Turkey Handprints

Paint all the fingers different colors and the palm brown.  Make handprint on a
 sheet of paper. Add details... waddle, eyes, and feet to make it look like a turkey.

Here is a cute poem to add with it or to make a card from it.

This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see,
I made it with my hand,
Which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of love
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Handprint Indian Brave

Materials Needed:
Tempera paint
(brown, black, red, blue, yellow, green, white)
Black tip marker
Manila Paper
paintbrushes
Newspaper
Instructions:

Directions
Spread newspaper over the work area.  Pour a small amount of each color
 paint into small containers. Paint palm brown, omitting the thumb and fingers.
 (This will be the Indian's face)  Paint tips of fingers and thumb black.
Using several colors, paint thumb and fingers to resemble feathers.
Paint a red headband beginning at the base of the thumb and extending
 around the base of the fingers.  Press hand firmly on the paper to make
 a print.  Wipe off index finger and dip it in brown paint. Print a nose a side of
 the hand print opposite the thumb.  Dip another finger in black paint and print
 an eye on the Indian's face.  Draw a mouth under the Indian's
 nose with a black marker. Dab on war paint if desired.

(Photo submitted by Shell)

Corncob Rolling As Thanksgiving approaches, try this fun  fine-motor activity. Insert corn holders  into each end of an ear of corn. Invite a child to dip the corn into a shallow tray  of tempera paint, then roll it across a sheet  of art paper to observe the textural design.  As a variation, cut ears of corn into halves.  Invite children to make prints by dipping the  cut ends of the corn first into paint, then onto  paper.  These make lovely flowers for a  Thanksgiving card or tablecloth design.

Egg Carton Turkeys

Cut up an egg carton (the pressed paper kind) and paint the cups brown.
When these are dry, cut pieces of paper for the head and waddle and make
 a tiny cut on the top of the cup (towards the enclosed end) and slip the paper
 through and glue from the inside. Pierce two holes on the underside of the
 cups for pipe cleaner legs. Then the kids can glue feathers at the back opening.

Corny Napkin Rings

Cut 4 2 1/2 inch long rings out of cardboard tubes (paper towel)
Cut out strips of construction paper to fit around the rings
Glue the strips to the rings and allow them to dry.
Then let your children brush glue all over the construction
 paper and roll the rings in a small plate of
 popcorn kernels until they are covered.

Easy Turkeys

For a simpler craft, print out copies of a turkey outline. They can add
feathers in several ways :thumbprints in water colors, glue real
 feathers on it, cut out feather shapes from colored construction
 paper and glue on, glue on crumbled fall leaves, even just color it.

Pine Cone Turkeys

Give each child a pine cone, brown play dough and feathers. Have the children set
 their pine cone on a piece of their play dough. Let them put small pieces of
 play dough on their pine cones and stick feathers into the play dough. Let dry.
 These turkeys can be used as a centerpiece for each child's table at home.

Stained Glass Turkeys

Materials Needed:
Brown paint, Paper plates, Glue
3 large sheets of brown construction paper
Orange construction paper
Red construction paper
Tissue paper

Directions:
To make the turkey you will need to cut five large feathers out of brown
 construction paper, then approximately 1 inch in from the edge of the feather,
 cut the center out. Cut feather shapes out of tissue paper; glue to one side
 of feather. Paint the paper plate brown. Cut turkey head out and attach to paper
 plate. Cut beak and feet from the orange paper. Red is for around the beak.
 These turkeys look very nice attached to a glass door so the sun can shine through.

Tissue Turkey

Materials Needed:
Paper Plate
Construction Paper
Tissue Paper
Yarn

Directions:
Cut out the center of a 9 inch paper plate, leaving a 2 inch rim.  Turn the rim over so
 the bottom faces up. Draw and cut out  a turkey's head and feet from construction
 paper.  Glue these to the rim.  To make the tail section, cut round pcs. of different
 colored tissue paper and glue them onto the rim. Punch hole in the rim,
thread a pc. of yarn through it, and tie a knot to form a hanger.

Paper Plate Turkeys

For Thanksgiving, we made turkeys from small paper plates. We painted
 one plate brown. Then we staples half of another paper plate behind
 and toward the top of the painted plate. The children added small,
 crushed pieces of various colored tissue paper on the tail portion
 to give color. We then let them make their own head, waddle, fee
t with small scraps of construction paper. They then named their
 turkeys and we put them on our Turkey Farm Bulletin Board.

Turkey Mobile

Bend a wire coat hanger into a circular shape.  Cover the hanger shape with
a nylon stocking.  Cut eyes, beak, wattle, feet and feathers from construction
 paper and glue these on.  Use yarn to hang the turkeys around them room.

Can-Do Turkey Centerpiece

Cover a 14 1/2 ounce can with white construction paper.  Next have a child make
 a footprint with brown tempera paint on white poster board.  When the paint is dry,
 cut around the outline and glue it to the covered can, toes down, to represent the
 turkey's head and neck.  Then have the child trace one of his hands three times
 onto fall colors of construction paper.  Have him cut out the hand shapes and glue
 them to the back of the can to make tail feathers.  Finally, have him glue on a
yellow paper beak, a red paper wattle, and two paper reinforcements for eyes.

Turkey Wreath

Cut the center out of a paper plate so that the rim forms a wreath.  Paint the rim
 brown and let dry.  Punch a hole in the plate and tie a loop of yarn through for
 a hanger.  Cut a head for the turkey from brown paper and glue it to the bottom
 front inside of the wreath.  Cut eyes, a beak and a wattle from paper and glue
 them in place on the head.  Cut legs from orange paper and glue them so that they
 hang below the head.  To make feathers for the turkey, cut lots of 4-in. x 1 in. strips
 from different colors of paper. Wrap each strip tightly around a pencil
 out of the rolled paper.  Fill the entire wreath with paper curls.

Turkeys on Top

Turkey hats; to make one, paint a cone-shaped birthday hat brown.
Glue construction-paper tail feathers to one side of the hat.  Glue
wiggle eyes to the front of the hat just below the point.  Complete
the hat by gluing a construction-paper beak and wattle to the face.

Pilgrim Collars

Use large white rectangle construction paper (about 12" X 18") Cut circle in
center to fit around child's neck, and cut a slit going lengthwise from the
hole to one end. (This will leave one side open to go around child's neck
 and over chest, with the other end as a "collar" behind head.
   

Pilgrim Hats

Cut large blue circle, from construction paper. Cut a hole in center,
 large  enough to fit child's head - leave a flap of the circle to turn up
 (to be the  top of the hat), add a yellow square cut-out
 to the front, as the "buckle" of a pilgrims hat.

Pilgrim Bonnet

Use white paper bag, cut out one side (leaving bottom of bag and 3 sides - 2  short
 sides and 1 wider side. The wider side will be the top of the bonnet)  roll the
 end (originally top of bag). Add strings to each side to tie under chin.

(Photos submitted by Shell)

Indian Headband

Measure around head and cut a 2 inch wide piece of  construction
 paper that length with 2 inches left over.  Paint and  decorate it.
  Staple closed.  Draw leaf shapes on 2"X8" pieces of  colored
 paper and cut it out.  May cut slits into the paper to make
them look like feathers.  Staple or paste on feathers. 
Or you can use real feathers as seen in photo above.

Vests

Make vests from a paper bag (cut armholes in the sides of the bag.
  Slit the bag up the middle and cut neck area out of the bottom
 of the bag.  Have children cut fringe along the top of the bag.

Buckles

Make construction paper buckles for taping on children's shoes.

Macaroni Necklaces

String macaroni necklaces from colored macaroni.

Turkey Headbands

Measure a brown strip the size of a child's head. Have them glue
 real or paper feathers along the band. They can add eyes and
 a beak if wanted to the front to make the turkey face.

Teepees I

You can show the children how to make teepee's from paper by making the
 paper into a cone shape and taping it. Have the children decorate their teepee's.

Tepee II

Materials Needed:
5 straight twigs (about a foot long each)
 · Yarn, twine, or a rubber band · large, brown paper grocery bag
 ·Scissors ·A pencil · Crayons, tempera paint, or markers ·Tape

Directions:
Bind the twigs together toward the top using yarn, string, or a rubber band.
 Leave about 3 inches of twig at one side of the string. Do not bind the twigs
 too tightly. Gently adjust the twigs so that they form a tepee shape.  Holding
 the tepee above a piece of scrap paper, trace the outline of one side of the
 tepee. This will be your template for making the tepee. Cut out your triangular
 template. Open up a large paper bag along its seams. Lay your triangle
 template on the opened bag and trace its outline. Trace the triangle 3 more
 times with the long edges touching. Cut out this large polygon along the
outside edge. Cut a door on one edge. Decorate the tepee using crayons or markers.
 Fold the paper along each of the pencil lines. Then form the paper into a tepee
 shape and tape the edges together.  Snip off the top of the tepee (the twigs will
 go through this hole). Put the twigs into the tepee. Tape the twigs into
 place - each twig is taped along a fold line. You now have a wonderful tepee!

Slice of Spice

Spice up your room with this project that's "scent-sational."
  In advance, cut several paper plates into sixths to resemble
 pie slices.  To make a slice of pumpkin pie, color the outside
 rim of a slice brown to resemble the crust.  Paint the remaining
 portion orange to resemble the pumpkin filling.  While the paint
 is still wet, sprinkle it with pumpkin pie spices such as ground
 cinnamon, ginger, or cloves.  Glue a cotton ball on the pie
 slice to resemble a dab of whipped cream.

Pumpkin Pie Slice

Give each child a triangle cut from orange construction paper.
Let the children add glue and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice to
 their triangle to create a great smelling slice of pumpkin pie.

Thanksgiving Wall Hanging

All you need is an aluminum pie pan, white glue, cinnamon, fall silk leaves or flowers,
 yellow, red and black acrylic paint and yarn for the hanger. Put glue over child's palm
 and print inside pie plate. Sprinkle cinnamon and let set 10-15 minutes. Shake off excess.
Add details - yellow feet, yellow beak, red waddle, black eye Poke hole through pan
 to attach yarn or using glue gun attach to back. Glue leaves or flowers around the rim.

Feather Painting

Provide each child with a feather, paint and paper. Ask the
 children paint a pictures using the feather as a paint brush.

Sand Painting

Pour some cornmeal into several small bowls.   Sprinkle a few drops of food coloring
 over meal, using a different  color for each dish and mash the mixtures around with
 a spoon until  meal is all colored.  Draw a design on a piece of heavy paper.
 Spread glue on the lines of the design.  Sprinkle different colors of cornmeal
 mixture over glue.  Let dry and gently shake off loose  cornmeal.

Place Mats

Have the children make a fall or Thanksgiving Place mat by coloring it,
 or cutting pictures out of a magazine. Then have an adult laminate them.

Name Place Cards

Cut white or colored poster board into sizes approx. 3 x 2. Have the children
 write (or write for them) the name of each family member onto a card.
 When finished with each place card name have the children glue a
 BUGEL brand chip (the kind that look like triangles) at an angle
 with the pointed end towards the side-top and the opened end at
 the middle bottom. Then glue approx. 3-4 RUNTS fruit shaped
 candies around the bottom of the opened Bugel chip. The
 shapes come in grapes, apples, banana and oranges. They
 look really cute, were simple and fast plus the children
 will have added something to the Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving Table Cloth

As many schools and classrooms prepare for their annual Thanksgiving Feast,
 add excitement to the big day by having the children decorate their very own
 tablecloth. Purchase a plain white paper tablecloth and the children can be
 creative using fall/Thanksgiving colors. As an idea, you can make turkey
 hands or just let the children have fun by inventing their own Thanksgiving creations!

Pilgrim Hat Thanksgiving Cup

Materials Needed:
Small paper cup (3 oz. Size)
Black yarn
Felt scraps (black, blue and red)
Lightweight cardboard
White glue
Scissors

Directions:
Cut the bottom out of the paper cup. Cover the outside of the cup with glue and wrap
 the cup with black yarn until it is completely covered. Set aside to let dry.  Cut a 4-inch
 circle from the lightweight cardboard. Cut a 4-inch circle from the black felt. Glue the
 felt piece to the lightweight cardboard piece. This will be the hat brim.  Glue the wide
 edge of the paper cup to the felt side of the hat brim. Make sure the cup is centered on
 the hat brim. Cut a 6 ½ x ¾-inch piece of blue felt. Glue the blue felt piece around the
 cup above the hat brim. Cut a small red buckle out of the red felt. Glue the red buckle
 over the blue band in the front of your hat.  Now you can fill your hat
 with treats and place it at the table for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Necklaces

How about necklaces with straw pieces, pony beads and yarn -
dip the ends in nail polish to stiffen. We do patterns with ours.

Wampum Necklaces.

Use macaroni with holes so that you can string them. To dye the macaroni
 you will need a large zip lock bag, 2 tbs. rubbing alcohol and food coloring.
 Shake the bag once you add the macaroni then let it dry on paper towels.
 Here are some ideas to use once you have it finished.  Assign each color
 a value and have the children add the value of their necklaces  Keep the
 "wampum" and a chart of things Native Americans would need to buy at
 the math center. Assign each color a value to see what the children can buy.

Native American Rattle Craft

Materials Needed:
y-shaped twig, Yarn, Scissors, Tape feathers, beads,
 buttons, washers,  spools, and/or shells with holes in them.

Directions:
Wind yarn around a y-shaped twig, covering it entirely. Start and end the winding
 with knots (or tape, if the children cannot make knots). Along the way, wind in
 a few decorative objects, like feathers or beads.  Tie a short piece of yarn to one
 arm of the "y." Thread a few beads, washers, spools, or other small objects
 onto the yarn. Tie the other end of the yarn onto the other arm of the twig.

Rain Sticks

Use a paper towel tube. Close off one end with paper taped around so it is sealed.
Then fill the tube loosely with styrofoam peanuts. Pour in about 1/2 cup rice and
 seal the open end in the same fashion as the first. Now cover the tube with
 construction paper. The children can decorate the construction paper in
 any fashion you want before gluing it to the tube.

Drums

Have the children make drums out of oatmeal containers.

Indian Corn I

Take tissue paper (red, yellow orange brown, and shades of those colors)
 and cut them into small squares. Give each child a piece of paper that looks
 like an ear of corn. Then let them either crunch up and glue on the tissue
 paper, or just place it flat on. When they dry add tissue paper husks. They are
 so bright! Before the project let the children play with and feel real Indian corn.

Indian Corn II

We cut corn-shaped poster board and  staple brown and yellow crape
 paper on top. The children paint the paper with glue, then stick on "Kix" cereal.

Indian Corn III

After showing the children Indian corn, it is fun for them to make their own Indian corn.
 Have pre-cut corn shapes, have them finger paint brown, yellow, orange dots on
 the shapes. Scrunch tissue paper for the husks and staple to the painted corn.

 

Totem Pole

Materials Needed:
paper towel tube ·Crayons, tempera paint, or markers
 ·Brown construction paper (a few sheets) ·Scissors
 ·White glue · 2 popsicle sticks

Directions:
Wrap a piece of construction paper around a paper towel tube to see what size
 paper you will need. Trim the paper to the right height and width
 (allow about a half inch overlap around the tube, so you can glue the edges).
Divide the paper into 4 or more horizontal sections. Have the child draw
 a different animal head in each section. Put most of the facial details
 in the middle of each section. If you're working with a group of children,
 cut the paper into sections and have each child draw one face.  Wrap the
 heads around the paper towel tube and glue the seams. Draw wings or arms for some or
 all of the animals. Cut them out and decorate them. Glue them to the back of the Totem Pole.

 

Birch Bark Canoe

Materials Needed:
Brown construction paper or brown
paper from a grocery bag ·Crayons, tempera paint,
or markers ·Scissors ·Yarn ·A hole punch

Directions:
Fold the piece of construction paper in half the long way. About a
 half-inch from the fold line, make another fold. Do this on both sides
 of the original fold. The paper should now look a bit like a capital
"W." The folds will be the bottom of the canoe. Draw a canoe shape on the
 paper (make sure the folds are on the bottom of the canoe). Cut out the
 canoe shape and punch a few holes on each end. Using yarn, weave through
 the holes. Push the folded floor flat so that the canoe sits upright.

 

God's Eye

Glue two Popsicle sticks to form a cross and allow to dry. Tie long piece
 of yarn to center. Wrap yarn around one piece of cross. Go to next stick and weave
 around it in the same way. Continue until most of the cross is covered. Tie yarn at end.

 

Dream Catcher

Dream Catchers are from Native American lore; they trap bad
 dreams and let the good dreams filter down to the sleeper.

For each dream catcher you will need:· a bendable twig about 1 foot long a
 few inches of thin wire ·some twine · beads with large holes ·a few feathers

Use thin wire to tie the ends of a twig together to make a hoop. Have an adult make a hoop
 from a twig. To do this, wrap a short length of thin wire around the overlapping ends.
 Cut a few feet of twine. Tie one end of the twine to the twig hoop. String a few beads
 onto the twine and push the beads toward the tied end. Wrap the twine around the
 other side of the hoop. String a few more beads on the twine and then wrap the
twine around the far side of the hoop. Repeat until you have an interesting webbing
 design. Tie a short length of twine on the hoop. String a bead or two on it and then
 tie a feather onto the end. Repeat this a few times (2 or 3 hanging
 feather strings look nice). Hang the dream catcher near your bed!

 

Handprint Turkeys

Have child trace around foot and cut out, this will be the turkey's body.
 Glue child's handprint behind (feathers) add paper reinforcers for eyes,
 cut paper pieces for beak, feet, and waddle, and glue together.

 

Turkey Feathers

Materials Needed:
1 coffee filter per child
brown construction paper
markers and glue

Directions:
Copy and cut a turkey pattern from brown construction paper.. Have children
 flatten coffee filters and color them with markers. Help children fold and tape
 their decorated coffee filters to the back of the turkey shape for feathers.

 

 

Cornucopia Magnets

Every year at thanksgiving time we make cornucopia magnets by using two food items;
 Bugles and Trix cereal. Just glue the pieces of the fruity cereal in the Bugles to resemble a
cornucopia. Glue a magnetic strip on the back and it looks great on your fridge for Thanksgiving.

 

I Am Thankful Mobile

 Children color pictures, teacher cuts out and strings to make a mobile for each child.

 

 

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Pre-K Fun Theme Pages are non-profit &  for educational reference only! 
No copyright infringement is intended.
I do not claim any of these as my own ideas.  
They are shared from friends and fellow group members.  
Some ideas found have been compiled from groups through the yrs.
Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!
 

         

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Graphics from: Clips Ahoy