Fun, Easy Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts

Use these easy and fun toddler and preschool Thanksgiving crafts to teach your child what Thanksgiving really is about. Hint: It isn’t the turkey : )

• Various colors of construction paper, including brown
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick

Directions

1. Trace handprint onto brown (or other color) construction paper
2. Print out the body from the Turkey Printable onto desired color of paper
3. Cut out handprint and body (older preschoolers can do this)
4. Optional: Cut out a feather for each finger from different colors of paper
5. Glue the parts together as shown (or let your preschooler choose how to put the parts together)

Notes

• This is also a great preschool Thanksgiving craft for coloring. Trace the hand and draw the body (on top of the hand) on a white sheet of paper and let your preschooler use his creativity!
• We used this craft to create place cards for our Thanksgiving table. Each child can do his own handprint turkey and one or two for other other relatives. Grandma will LOVE it!

• Large brown grocery bag
• Scissors
• Markers or crayons

Directions

1. Cut paper bag up the center of one side and cut out neck and arm holes
2. Try the “vest” on your child check the fit, cut as needed
3. Let your preschooler decorate his vest with markers or crayons

Notes

• This preschool Thanksgiving craft if from WAY BACK. I have a picture of me wearing one in preschool (I'll have to dig it up).
• You can also cut various shapes out of construction paper and have your child glue them on to his vest.
• Make a vest for you and for your child. Put on a Thanksgiving show. Check out the Holiday Songs page for ideas that will WOW your friends and family : )

Supplies

• Brown construction paper cut into strips
• Various colors of construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Stapler

Directions

1. Using your child's head as a guide, measure and staple the strips of brown construction paper to form a crown
2. Cut out the body of the turkey, feathers, and eyes, beak, and waddle from various colors of construction paper (supervise older preschoolers while they cut)
3. Have your preschooler glue the eyes, beak, and waddle onto the body. Glue the body to the front of the crown and the feathers to the back (use staples if glue doesn't work.)
4. Let dry

Notes

• Another great costume to perform in for Grandma and Grandpa!

• Paper
• Markers or crayons

Directions

1. Trace or have your child trace her hand
2. Draw the turkey's eyes, beak, "waddle", and feet
3. Color the body brown and each "feather" a different color

Notes

• This is such a quick and easy preschool craft
• Laminate the final project to make a fun Thanksgiving placemat for your preschooler

• Poster board or large sheet of paper
• Various colors of construction paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Marker or crayon

Directions

1. Out of brown paper, cut out a shape for the turkey's head and body
2. Cut out or draw on eyes, beak, waddle, and legs
3. Glue the body and face onto the poster board
4. Write, "I am thankful for..." at the top of the poster board
5. Cut out feathers in different fall colors
6. Allow family members and friends to write what they are thankful for on each feather and glue onto the turkey (ask younger children and write for them)

Notes

• Take a break between the candy of Halloween and the gifts of Christmas to talk about what is really important to your children
• We've done this for a few years now and my kids love to add feathers throughout November (and to name our turkey- this year is "Tickle-ly the Turkey")
• Another version of this is the "Thankful Tree"- find a branch from a tree, place it in a vase, and hang construction paper "leaves" with what you are thankful for!
• An easy Thanksgiving craft for your preschooler and a great way to encourge your preschooler to practice his writing.

• 11 x 15" white paper
• Hole punch or scissors
• String or ribbon
• Tape
• Ruler

Directions

1. With the paper sitting horizontally (long ways) in front of you, fold the top edge over about 1" (shaded area on digram)
2. Measure 5" from each side of the paper and draw a line vertically (up and down) about 4" long (see lines with arrows on diagram)
3. Cut along these lines to creat 3 "flaps"
4. Fold the center flap down and the side flaps sideways over the center one to create a hat shape
5. Tape seams to secure
6. Punch a hole in each side (see diagram)
7. Tie a piece of ribbon through each hole to complete the hat

Notes

• Another great Thanksgiving costume craft!
• Help your preschooler use the ruler to measure and draw the lines. Talk about "inches". To find more ways to incorporate math concepts into your day, check out my preschool math activities.

• Fall colored construction paper
• Kid scissors
• Glue stick
• Grocery store ad

Directions

1. Have your preschooler explore the grocery ad and cut out the food items that she would like to have for Thanksgiving dinner (apparently we're having Frosted Flakes & Capri Suns)
2. Use the glue stick to glue the pictures onto the paper

Notes

• Such a simple Thanksgiving craft to help your child get involoved in the preparations. He can plan the menu while you get ready for the relatives.
• A great activity for practicing with scissors!

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