13 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids Using Simple Supplies

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for families to spend time together and get creative. One of the easiest ways to make the holiday special is by working on simple projects with your kids. You don’t need expensive supplies or advanced crafting skills to have fun.

These Thanksgiving crafts for kids use everyday materials such as paper, cardboard, leaves, pinecones, and small pumpkins. From cute turkey decorations to gratitude projects, each idea is easy to customize and fun to make at home or in the classroom.

Most of these projects are suitable for elementary school children with some adult guidance. You can prepare the supplies ahead of time and let kids add their own colors, patterns, and creative details.

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Crafts for Kids

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Turkey crafts are a classic part of Thanksgiving activities. Kids can use their hands, paper plates, cardboard tubes, and paper bags to create their own colorful turkeys. These projects are simple enough for beginners and easy to decorate with different materials.

1. Handprint Turkey Card

A handprint turkey card is a fun way to save a little memory from Thanksgiving. Kids can turn the shape of their hand into a colorful turkey and give the finished card to a family member.

Materials

• White or brown cardstock
• Colored markers or crayons
• Pencil
• Child-safe scissors
• Orange and red construction paper
• Glue stick

Steps

1. Place your child’s hand on a piece of cardstock.
2. Trace around the hand with a pencil.
3. Color each finger a different shade to create the turkey feathers.
4. Draw an eye and a small beak near the thumb.
5. Cut out the turkey with adult help if needed.
6. Glue it onto a folded card and write a Thanksgiving message inside.

Helpful Tip: Write the child’s name and the year on the back. These cards can become special keepsakes that families enjoy looking at again.

Time: 15–20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 4+

2. Paper Plate Turkey

Turn a plain paper plate into a cheerful Thanksgiving turkey. This project is especially good for younger children because they can practice cutting, gluing, and choosing colors while making a simple decoration.

Materials

• 1 paper plate
• Brown construction paper
• Red, orange, and yellow paper
• Glue stick
• Child-safe scissors
• Markers or crayons
• Googly eyes (optional)

Steps

1. Cover the paper plate with brown paper or color it brown.
2. Cut feather shapes from the colored paper.
3. Arrange the feathers along the top and back of the plate.
4. Glue the feathers in place.
5. Cut a small triangle for the beak and a red shape for the wattle.
6. Add the eyes and draw two simple legs.

Helpful Tip: Let children choose their own feather colors. A rainbow turkey can look just as fun as a traditional brown one.

Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 4+

3. Paper Bag Turkey Puppet

A brown paper lunch bag can become a cute turkey puppet. Kids can use it to create a small Thanksgiving show or play with it after finishing the craft.

Materials

• 1 brown paper lunch bag
• Colored construction paper
• Glue stick
• Markers
• Child-safe scissors
• Googly eyes (optional)

Steps

1. Place the paper bag flat with its folded bottom flap facing up.
2. Cut several feather shapes from colored paper.
3. Glue the feathers onto the back of the bag.
4. Cut a small orange triangle for the beak.
5. Add eyes and a red paper wattle to the folded flap.
6. Let the glue dry before using the bag as a puppet.

Helpful Tip: Write a turkey’s name on the bag and let each child decorate a different character. This can turn the activity into a fun group project.

Time: 20–25 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 5+

4. Cardboard Tube Turkey

Don’t throw away empty toilet paper rolls. They can become small turkey decorations with just a few supplies. This is a good way to reuse clean cardboard tubes while keeping kids busy with a simple project.

Materials

• 1 clean cardboard tube
• Brown paint or construction paper
• Colored paper
• Glue stick
• Markers
• Child-safe scissors

Steps

1. Cover the cardboard tube with brown paper or paint it brown.
2. Cut several feather shapes from red, orange, and yellow paper.
3. Glue the feathers along the back of the tube.
4. Cut a small beak and a red wattle.
5. Draw or attach two eyes.
6. Add two small paper feet near the bottom.

Helpful Tip: Cut a few cardboard tubes in advance so younger children can focus on decorating instead of preparing the pieces.

Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 5+

Nature-Inspired Thanksgiving Crafts

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Fall gives kids plenty of natural materials to explore. Leaves and pinecones can become simple decorations with a little imagination. Before starting, choose clean and dry materials. Avoid leaves that are moldy, damaged, or collected from plants you cannot identify.

5. Fall Leaf Turkey Collage

Turn colorful autumn leaves into a turkey collage. This project combines a simple paper drawing with natural materials, so every finished turkey will look different.

Materials

• Clean, dry fallen leaves
• White or brown cardstock
• Craft glue
• Orange construction paper
• Black marker
• Small paper circle for the turkey’s body

Steps

1. Collect a few dry leaves in different colors.
2. Arrange them in a fan shape on the cardstock.
3. Glue the leaves down to create the turkey’s feathers.
4. Place a paper circle in front of the leaves for the body.
5. Add a small orange beak and two feet.
6. Draw the eyes and let the glue dry.

Helpful Tip: If the leaves are too fragile, press them between sheets of paper inside a book for a few days before using them.

Time: 20–30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 5+

6. Pinecone Turkey Decoration

A pinecone can make a fun turkey body because its natural shape is already interesting. Add paper feathers and a small face to create a cute Thanksgiving decoration for a shelf or craft table.

Materials

• 1 clean, dry pinecone
• Colored cardstock
• Glue
• Small paper triangle
• Red paper for the wattle
• Markers or large craft eyes

Steps

1. Choose a pinecone that can rest steadily on a flat surface.
2. Cut five or six feather shapes from colored cardstock.
3. Glue the feathers together in a fan shape.
4. Attach the fan to the wider end of the pinecone.
5. Add a paper beak and red wattle.
6. Draw the eyes or attach large craft eyes.

Helpful Tip: Make sure the pinecone is clean and completely dry. An adult should check it before children use it. For younger kids, prepare the small paper pieces in advance.

Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 6+

7. Autumn Leaf Rubbing Art

Leaf rubbing is an easy craft that also lets children explore the shapes and textures of nature. The raised veins on a leaf create beautiful patterns when a crayon is rubbed over a sheet of paper.

Materials

• Fresh, flat leaves
• Plain white paper
• Crayons with the paper wrappers removed
• Colored cardstock
• Glue stick (optional)

Steps

1. Place a leaf on a flat table with its veins facing up.
2. Cover the leaf with a sheet of white paper.
3. Hold the paper gently so the leaf does not move.
4. Rub the side of a crayon over the paper.
5. Watch the leaf shape and veins appear.
6. Repeat with different leaves and colors.
7. Use the finished designs to decorate a card or poster.

Helpful Tip: Thin paper usually shows the leaf pattern more clearly than thick paper. Try orange, red, yellow, and brown crayons for an autumn look.

Time: 15–20 minutes | Difficulty: Very easy | Suggested age: 4+

Easy Pumpkin and Harvest Crafts

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Pumpkins and harvest colors are an easy way to bring Thanksgiving into kids’ craft projects. Paper, cardboard, and small decorative pumpkins can be used to make colorful decorations for the home or classroom.

8. Paper Pumpkin Garland

A paper pumpkin garland is a simple decoration that kids can help make for a classroom wall, fireplace, or family dinner area. You can use one color or mix several shades of orange and yellow.

Materials

• Orange construction paper
• Green paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• String or yarn
• Hole punch or tape

Steps

1. Draw several pumpkin shapes on orange paper.
2. Cut out the pumpkins with child-safe scissors.
3. Cut small green rectangles for the stems.
4. Glue a stem onto the top of each pumpkin.
5. Draw lines on the pumpkins to add simple details.
6. Attach the pumpkins to a piece of string using tape or punched holes.
7. Hang the garland in a safe place.

Helpful Tip: Make the pumpkins in different sizes to add variety. You can also write a short Thanksgiving message on each one.

Time: 25 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 5+

9. Mini Pumpkin Decorating

Small pumpkins are perfect for a quick Thanksgiving craft. Instead of carving them, let kids decorate their pumpkins with paint, stickers, or simple patterns. This makes the activity easier and avoids the need for sharp carving tools.

Materials

• Small decorative pumpkins
• Washable, non-toxic craft paint
• Paintbrushes
• Large stickers
• Paint pens for older children
• Newspaper or a protective table cover

Steps

1. Cover the work surface with newspaper.
2. Wipe each pumpkin with a dry cloth.
3. Choose a few paint colors.
4. Paint simple dots, stripes, stars, or leaf shapes.
5. Add large stickers after the paint has dried.
6. Place the finished pumpkins on a shelf or decorative tray.

Helpful Tip: Let each child choose a different design. Display all the pumpkins together to create a colorful handmade decoration.

Time: 30–40 minutes, plus drying time | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 4+

10. Paper Cornucopia Collage

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A cornucopia is a traditional harvest symbol that looks like a horn filled with fruits and vegetables. Kids can make a simple paper version and fill it with colorful drawings and cutout shapes.

Materials

• Brown construction paper
• Colored paper in red, yellow, orange, and green
• White cardstock
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Pencil and crayons

Steps

1. Draw a large horn shape on brown paper.
2. Cut out the shape and glue it onto white cardstock.
3. Cut small fruit and vegetable shapes from colored paper.
4. Make apples, pumpkins, corn, grapes, and leaves.
5. Arrange the shapes so they appear to spill out of the horn.
6. Glue everything in place and add small details with crayons.

Helpful Tip: Ask children to include their favorite fruits and vegetables. This is also a good chance to talk about fall foods and the harvest season.

Time: 25–30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 5+

Simple Thanksgiving Gratitude Crafts

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Thanksgiving is also a good time to talk with kids about gratitude. These simple crafts help children share what they appreciate about their family, friends, and everyday lives. They can also become part of your family’s holiday traditions.

11. DIY Thankful Tree

A thankful tree is a creative way to collect positive thoughts from everyone in the family. Each person writes something they are thankful for on a paper leaf and adds it to the tree.

Materials

• A few clean, sturdy branches
• A vase or sturdy jar
• Fall-colored cardstock
• Scissors
• Twine or ribbon
• Hole punch
• Markers or pens

Steps

1. Place the branches inside a vase.
2. Add decorative stones to help keep the branches steady.
3. Cut paper into leaf shapes.
4. Punch a small hole near the top of each leaf.
5. Thread a short piece of ribbon or twine through each hole.
6. Ask each family member to write something they are thankful for.
7. Hang the leaves on the branches.

Helpful Tip: Put the tree somewhere everyone can reach. Read the messages together before or after Thanksgiving dinner.

Time: 30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Suggested age: 5+

12. Family Gratitude Jar

A gratitude jar is an easy project that can last beyond Thanksgiving. Kids can decorate a container and fill it with small notes about the things that make them happy or thankful.

Materials

• A clean plastic container or sturdy jar
• Colored paper
• Markers
• Ribbon
• Stickers
• Scissors

Steps

1. Clean and dry the container.
2. Cut colored paper into small strips.
3. Decorate the outside of the container with stickers and ribbon.
4. Write a few simple gratitude prompts on the paper strips.
5. Ask each family member to write one thing they appreciate.
6. Fold the notes and place them inside the jar.
7. Read the notes together on Thanksgiving Day.

Helpful Tip: Keep the jar in a visible place and add new notes throughout the year. Choose a plastic container for younger children to avoid broken glass.

Time: 20–30 minutes | Difficulty: Very easy | Suggested age: 4+

13. Thankful Paper Chain

A thankful paper chain is a simple decoration that lets everyone take part. Each paper link can hold one thing a child is thankful for, creating a colorful chain filled with positive messages.

Materials

• Colored construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick or tape
• Markers
• Ruler

Steps

1. Cut the paper into strips about 1 inch wide and 8 inches long.
2. Give each child a few paper strips.
3. Ask them to write one thing they are thankful for on each strip.
4. Make the first strip into a loop and secure the ends with glue or tape.
5. Pass the next strip through the first loop and make another circle.
6. Continue until you have a long paper chain.
7. Hang it on a wall or above a craft table.

Helpful Tip: Use different colors for each family member. You can also add one new link every day during the week before Thanksgiving.

Time: 20–30 minutes | Difficulty: Very easy | Suggested age: 5+

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the easiest Thanksgiving crafts for kids?

Handprint turkey cards, paper plate turkeys, leaf rubbing art, and paper pumpkin garlands are some of the easiest Thanksgiving crafts. They use basic supplies and are suitable for beginners.

What materials do I need for Thanksgiving crafts?

Most projects need construction paper, cardstock, glue sticks, crayons, child-safe scissors, cardboard tubes, leaves, and a few simple decorations. You can use supplies you already have at home to keep costs low.

What Thanksgiving crafts can preschoolers make?

Preschoolers can enjoy handprint turkey cards, paper plate turkeys, leaf rubbing art, and simple gratitude notes. Adults should prepare small pieces and help with cutting when needed.

How can I make Thanksgiving crafts safer for young children?

Choose washable, non-toxic craft supplies and child-safe scissors. Adults should handle hot glue, sharp tools, and any difficult cutting. Avoid small parts for children under three, and supervise projects that use pinecones or other small natural materials.

How can I use these crafts in a Thanksgiving classroom activity?

Set up a few simple craft stations with prepared materials. Children can make turkey decorations, create leaf art, or add notes to a shared gratitude tree. Choose projects that fit the available time and the children’s ages.