Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

November is here, and that means delicious meals, family gatherings and the kids are home from school. Here is a simple Thanksgiving Turkey Craft that your child can do while you have your hands full with making sure everything else is ready for the holiday!

The great part is, many of these materials you may already have laying around the house! Follow the steps below to start creating your Thanksgiving Turkey.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 Apple
  • A handful of small marshmallows (about 14)
  • 5 tooth picks
  • Glue or tape
  • Construction paper (a sheet of red, white, yellow and orange is best)
  • Scissors
  • Black marker

Materials for Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

Step 1 – Making the Body


Place your apple flat on the table and have your child pick the side he or she likes the most. Set aside the 5 toothpicks and lay them out on the table.


Step 1 – Making the Body

Step 2 – Creating the Tail Fan


Add 4 marshmallows to the toothpick in the middle, this will make up the center feather. Then, add 3 marshmallows to each toothpick surrounding the toothpick in the middle. Next, add 2 marshmallows to each toothpick on the end. Then attach them to the back of the apple in a fan like fashion.


Step 2 – Creating the Tail Fan

Creating the Tail Fan - part 2

Step 3 – Drawing the Head and Face


For the head and neck, trace your thumb. Make an upside down heart for the wattle (or the gobble gobble, as some kids refer to it), and draw the beak however you see fit. Don’t forget the eyes, which can be as simple as two circles with dots in the middle.


Drawing the Head and Face

Carefully cut out the shapes and glue the eyes, beak and wattle to the head and neck.


Ready to Assemble?

Step 4 – Attaching the Face


After you are finished assembling the face, flip the head shape over and place a toothpick in the center of the paper. Make sure you allow at least a 1/4 of the tooth pick to hang out of the bottom. Then secure the toothpick to the back with either glue or tape. If using glue, wait for it to dry before attaching the toothpick to the body.


Glue or Tape a Toothpick on the Back for Support

Once the glue has dried, insert the toothpick into the top of the apple in front of the marshmallow tail fan.

Step 5 – The Finishing Touch


To add a little something extra to the craft, take your leftover construction paper and cut out a rectangle to make a holiday sign. Insert two toothpicks through it and then stick the toothpicks into the front of the apple, under your turkey’s head.


Adding the Final Touch

And Voila – you’ve turned an apple and a few marshmallows into an awesome Thanksgiving Turkey! Happy Thanksgiving!


Final Product
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