Making a thankful turkey craft is a fun and meaningful activity to do with kids for Thanksgiving. Not only is it an easy DIY craft, but it also teaches children about gratitude and provides a decorative piece for displaying during the holidays. In this detailed guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make an adorable thankful turkey craft with your kids.
Why Make a Thankful Turkey?
Having an attitude of gratitude is so important, even for young kids Making a thankful turkey provides a hands-on way for children to reflect on blessings in their lives and practice being grateful As they write words of thanks on the colorful feathers, it builds gratitude and positive psychology. Displaying the handmade turkey also serves as a visual reminder of all there is to be grateful for. Beyond just gratitude, thankful turkeys are also festive decorations that get everyone excited for Thanksgiving!
Supplies Needed to Make a Thankful Turkey
One of the great things about this kid craft is that it requires very simple and inexpensive materials, many of which you likely already have at home. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Construction paper or cardstock in fall colors – brown, red, orange, yellow
- Googly eyes
- Glue (white school glue or glue stick)
- Scissors
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Optional: Printable turkey template
If working with a large group of kids, it can be helpful to pre-cut feather shapes from construction paper ahead of time. But for just a few children cutting out the shapes themselves provides great fine motor practice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to make an adorable DIY thankful turkey with your kids:
Cut Out the Turkey’s Body
- Use brown construction paper or cardstock to cut out the shape of the turkey’s body. If using a printable template, trace it onto the paper and then cut out.
Make the Feathers
- Cut out feather shapes from construction paper in fall colors – red, orange, yellow. Make enough feathers to fill up the turkey’s body (about 8 to 12).
Write What You’re Thankful For
- On each feather, write or draw something you’re thankful for with markers, crayons, etc. Get creative with big and small blessings!
Glue on the Feathers
- Glue the feathers onto the back of the turkey’s body, filling it up. Press down firmly.
Add Eyes, Beak, Feet
- Glue on 2 googly eyes and cut an orange triangle for the beak. Glue in place. Cut and glue on feet if desired.
And that’s it – you have an adorable DIY thankful turkey! Feel free to get creative with different materials or embellishments. The turkeys will be unique and heartfelt.
Displaying Your Thankful Turkeys
The thankful turkeys make for very cute Thanksgiving decorations. Here are some fun ways to put them on display:
- Line them up on the mantel, bookshelf, or windowsill
- Hang them around the house with ribbon
- Arrange them down the center of your Thanksgiving table
- Glue them onto a wreath or garland for wall décor
- Hang them from the ceiling or in windows with string or fishing line
You can also add a name tag or place card holder to use the turkeys as table place cards. Kids will love finding their own gratitude turkey!
Turn It Into a Gratitude Activity
Beyond just making the craft, there are lots of great ways to turn your thankful turkeys into an interactive gratitude lesson for children:
- Host a thankful turkey craft party with friends and family
- Take supplies to a Thanksgiving gathering for a craft activity
- Use it as a project in your classroom, homeschool, or children’s ministry
- Make a thankful turkey tree by stringing them on branches
- Take turns sharing what everyone wrote on their feathers
- Add a new feather each day during November for more gratitude
Using the thankful turkey as an engaging activity can help teach children why gratitude matters and how we can practice it daily.
Adapting the Thankful Turkey Craft
One of the great things about this DIY craft is how versatile it is. There are endless ways to adapt the project:
- Use a toilet paper roll, paper bag, or pinecone as the body
- Make feathers from real leaves, felt, foam, or tissue paper
- Attach feathers with brass fasteners instead of glue
- Embellish with pom poms, wiggle eyes, or other materials
- Make handprint turkeys with fingerprint feathers
- Do footprint turkeys for babies and toddlers
Let the kids get creative and express their gratitude through crafting. The thankful turkey can be made unique year after year.
The thankful turkey kid craft is a simple, budget-friendly project that encourages practicing gratitude. Children will have fun making their own turkey while thinking about what they’re thankful for. Display these adorable turkeys around your home for a festive reminder of blessings to appreciate. Plus, take the opportunity to turn the craft into a memorable gratitude lesson. Make thankful turkeys an annual family Thanksgiving tradition!
What is a Thankful Turkey?
The Thankful Turkey is the simplest, easiest, and cutest way to discuss thankfulness and gratitude throughout the Thanksgiving season.
Using this easy Thanksgiving activity helps children and families connect and engage in conversations that otherwise might not happen naturally or frequently.
Think of the Thankful Turkey as a reverse advent calendar to Thanksgiving – and it doesn’t cost a thing to make it.
RELATED: Looking for more Thanksgiving activities to try with kids? See my list of easy and fun ideas.
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- Brown paper bag or Kraft paper
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Black marker
- Blue painter’s tape
This isn’t a big supply list when you really look at it. It’s probably mostly things you have at home – which is one of the best parts about this activity. No need to run out and buy any fancy or one-time-use supplies.
How to create a Thankful Turkey
I cut out the turkey from a brown paper bag. Brown kraft paper or wrapping paper works awesome too.
I use construction paper to create a funny little face and then cut out a bunch of “feathers” from colorful paper.
Options:
- You can create one family turkey
- You can create one turkey per child
- You can create one turkey for each family member (you included)
Over the years, I’ve learned to make my turkey feathers small so they fit on my wall.
How To Make A Thankful Turkey | Fun and Educational Videos for Kids
FAQ
What is a thankful turkey?
Every day, you can write something you are thankful for on a feather. Then you can add it to your turkey with glue or tape and watch it grow!
What crafts can I make for Thanksgiving?
- Dyed Pampas Grass. Pampas grass is a beautiful piece of décor that can add a textured detail to your home. …
- Cookie Decorating. …
- Gratitude Pumpkin. …
- Decoupage Leaf Bowl. …
- Punch Needle Coasters. …
- Felted Pumpkins. …
- Fall Wine Charms. …
- Painted Leaves.
How do I make a thankful Turkey craft?
First things first, head to the bottom of the page and download the thankful turkey printables. Print out the turkey templates and I am thankful for writing prompt. Print onto the colours indicated on the templates and then cut out all the pieces. Now you have all the pieces needed it is time to assemble your turkey craft.
How do you make a Thanksgiving turkey a special touch?
Have your kids write what they are thankful for on the turkey’s feathers as a special touch. Thanksgiving is a time for us to reflect on what we are thankful for. This thankful turkey is a great way for your kids to think about thankfulness and gratitude.
How do you make a Thanksgiving turkey a thank you?
Have your child record something they’re thankful for on each of the turkey’s tail feathers. Younger kids will need to dictate to an adult who can write their responses down. Older children can write their own answers. You could also cut write and then cut the feathers out. Glue or tape each feather to the back of the turkey.
How do you decorate a Thanksgiving turkey?
Adding sparkly glitter or googly eyes would be a great idea to personalize the turkey. Kids could also add different things such as pumpkins or fall leaves around or below the turkey. These Thanksgiving-related objects could be hand drawn and colored in, or cut out of colored construction paper and then glued onto the paper.
How do you make a turkey head?
I used a toothpick and a wooden drawer pull to make the turkey’s head. Tie a small piece of red yarn around the toothpick to make the gobble. Then, glue on two google eyes, and a triangular peice of yellow construction paper to the wooden knob to make the turkey face. Stick the wooden knob right on the ball of yarn with the toothpick!
How do you make a turkey head with styrofoam?
As you can see from the picture, my styrofoam ball is up cycled from an old fake flower arrangement. Wrap the ball in brown yarn. TIP: Secure the beginning peice of yarn with a peice of tape. When the entire ball is covered in yarn, tuck the end peice under other yarn strands. I used a toothpick and a wooden drawer pull to make the turkey’s head.