If you’re looking for an easy Thanksgiving craft, you’ll love this torn paper turkey craft for kids! This cute turkey craft is budget-friendly and fantastic for fine motor skills practice.
It’s a hands-on activity that’s perfect for toddlers through early elementary. My boys had a blast with this turkey craft and I loved seeing their creativity shine. We turned ours into festive DIY decorations for our homeschool room and around the house.
I’m sharing creative ideas and tips for enjoying. Make your Thanksgiving extra special with this turkey craft!
Simple Thanksgiving Fun That Supports Learning
This torn paper craft was such a hit in our home! When my boys were younger, I loved activities to build skills while preparing for a holiday. Torn paper crafts are one of those fun ways to practice fine motor skills and boost creativity.
My boys had a blast tearing up the paper and then piecing everything together like a puzzle. Their faces would light up as they made their own custom turkeys. It was a frugal and age-appropriate challenge that helped grow their confidence, too.
We used their creations as sweet little decorations for our homeschool space. Just the other day, I was going through our bin of Thanksgiving keepsakes. I found some of those adorable torn paper turkeys. So many memories came rushing back and I knew I had to recreate this craft and share it with you. It’s simple, meaningful, and perfect for making your own holiday memories!
What You’ll Need for This Thanksgiving Craft
This craft keeps things simple with basic supplies you probably already have on hand. Just a few materials and you’re ready for some torn paper turkey fun!
- White cardstock
- Scissors
- Red, brown, yellow, and orange construction paper
- Glue stick or liquid glue
- Black marker
Neenah Paper Exact Index Card Stock, 94 Bright, 110 lb Index Weight, 8.5 x 11, White, 250/PackCrayola 9Elmer’s E543 Washable School Glue Sticks, Disappearing Purple, 4/Pack
How to Make This Torn Paper Turkey Craft
This Thanksgiving craft is super easy to put together. Your kids will love getting creative with it! Just follow these simple steps and let the fun begin:
Create turkey shape.
Draw a simple turkey outline on a piece of cardstock, including a body and feathers. Cut out the turkey shape.
Prepare paper pieces and cover turkey.
Tear the construction paper into small pieces: brown for the body, and red, yellow, and orange for the feathers. Spread glue on the turkey’s body and cover it with the torn brown paper pieces. Add glue to the feather areas and cover them with torn pieces of red, yellow, and orange paper.
Use marker to add face.
Once the glue is dry, use a black marker to draw the turkey’s face details. Also, you can add googly eyes if you’d like a silly turkey.
Creative Ideas for Enjoying Your Paper Turkey Crafts
Want to take your torn paper turkey to the next level? Here are some fun and flexible ideas to make this craft more meaningful. Plus, you can use these tips to stretch the activity for different ages, subjects, or settings:
- Turn it into a Gratitude Activity: Have kids write what they’re thankful for on the back. Add their name and date.
- Add a little sparkle: Use glitter glue, sequins, or metallic paper for a festive touch. Also you can use textured papers, like tissue paper or bits of fabric.
- Use as a storytelling prompt: Encourage your kids to tell a story about their turkey. Ask them to share where it lives, what it eats, or what it’s thankful for.
- Create mini versions: Place your smaller paper turkeys on cards or placecards. Connect with yarn or string for DIY Thanksgiving garland.
FAQs About This Torn Paper Turkey Craft
This craft works great for toddlers (with assistance) through early elementary. Younger kids will love tearing the paper and gluing. Older kids can get creative with patterns and personalization.
Tearing and gluing paper helps strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. It’s also a great way to build focus and confidence through a hands-on project.
Absolutely! This turkey craft is easy to prep in advance and fun for group settings. Just have turkey templates ready and let kids create with their own paper pieces.
Make Thanksgiving Special with This Torn Paper Turkey Craft
This torn paper turkey craft is such a fun and frugal way to celebrate Thanksgiving with your kids. It’s low-prep, high-fun, and a great way to sneak in a little learning while making memories.
Want more Thanksgiving fun? Be sure to check out my collection of Thanksgiving printables and activities for even more easy wins!
