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Thanksgiving art and crafts collection
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Paper Bag Turkey Craft

Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Keyword: Art, Thanksgiving Activity

Equipment

  • none

Materials

  • 1 Construction Paper
  • 1 Glue stick
  • 1 Marker
  • 1 Paper bag or kraft paper
  • 1 Scissors

Instructions

  • 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!
    Thanksgiving crafts for kids
  • 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).
  • 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 take the shapes and match them, then stick them into the correct shape outline.
    This paper bag turkey craft is a great math activity. Read why playful math instructions are beneficial to your kids.
  • 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.
    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.
  • 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 great with the funny book Turkey Trouble!