Learn how to make a Thankful Turkey Craft with your Kids for Thanksgiving! It's a fun and easy activity to encourage kids to think about and write everything they're thankful for. You only need a few materials and an empty tissue box to make this and kids will love it.
Make one with your child or do it as a family activity. Teachers can also do this with their students or make one to use with the whole class. It's perfect for all ages!
Thanksgiving Thankful Turkey Craft
Every time Thanksgiving rolls around I like to start talking about being thankful and feeling grateful for my kids. We talk about it throughout the entire year too but in November we take the time to jot things down.
We usually do our Thankful Tree Craft and hang it up in their room for them to reflect on it. This Thankful Turkey Craft pairs perfectly with that!
Check out our 101+ Animal Crafts too!
Supplies For Thankful Turkey
To make this with your kids, you only need a few materials you probably already have at home. If not, you can get all of these at your local Dollar Tree.
- Empty Tissue Box (I prefer the square size)
- Construction or light cardstock paper in various colors
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue (hot glue, tape, or glue sticks all work)
- Brown paint & paintbrush
- Small Googly Eyes (optional but cute)
How to Make a Thankful Turkey Using a Tissue Box
- Start with an empty tissue box and paint it brown completely. Set aside to dry.
- Draw feather shapes out of varying colors of paper and glue them to the back of the box. I drew it like a leaf but it is not right or wrong for this, let your kids do it and make it their own.
- Draw the shape of the body of a turkey (the same rules apply to the feathers) from light brown paper and glue it to the front of the box.
- Add eyes (googly eyes if you have them), a beak, and a wattle using paper and glue.
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The next step is for kids to use small pieces of white paper and a marker (pencil, pen, crayon, etc.) to write down things they're thankful for. Then they fold each paper and drop it into the box. On Thanksgiving, take time to pull papers from the box and read them together with your kids. It's a great way to learn what they're thankful for and have a real conversation about being grateful.
I love how easy this is to make. Older kids can do it independently from start to finish. For little ones who don't write yet, provide photos for them to add to their box. It can be photos of family members, favorite toys, pets, anything they love and feel thankful for!
I hope you love this craft activity idea and use it with your kids for Thanksgiving. If you do, share it on social media and tag me so I can see it! Find me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Looking for more Thanksgiving fun? Check out these posts:
FREE Printable Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
Thanksgiving Activity Pages – 8 Free Worksheets
Thanksgiving Thankful Tree Craft with Free Printable Templates
XO,
Bessy
