourage kids to practice gratitude at Thanksgiving.
Looking for a cute and easy “thankful craft” for the kids to make for Thanksgiving? These thankful turkeys are perfect!
They’re fun to make and they encourage kids to practice gratitude, which is what Thanksgiving is all about.
You may also like our 2-Ingredient Clay Dough Thankful Tree.
This turkey craft is similar to the toilet roll/paint chip turkeys, we made years ago, but this time, instead of paint chip samples for the feathers, we’ve used painted paper plates.
The paper plates work nicely because half a plate forms the perfect fan of feathers for the turkey. All you have to do is cut some slits in the paper plate to make the “feathers”.
Depending on the age of your child, they can cut their turkey’s feathers with as much or as little details as they like.
Once they’ve cut their feathers, your kids can write something thing they’re thankful for on each feather.
Younger children may prefer to make this simple paper plate turkey.
Activity Idea for Thanksgiving Dinner Guests:
Another idea would be to have your kids make a Thankful Turkey for each of your Thanksgiving dinner guests. They can leave the feathers blank, and set a turkey and a pen at each place setting at your Thanksgiving dinner table. Then, before you eat dinner, you can ask everyone reflect on what they’re thankful for, and fill in the feathers on their own Thankful Turkeys.
How to Make our Thanksgiving Thankful Turkeys
You may also like our Thanksgiving Napkin Rings .
Supplies:
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- paper plates
- paint
- paintbrushes
- cardboard roll
- glue
- google eyes
- yellow paper (beak)
- red crepe paper or tissue paper
- black marker or pen
Instructions:
Thanksgiving Thankful Turkey
- Paint Paper Plate
Paint the paper plate with colours radiating out from the center of the plate. Your kids can look at google images to see the patterns and bands of colour on a turkey’s feathers.
- Cut in Half
When the paint is dry, cut the paper plate in half.
- Make Turkey Body
Cut a cardboard roll to approx 3 inches.
Paint the body of the turkey. We blended some of these colours: - Glue Together and Cut Feathers
Glue the cardboard body to the center of the paper plate, and cut slits from the edge of the plate to the cardboard tube.
Older kids can make additional cuts to the feathers to add detail. - Add Turkey’s Face
Glue google eyes, beak and crepe paper wattle to the cardboard tube.
- Write on Feathers
On each feather, have your child write one thing that they’re grateful for.
How cute, how vibrant, and such a fun way for kids to practice gratitude this Thanksgiving.
See all of our Thanksgiving Turkey Crafts here.
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
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