Use our free printable turkey template to make a thankful turkey craft for kids this Thanksgiving season. Using a few simple craft supplies: recycled tin can, scissors, paper and glue along with the printable turkey craft template to make a turkey pencil holder. Kids of all ages can participate in this Thanksgiving craft whether in the classroom or at home.
Thankful Turkey TIN CAN Craft
Here are a few suggestions for what you can put into your turkey tin can this Thanksgiving.
- Fill your Thankful turkey can with pencils and pens. Every day, sit down and journal what things you are most thankful for.
- Utensils for the kids Thankgiving table.
- Pencils, crayons, or markers for the kids to use for coloring and activity pages.
Related: Download this kids Gratitude Journal Printable
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Printable Turkey Template
Supplies Needed for this Turkey Craft
- Free Thanksgiving Turkey Template Printable (see step 1 below)
- Cardstock – to print the turkey template
- Scissors or preschool training scissors
- Clean Tin Can
- Orange Paint
- Brown Paint
- Googly Eyes
- Paper Bag – Rip it into pieces
- Glue
Instructions to Make Turkey Craft with Printable Template
Related: Use our printable flower template to decorate your turkey
Step 1
Download & print the turkey template on card stock.
Step 2
Glue the scraps of the paper bag ripped into small pieces to the sides of the can. Then, coat that with glue.
Step 3
Cut out the turkey template pieces with scissors and then paint them.
Step 4
Once dry, glue the wings, tail feathers, and feet onto the tin can.
Craft tip: If I had this to do over again, I would have only glued the wings at this step, and then glued the feet and tail feathers on after painting the tin can brown.
Step 5
Paint the tin can turkey body brown.
Step 6
Next, fold the beak, and glue it to the can so that your turkey has a mouth. Then add the googly eyes and paint on the wattle.
Related: Download and print our color by number Thanksgiving page
Set aside some family time so that everyone can share what they are grateful for!
Turkey Tin Can Craft With Free Printable Template
This cute turkey recycled can pencil holder craft starts with a printable turkey template and basic craft supplies. This turkey craft for kids works for kids ages Kindergarten and above or younger kids can make it with help.
Materials
- Free Thanksgiving Turkey Template Printable (see step 1 below)
- Cardstock – to print the turkey template
- Clean Tin Can
- Orange Paint
- Brown Paint
- Googly Eyes
- Paper Bag – Rip it into pieces
Tools
- Scissors or preschool training scissors
- Glue
Instructions
- Download and print the printable turkey template on cardstock paper - grab your free turkey craft template in the article.
- Using scissors, cut out the turkey pieces from the turkey craft template.
- Make sure the tin can is clean, has one end removed and there are no sharp edges - use masking tape or duct tape to cover edges if irregular or bumpy.
- Tear the paper bag into small scraps with irregular edges.
- Coat the tin can's outside with a layer of glue and then cover that glue with the torn paper pieces.
- Coat the torn paper pieces once layered on the tin can with another layer of glue.
- Let glue dry.
- Paint the cardboard wings, feet, beak, and tail feathers.
- Paint the turkey body brown.
- Glue the wings, beak, and feet onto the brown painted turkey body.
- Add turkey facial details including the googly eyes.
MORE GRATITUDE ACTIVITIES From Kids Activities Blog
- Make a gratitude tree together
- Teaching what gratitude for kids is all about
- Easy thank you notes for kids
- Gratitude journaling ideas for kids and adults
- What are you grateful for coloring pages
- Printable horn of plenty craft for kids
- Free gratitude cards to print and decorate
- Gratitude activities for kids
How did your thankful turkey can craft turn out? Are you making an extra Thanksgiving craft to give as a gift?
Adorable! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x
This is really cute and looks fun to make. I just pinned it 🙂
Rachel you ™ve been featured on our After School Thanksgiving Roundup of Activities for School Aged Kids this week. This activity looks like so much fun for the kids to create and and perhaps give to someone special. Just want to tell you that we are so thankful for you and your blog! Happy Thanksgiving! http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-activities-for-school-aged.html
This is one of the cutest Turkey crafts ever! Heehee! I love it. 🙂
So cute! I have featured this lovely activity on The Sunday Showcase: 20 turkey activities for kids. http://www.herecomethegirlsblog.com/2013/11/17/turkey-activities-for-kids.html
I love the idea of having the mom journal and the kids see what they’ve done to make her thankful. Great craft! – will be featuring on Monday’s After School Linky.
I remember making something like this when I was in school! This is a great kids craft that is fun to make too! Thank you for sharing and for linking up this week to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop.
The can Turkey is a great project. Tried it with the grand daughters and they loved it. Thanks for the printable, it helped a lot.
oh thank you for the free printable
Well, the turkey has actually very little to be thankful for 😛