Turkey Crafts — Fun and Festive Ideas for Kids

Turkey crafts are a fun and creative way for kids to celebrate Thanksgiving while developing fine motor skills.

Perfect for classrooms, playdates, or family gatherings, turkey crafts allow kids to express their creativity and enjoy the holiday spirit with a personal touch. Plus, they make adorable decorations to showcase during the festivities. Find easy and engaging turkey craft preschool activities that are perfect for young learners.

These easy-to-make projects range from colorful paper turkeys to hands-on activities like using recycled materials or natural items. Explore a variety of turkey crafts to make your Thanksgiving celebrations more festive and fun.

Here are 30 creative and fun turkey craft ideas for kids, each with a detailed step-by-step guide. These are perfect for classrooms, home, or family gatherings to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Turkey Crafts Preschool

1. Paper Plate Turkey

Download free turkey printables to enhance your holiday crafts with ready-to-use designs.

Materials: Paper plate, brown paint, colored construction paper, googly eyes, glue.

Steps:

Paint the paper plate brown and let it dry.
Cut feathers from colored construction paper.
Glue feathers around the plate’s edge.
Cut out a beak and wattle from construction paper.
Glue on googly eyes, beak, and wattle to create the turkey’s face.

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2. Handprint Turkey

Discover exciting turkey craft ideas that will spark creativity and add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving decorations.

Materials: Colored paper, pencil, scissors, glue, googly eyes.

Steps:

Trace your hand on colored paper.
Cut out the handprint.
Use different colored paper for feathers.
Glue the feathers to the back of the handprint.
Add eyes, beak, and wattle.

Make Your Own DIY Crafts Turkey at Home

3. Toilet Paper Roll Turkey

Try these easy Turkey Day crafts that are perfect for a quick and enjoyable holiday project.

Materials: Toilet paper roll, paint, construction paper, googly eyes, glue.

Steps:

Paint the toilet roll brown and let it dry.
Cut out feathers and a beak from construction paper.
Glue feathers to the back of the roll.
Attach the beak and googly eyes to the front.

4. Pom Pom Turkey

Create a thankful turkey craft to help kids express their gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.

Materials: Brown pom poms, googly eyes, craft foam, glue.

Steps:

Glue googly eyes onto the brown pom pom.
Cut out a beak and feet from craft foam.
Attach the feet and beak to the pom pom.
Add small colored feathers at the back.

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Creating a Construction paper Turkey Craft with Kids

5. Felt Turkey

Dive into a collection of turkey arts and crafts that are perfect for celebrating the holiday with creativity.

Materials: Felt sheets, scissors, glue, googly eyes.

Steps:

Cut a large circle from brown felt for the body.
Cut feather shapes from different colored felt.
Glue the feathers behind the brown circle.
Add eyes, beak, and wattle to complete the turkey.

6. Pinecone Turkey

Set up a print table for turkey craft activities to make organizing your Thanksgiving crafting session easier.

Materials: Pinecone, craft feathers, googly eyes, glue.

Steps:

Stick feathers into the top of the pinecone.
Attach googly eyes to the front.
Cut and glue a small beak onto the pinecone.

Free Turkey Printables

7. Cupcake Liner Turkey

Engage kindergarten students with turkey crafts that are designed to be fun and age-appropriate.

Materials: Cupcake liners, construction paper, glue, googly eyes.

Steps:

Flatten two cupcake liners.
Glue one as the body and the other for feathers.
Cut out a head from brown paper and glue it on.
Add googly eyes, beak, and wattle.

Related Article — Craft Ideas for Kids — 30+ Easy Step-by-Step Guide

8. Leaf Turkey

Find turkey crafts for toddlers that are simple and safe, making them perfect for young children.

Materials: Leaves, glue, googly eyes, paper.

Steps:

Collect colorful leaves for feathers.
Glue the leaves to a sheet of paper in a fan shape.
Cut out and glue a round head on top of the feathers.
Add googly eyes, beak, and wattle.

How to Create Fun Turkey Crafts

9. 3D Turkey Model

Get crafty with a craft turkey project that’s both fun and easy for kids to create.

Materials: Paper, scissors, glue, crayons.

Steps:

Draw and cut out a turkey body, head, and wings from paper.
Color the pieces with crayons.
Use glue to assemble the parts into a 3D turkey.

10. Sponge Painted Turkey

Enjoy these easy turkey crafts that require minimal materials and are perfect for a quick holiday activity.

Materials: Sponges, brown paint, construction paper, scissors.

Steps:

Dip sponges into brown paint and press them on paper to make the body.
Add cut-out paper feathers.
Use paper to create the turkey’s face and glue it on.

11. Coconut Shell Turkey

Make a simple turkey craft that’s ideal for kids of all ages to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Materials: Coconut Shell, paper, glue, googly eyes, cardboard.

Steps:

Cut the turkey’s body from cardboard.
Drill a small hole in the top of the coconut shell for the beak.
Insert a small piece of construction paper folded into a triangle for the beak.
Glue the googly eyes to the front of the coconut shell.
Cut construction paper into long, thin strips for the feathers.
Arrange the feathers in a fan shape, starting with the longest at the bottom and gradually getting shorter towards the top.
Glue the coconut shell head to the top of the cardboard tube body.
Glue the fan of feathers to the back of the turkey’s body.

12. Feather Crown Turkey

Explore turkey ideas craft that range from creative to classic, providing options for every crafter.

Materials: Paper, glue, feathers, headband.

Steps:

Cut out a paper circle for the turkey’s face.
Attach feathers around the circle.
Add eyes, beak, and wattle.
Glue the finished face to a headband.

Creative Turkey Craft Ideas

13. Salt DoughTurkey

Engage kids with an art craft turkey project that combines creativity with holiday spirit.

Materials: Salt dough, paints, brushes, rolling pin, cutters, knife, string.

Steps:

Roll dough
Cut turkey shape.
Paint and decorate.
Dry, hang.

14. Fork Strokes Turkey

Find the perfect craft for turkey that will add a fun and festive touch to your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Materials: Canvas or paper, Acrylic paints in various colors, Forks (different sizes), Paintbrushes, Palette knife.

Steps:

Choose a canvas or paper and apply a background color (if desired).
Dip a fork into your chosen paint color and press it onto the surface to create texture.
Experiment with different fork sizes and angles for various effects.
Add details like eyes, a beak, or other features using a brush.
Let the painting dry completely and add a varnish coat (optional).

15. Pasta Turkey

Create a turkey paper craft that’s easy to assemble and perfect for Thanksgiving decor.

Materials: Clay, paints, brushes, rolling pin, knife, toothpicks, wire (optional).

Steps:

Shape body, head, feathers.
Paint and decorate.
Add legs and feet.
Dry, add stand (optional).

16. Button Turkey

Make a turkey plate craft using paper plates for a fun and interactive Thanksgiving activity.

Materials: Buttons, construction paper, glue.

Steps:

Glue buttons in a circle to form the turkey’s body.
Add cut-out paper feathers.
Use buttons for the eyes and paper for the beak and wattle.

17. Thumbprint Turkey

Try out DIY turkey crafts that allow you to make unique and personalized decorations for the holiday.

Materials: Paint, paper.

Steps:

Dip your thumb in brown paint to make the turkey’s body.
Use your fingerprints in various colors to create the feathers.
Add eyes, beak, and wattle.

Easy Turkey Day Crafts

18. Origami Turkey

Create DIY turkeys with simple materials and a bit of creativity for a fun Thanksgiving project.

Materials: Square piece of paper (any size)

Steps:

Base fold: Fold diagonally, and unfold. Fold the top corners down, and the bottom corners up.
Head and neck: Fold the top flap down for the head, then down again for the neck.
Body: Fold the bottom corners up, and the top corners down.
Wings: Fold side flaps inward.
Legs and feet: Fold bottom corners up.
Tail: Fold remaining flaps outward.

19. Craft Stick Turkey

Use turkey cut outs to simplify your crafting process and create beautiful Thanksgiving decorations.

Materials: Craft sticks, paint, googly eyes, glue.

Steps:

Glue craft sticks together in a fan shape.
Paint them in autumn colors.
Add a round paper face with eyes and a beak.

20. Paper Bag Turkey Puppet

Add color and detail to your crafts with printable turkey feathers that are easy to cut and use.

Materials: Paper bag, googly eyes, construction paper, glue.

Steps:

Use a paper bag as the body.
Glue on construction paper feathers.
Add a face with googly eyes, beak, and wattle.

Creative Turkey Craft Ideas for Every Occasion

21. Turkey Wreath

Find a variety of turkey craft for kids to keep them entertained and engaged during the holiday season.

Materials: Paper plate, feathers, construction paper.

Steps:

Cut the center out of a paper plate.
Glue feathers around the edge.
Add a turkey face to the bottom of the wreath.

22. Texture Painted Turkey

Incorporate real or craft feathers into your turkey craft for a more dynamic and colorful project.

Materials: Canvas or cardboard, Acrylic paints, Palette knife, Masking tape (optional), Paintbrushes (optional)

Steps:

Prepare the Surface: Choose your canvas or cardboard and apply a background color if desired.
Create the Body: Use a palette knife to apply thick strokes of paint in the shape of a chicken’s body.
Form the Feathers: Apply more paint with the palette knife to create the feathers, overlapping them to create a fan-like shape.
Add Details: Use a fine-tipped brush to add details like the head, beak, eyes, and legs.
Let Dry: Allow the painting to dry completely. You can add a coat of varnish for protection.

23. Rock Paint Turkey

Use a turkey craft cutout template to guide your crafting and ensure perfect turkey shapes every time.

Materials: Smooth rocks (various sizes), Acrylic paints in different colors, Paintbrushes, Markers

Steps:

Prepare the Rocks: Choose smooth rocks in different sizes for the turkey’s body, head, and tail. Wash them with soap and water to remove any dirt or debris.
Paint the Body: Paint the largest rock in a solid color for the turkey’s body. Let it dry completely.
Create the Head and Neck: Paint a smaller rock in a contrasting color for the head. Attach it to the body with glue, leaving a small gap for the neck. Paint the neck area to connect the head to the body.
Make the Feathers: Paint the remaining rocks in various colors to create the feathers. You can use different patterns and techniques to make the feathers look realistic or abstract.
Add Details: Use markers or paint to add details like the turkey’s beak, eyes, wattle, and legs. If desired, you can add googly eyes for a more expressive look.
Decorate: Add glitter or other embellishments to the feathers for a festive touch.