Looking for fun ways to celebrate the Thanksgiving season with your little ones? These creative Thanksgiving craft ideas for preschoolers are designed to inspire imagination, teach gratitude, and strengthen fine motor skills. Using simple, affordable materials, each activity offers a mix of art, play, and learning that children will love. Perfect for parents and teachers alike, these crafts bring joy and holiday spirit into every home and classroom.
20+ Thanksgiving craft ideas for preschoolers
Here are more than twenty fun and creative Thanksgiving craft ideas for preschoolers that combine art, play, and learning to keep little hands busy and happy during the holiday season.
1. Letter “T” turkey collage
Help preschoolers learn the letter “T” while creating a colorful turkey! This engaging collage promotes letter recognition, color sorting, and creativity.
Materials needed:
- Construction paper (brown and assorted colors)
- Fruit Loops cereal
- Googly eyes, glue stick
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cut out a large bubble letter T from brown paper.
- Add googly eyes, a beak, and a snood to form the turkey face.
- Glue paper feathers behind the “T”.
- Have children color-match and glue Fruit Loops on each feather.
2. Sponge-painted turkeys
Turn ordinary sponges into paintbrushes! Kids love exploring textures and colors while creating bright turkey feathers.
Materials needed:
- Sponges
- Washable paint
- Cardstock paper
- Googly eyes, glue, scissors
Instructions:
- Cut sponges into strips easy for kids to hold.
- Dip them into paint and stamp colorful feathers onto paper.
- Draw or glue a turkey face in the center.
- Let the art dry before displaying it.
3. Handprint turkey keepsake
This classic craft captures little hands in a sweet keepsake parents will treasure. It helps children recognize shapes while learning about the holiday.
Materials needed:
- Small paper plates
- Brown paint and paintbrush
- Cardstock paper
- Googly eyes, glue
Instructions:
- Paint the plate brown and let it dry.
- Trace and cut out handprints on colored paper.
- Glue the handprints around the plate to form feathers.
- Add eyes and a beak to complete the turkey.
4. Thankful countdown chain
Turn gratitude into a daily habit with this cheerful paper chain. Each link reminds kids of something they’re thankful for leading up to Thanksgiving Day.
Materials needed:
- Construction paper strips
- Markers
- Stapler or tape
Instructions:
- Cut colored paper into strips.
- On each strip, write something your child is thankful for.
- Link the strips into a chain using staples or tape.
- Remove one link each day to count down to Thanksgiving.
5. Name turkey craft
A perfect blend of art and literacy as kids spell their names through turkey feathers. It’s a joyful way to build letter recognition and sequencing skills.
Materials needed:
- Construction paper
- Marker, glue stick, scissors
- Googly eyes
Instructions:
- Cut a turkey body and feathers from colored paper.
- Write one letter of the child’s name on each feather.
- Glue the feathers in order behind the turkey’s body.
- Add the face and mount the finished turkey on white paper.
6. Leaf turkeys (Nature collage)
Bring nature indoors by turning real leaves into turkey feathers. This activity encourages outdoor exploration and creativity using natural materials.
Materials needed:
- Paper plates
- Brown acrylic paint
- Collected leaves
- Googly eyes, glue, scissors
Instructions:
- Paint the paper plate brown and let it dry.
- Glue colorful leaves around the edge as feathers.
- Add a paper face and eyes to the front.
- Let children name their unique leaf turkeys.
7. Salt-painted turkey feathers
Kids will love watching watercolors travel through salt to make dazzling feathers. It’s a relaxing process-art activity that mixes science and creativity.
Materials needed:
- White cardstock
- Glue, table salt
- Watercolor paint, brush
- Googly eyes
Instructions:
- Draw and outline turkey feathers with glue.
- Sprinkle salt over the glue and shake off excess.
- When dry, touch watercolor to the salted lines and watch colors flow.
- Add a turkey body and eyes once finished.
8. Fork-printed turkey
Replace paintbrushes with forks for a fun and unique feather-printing experience. It’s a great activity for hand-eye coordination and creativity.
Materials needed:
- Paper plates
- Washable paint
- Plastic forks
- Construction paper, glue, googly eyes
Instructions:
- Dip a fork into paint and make feather strokes in a circular pattern.
- Let it dry.
- Cut and glue a paper head with eyes and a beak at the bottom.
- Display your flock of turkeys.
9. Pasta-feather turkey
Turn dry pasta into rainbow-colored feathers for your turkey craft. This project promotes pattern recognition and hands-on sensory play.
Materials needed:
- Various pasta shapes
- Acrylic paint, ziplock bags
- Cardboard, glue, googly eyes
Instructions:
- Dye pasta by shaking it in paint-filled bags and letting it dry.
- Draw or stamp a turkey body on cardboard.
- Glue colored pasta pieces as feathers.
- Add the turkey face to complete.
10. Scissor-skills turkey haircut
A playful way for kids to practice safe cutting while “styling” their turkey’s feathers. It helps improve fine motor control and focus.
Materials needed:
- Construction paper
- Glue stick, markers
- Kid-safe scissors
Instructions:
- Draw and cut paper feathers with wavy or zig-zag lines.
- Let kids practice cutting along the lines.
- Glue feathers behind the turkey body.
- Add eyes and a beak to finish.
11. Toilet paper roll Thanksgiving characters
Recycle toilet paper rolls to make adorable pilgrims, scarecrows, or turkeys. Kids can later use them for pretend play and storytelling.
Materials needed:
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Construction paper, glue, googly eyes
- Hot glue (adult use)
Instructions:
- Cut and wrap colored paper around the rolls.
- Add faces, hats, and other features with paper shapes.
- Use hot glue for stronger pieces if needed.
- Kids can use the characters for storytelling.
12. Paper bag turkeys (Puppet + gratitude)
Transform a brown lunch bag into a cute turkey puppet. It’s a wonderful way for kids to express thankfulness while enjoying imaginative play.
Materials needed:
- Brown lunch bags
- Feathers or paper cutouts
- Markers, glue, scissors
Instructions:
- Write or draw “I’m thankful for…” on the bag front.
- Glue on feathers and a turkey face.
- Use as a puppet for songs or short Thanksgiving plays.
13. Wine Cork Turkey Craft
Turn leftover wine corks into adorable little turkeys that kids can proudly display. This hands-on activity helps develop fine motor skills and creativity while introducing simple crafting techniques.
Materials needed:
- Wine corks
- Brown and orange paint
- Construction paper (for feathers and beak)
- Googly eyes, glue, scissors
Instructions:
- Paint the wine corks brown and let them dry completely.
- Cut out paper feathers, a beak, and a snood from colored paper.
- Glue the feathers to the back of the cork and add the face pieces to the front.
- Attach googly eyes and let kids decorate their mini turkeys as they like.
14. Shaving-cream leaf prints
This soft, sensory activity lets kids paint and print with foamy shaving cream. Each leaf becomes a marbled masterpiece full of color and texture.
Materials needed:
- Shaving cream
- Food coloring
- Brushes, leaves, cardstock
Instructions:
- Mix shaving cream with drops of food coloring.
- Paint real or fake leaves using brushes.
- Press leaves on paper to make colorful prints.
- Let kids explore the foam safely after.
15. Turkey color matching with cereal
A deliciously fun way to learn colors and counting using cereal pieces. Kids glue matching colors to feathers while strengthening sorting skills.
Materials needed:
- Paper turkey with feather outlines
- Fruit Loops or colored pom-poms
- Glue, bowls for sorting
Instructions:
- Sort the cereal by color.
- Match and glue pieces to the feathers.
- Count how many of each color are used.
16. Thanksgiving color-by-code
Color-by-number pages bring Thanksgiving scenes to life. It encourages focus, number recognition, and patience through creative coloring.
Materials needed:
- Printable color-by-code pages
- Crayons or markers
Instructions:
- Give each child a sheet with numbered sections.
- Match numbers to colors on the key.
- Color to reveal the hidden Thanksgiving picture.
17. Handprint turkey card with feathers
A heartfelt card that kids can make and gift to loved ones. It’s an easy way to teach kindness and creativity during Thanksgiving.
Materials needed:
- Brown paper for tracing handprints
- Feathers, googly eyes, glue
- Markers
Instructions:
- Trace and cut out each child’s handprint.
- Glue feathers on the fingers.
- Add eyes, a beak, and a message like “Happy Thanksgiving!”
18. Shape scarecrows
Preschoolers combine basic shapes to build happy scarecrows. The activity reinforces geometry concepts through colorful, hands-on fun.
Materials needed:
- Pre-cut rectangles, triangles, circles, squares
- Glue, buttons, markers
Instructions:
- Provide different shapes in fall colors.
- Let children arrange and glue them into a scarecrow.
- Add details with markers and buttons.
19. Fall tree leaf-print art
Celebrate autumn by stamping colorful leaves into tree art. It’s simple, relaxing, and helps kids appreciate seasonal changes.
Materials needed:
- Paper, brown marker
- Leaves, paint, brush
Instructions:
- Draw a tree trunk on paper.
- Paint one side of a leaf and press onto the paper.
- Repeat with multiple colors to form a leafy crown.
20. Coffee-filter turkey (Spray + blend)
Watch kids’ excitement as colors blend beautifully on coffee filters. This craft builds fine motor skills while creating stunning turkey feathers.
Materials needed:
- Coffee filters, markers
- Spray bottle with water
- Half TP roll, googly eyes, glue
Instructions:
- Color filters with markers.
- Lightly mist with water to blend colors and dry.
- Cut filters in half and glue behind the TP roll body.
- Add the face and display your colorful turkey!
Conclusion
Exploring these Thanksgiving craft ideas for preschoolers is more than just a fun way to celebrate the holiday. Each activity helps little ones learn gratitude, express creativity, and build important developmental skills. From colorful turkeys to gratitude trees, these hands-on crafts encourage imagination and togetherness. Whether at home or in the classroom, they bring joy, learning, and lasting memories to your Thanksgiving season.
Want even more festive fun? Explore these Thanksgiving projects for preschoolers that blend creativity with early learning activities.
