16 Turkey Crafts for Kids (Plus 3 Printable Activities)
These turkey crafts for kids are full of colorful feathers, funny faces, and Thanksgiving fun! You’ll find 16 craft ideas below, from paper cup turkeys and puppets to a little felt turkey, plus three printable activities for a quieter afternoon.
For younger kids, choose a project they can color or decorate while you help with cutting. Paper folding and sewing projects give older kids a little more of a challenge. Open each tutorial for the full directions and any free template; printable signup details are on the individual post.
These make perfect ideas for fall crafts for kids. We also have lots of fun Thanksgiving crafts and a ton of Thanksgiving printables for even more turkey fun.
Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
This adorable little toilet paper roll turkey is made from colored craft paper and a toilet paper roll!
Supplies to gather: Paper roll, colored paper, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Help younger kids cut the feather shapes and small face pieces.
It’s fun because it stands up by itself and makes a great placeholder for Thanksgiving dinner or to use as a napkin ring!
We even include a free printable template you can grab to make this craft super easy.
Popsicle Stick Turkey
This popsicle stick turkey craft is another fun turkey craft for kids. We especially love the feathers for the tail!
Supplies to gather: Popsicle stick, paper, craft feathers, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Precut the paper pieces so younger kids can focus on decorating their puppet.
You can use the printable template and create a cute little turkey puppet that glues on to the end of a popsicle stick.
Then you’ll have adorable little popsicle stick turkeys that you can tuck into center pieces or let the kids play with.
Paper Cup Turkey Craft
This cute paper cup turkey craft is a fun way to make a little turkey decor for kids!
Supplies to gather: Paper cup, colored paper, template, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Younger kids can choose the colors and help attach the pieces.
They can turn a paper cup into a turkey using our free printable turkey template.
Turkey Bookmarks
These cute turkey bookmarks are a fun turkey craft that also encourages a little fall reading!
Supplies to gather: Colored paper, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Plan to help with the corner folds; this is a nice choice for kids who enjoy paper folding.
You start by making a little paper turkey and attaching it to an origami corner bookmark.
Paper Bag Turkey Craft
This paper bag turkey is such a fun and creative way to make a turkey completely out of just paper and glue.
Supplies to gather: Brown and colored paper, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: An adult can help fold the bag before kids add the turkey’s face and feathers.
The tutorial even shows you how to make your own brown paper bag from a sheet of paper.
Then you can stuff your fun little turkey with goodies and set as place holders for the kids table.
Disguise a Turkey Craft
Our cute disguise a turkey project printable lets kids piece together a disguised turkey.
Supplies to gather: Printed template, coloring supplies, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Kids can choose a ready-made disguise or design their own.
Or use the blank templates to craft your own disguised turkey.
We have 9 different templates for kids to choose which turkey they want to craft together.
Build a 3D Turkey
Cut, fold, and glue a turkey that stands up on its own! Our build a 3D turkey printable turns flat paper pieces into a little Thanksgiving decoration for a shelf or table.
Supplies to gather: Printable template, cardstock, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Help with cutting and folding the body, then let kids add the head, wings, and feather tail.
Turkey Pumpkin Craft
Turn a pumpkin into a turkey without carving it! This turkey pumpkin craft uses printable feathers and a face to give your pumpkin a Thanksgiving makeover. Choose the colored pieces or let kids color their own.
Supplies to gather: Pumpkin, printable pieces, scissors, tape or glue, and coloring supplies if needed.
Helpful tip: An adult can cut the smaller pieces while kids decide how to arrange the feathers.
Felt Turkey
Our little felt turkey has a soft body and a tail made from ribbon loops. It’s a sweet project for older kids who want to try hand sewing with an adult nearby.
Supplies to gather: Felt, pattern, ribbon, needle and thread, scissors, and a little stuffing.
Helpful tip: This is a sewing project, so plan for adult help with the needle and attaching the ribbon tail.
Handprint and Footprint Turkey
This adorable handprint and footprint turkey craft is so personal and comes out looking fantastic.
Supplies to gather: Paper and washable paint.
Helpful tip: An adult can help make the handprints and footprints; keep a damp cloth nearby.
It’s a great way for younger kids to participate in the crafting fun using just their hands and feet.
Plus it’s a great sensory activity combining the feeling of the paint on their palms and the pretty mixture of colors in the turkey’s tails.
Name Turkey Craft for Kids
This name turkey craft is another adorable turkey craft for kids.
Supplies to gather: Colored paper, scissors, glue, and a marker.
Helpful tip: Help younger kids put the letters in order before gluing the feathers.
Simple Every Day Mom provides a turkey template to help with cutting out the pieces.
The kids then use the pieces of the turkey’s tail to spell out their names.
This is a great letter learning activity and these would make great placeholders for a kid’s Thanksgiving dinner table.
Coffee Filter Turkey Craft
This colorful coffee filter turkey craft is one of my favorites on this list!
Supplies to gather: Coffee filter, watercolor paints, paper, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Allow the painted filter to dry before assembling the turkey.
The gorgeous colors of the stained coffee filters make for a fun and interesting multicolored tail.
To get this effect they use watercolor paints on the coffee filter. The possibilities of color combos are endless with this fun craft.
Suncatcher Turkey
This turkey suncatcher craft is another fun and colorful turkey craft that’s perfect for kids.
Supplies to gather: Construction paper, clear contact paper, and tissue paper scraps.
Helpful tip: Prepare the turkey outline first so younger kids can fill it with tissue paper.
Using some construction paper, clear contact paper and scraps of colorful tissue paper, you can help your child create a gorgeous turkey shaped suncatcher.
They’ll love the way it looks when hung up in the window and makes a fun addition to your Thanksgiving decorations.
Pine Cone Turkey Craft
This pine cone turkey craft combines only a few simple items to create a fun and interesting 3D turkey the kids can play with or display.
Supplies to gather: Pine cone, craft feathers, felt scraps, and glue.
Helpful tip: Help attach the small pieces; if using hot glue, leave that step to an adult.
Using a pine cone, some feathers and a few pieces of scrap felt, you’ll have a fun, fluffy turkey masterpiece.
Thanksgiving Turkey Craft
This cute Thanksgiving turkey craft is made from paper, but you end up with an adorable turkey that stands up on its own.
Supplies to gather: Colored paper, printable template, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Help kids shape the body so their turkey can stand up.
You can grab the free printable in the tutorial too!
Rainbow Turkey
This bright rainbow turkey craft is another wonderfully colorful turkey craft.
Supplies to gather: Colored paper, scissors, and glue.
Helpful tip: Younger kids may need help folding the feathers before arranging the rainbow tail.
The brightly colored tail feathers look fabulous and kids will love choosing the different colors to use.
More Turkey Activities
Keep the turkey fun going with these free printable activities. They’re handy for a quieter table activity or for kids who finish their craft early.
Thankful Turkey Printable
Give each feather something to be thankful for with our thankful turkey printable. Kids can write their ideas, color the turkey, and share their answers around the table or in a classroom gratitude display.
Supplies to gather: Printed worksheet, pencil, and crayons or markers.
Helpful tip: Younger kids can tell an adult their ideas to write in the feathers.
Roll and Draw a Turkey
Try our roll and draw a turkey game for a drawing activity with a surprise at every roll. The chart helps kids choose the body, eyes, beak, feathers, and feet, so everyone’s turkey can look different.
Supplies to gather: Printed game, a die or the printable paper die, and drawing supplies.
Helpful tip: Use it as a quiet table activity or take turns rolling and compare your finished turkeys.
Turkey Coloring Pages
Our turkey coloring pages are an easy option when you want a turkey activity without an assembly project. Pick a favorite turkey or autumn scene and bring out the crayons.
Supplies to gather: Printed coloring pages and crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
Helpful tip: Choose a simpler picture for younger kids or a more detailed scene for kids who like to take their time.
Tips for Crafting with a Group
For a preschool group, precut tricky shapes and set out a few choices of paper and feathers. Kids can still make their turkeys their own by choosing colors, arranging pieces, and drawing faces.
With mixed ages, offer coloring pages alongside a folding or sewing project so everyone has something that suits them. Keep small pieces out of reach of little ones and have an adult handle any hot glue.
Leave painted pieces to dry before gluing them together, and write names on the backs before putting everyone’s creations on display. Standing turkeys look cute on a table, while flat paper turkeys make a colorful bulletin board or wall display.
