Need a simple Thanksgiving decoration? Try this paper bag turkey craft!
What I love most about paper bag crafts like this is that it reminds me of my childhood: no complicated directions and no need to hit up Michaels.
It’s simple and well-loved by my three and seven-year-olds alike and makes an excellent Breakfast Invitation. Now, that is a true win! Just like these simple Thanksgiving table decorations, this idea screams child-led fun!
I can’t wait to share this paper-bag turkey craft with you.
RELATED: Easy ideas are our jam! Find a fantastic collection of ways to play on our activity cards!
Supplies
Days with Grey participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
- Construction paper – I adore having a stash of this in my kid’s art cart.
- Glue stick – Optional. You can use it as a shape-matching activity. You don’t have to glue the shapes down.
- Marker – I use these to draw the outlines for the shapes.
- Paper bag or kraft paper – You can save one after grocery shopping or cut the turkey from kraft paper.
- Scissors – Here are the kid scissors we use.
RELATED: Recycled materials do the best art projects. See our 40+ Ways to Play with Paper Tubes here.
How to Do Paper Bag Turkey Craft
I am a big believer in prepping activities within five minutes. I promise!
We don’t have the time or energy to prep any longer, and just a few items are needed to make this Thanksgiving decoration. A few cuts and this paper bag turkey craft is ready to go! We even set this up for our morning Breakfast Invitation!
What’s a Breakfast Invitation? They are simple games that inspire creativity and independent play throughout the day. Read about Breakfast Invitations here. We also have this turkey dice game on our radar for November!
Step 1. Flatten out the paper bag and tape it to the table.
I save grocery bags we pick up along the way, knowing they are destined to be repurposed. This paper bag turkey craft was exactly what we needed to help play in November!
Step 2. Make the turkey shapes.
Grab your colored paper and fold it in half (it makes cutting symmetrical shapes easier). Start by folding the white paper and make the turkey eyes by cutting two white circles, then do the same with the back paper and cut out two small circles.
Continue folding your paper and make a handful of feathers. We cut a total of six feathers. Next, create a yellow triangle for the beak, then a red snood (the gobbly bit under the turkey’s chin).
Step 3. Outline the shapes on the paper bag.
Lay each shape on your paper bag and use a black marker to outline them to make a turkey face. Your children will match the shapes and stick them into the correct outline.
This paper bag turkey craft is a great math activity. Read why playful math instructions are beneficial to your kids.
Step 4. Set out the shapes and glue sticks.
Place all your turkey shapes to the left of the paper bag and invite your preschooler to dive in. My three-year-old is instantly invested. He takes the shapes and matches them on the turkey. Next, he asks for a glue stick and gets to work!
As he works on gluing each shape onto the turkey, he is also strengthening his little hands. Small movements like this go a long way later in writing. In fact, there are many ways to help fine motor grip during the early years. You can read 25+ ways to improve pencil grip here!
Take a look at how Fairy Dust Teaching shares when and how children begin to use glue to help you and your little one get to grips with using glue in crafts.
Step 5. Use your turkey craft as a decoration.
Even big kids love decorating for the holidays. Both my three and seven-year-olds jumped right in to get started! When the boys finished, they hung the turkey and stood by it proudly.
Top tip: This turkey craft goes excellent with the funny book Turkey Trouble!
RELATED: Like Thanksgiving ideas? I have an entire collection of ideas for Thanksgiving here!
DIY Turkey Crafts are Great Holiday Decorations!
This activity makes an incredible Breakfast Invitation that your kids can do over the holidays or while you’re preparing for Thanksgiving. A quiet set-up, simple, and fantastic for shape matching – you can’t go wrong! When will you make your paper bag turkey craft?
Need More Breakfast Invitations? Try These:
Frequently Asked Questions
We enjoy using butcher paper found in the painting aisle at home improvement stores. This paper is similar to kraft paper and comes on a large roll that will last a long time.
Since we are focused more on the process than the product, this Thanksgiving turkey is fun for all ages. Introduce a glue stick to toddlers, and let older children practice with liquid glue. The turkey should represent the child’s art, not the parents’. (wink, wink)