Make a hand turkey with your kids for a classic Thanksgiving craft using our free printable template for drawing and writing.
Hello, I’m Keri. Over at my blog Backyard Summer Camp, you’ll find tons of kids activities, including some classics you may have done when you were a kid. This hand turkey craft is a fun and nostalgic Thanksgiving activity to do with your kids.
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There’s something about making a turkey out of your handprint that’s just so iconic. My kids did it when they were little and so did I. I’m not sure, but maybe in my own parents were drawing them back in the day too!
The great thing about a hand turkey is that it’s a fun, open-ended activity that anyone can do. Kids of all ages will have fun making it. And for the ones who think they’re not good at drawing, this is the perfect place to start.
All hand turkeys kind of look the same – but they also are all really different. We’ve included some fun ideas below for other craft supplies to add to your project for even more creativity.
Be sure to hop over and see how to make a handprint keychain with your kids next!
How To Make a Hand Turkey
You can make a hand turkey without this printable template, but it adds a fun little extra activity in the form of a writing prompt.
What You Need:
Supplies Needed:
- Printable template
- Printer paper
- Pencils
- Crayons
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Hand Turkey Activity Tips
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a turkey hand print and turn it into a keepsake memory. Their hands are only this small once! When you use this free printable, it also gives them a place to write, so you can capture their handwriting (and let them practice penmanship at the same time).
How Do You Color The Turkey
Color the turkey handprint with markers, finger paints, or watercolors. You may want to print the template on heavier card stock. Some printers allow you to print on watercolor or other specialty paper, but check your device to be sure.
Cut out construction paper feathers.
Cut out feathers from colored construction paper and glue them to the turkey. A feather is kind of like a leaf – a long oval with a point at one end. Trim the edges to create a fringe texture.
Add 3D faux feathers.
Craft feathers in a rainbow of colors will make your turkey look fabulous. You can find fake feathers for crafting in the kids’ art section of craft and big box stores.
Get silly with wiggly eyes.
Kids love wiggly eyes. They make everything a bit more fun! Find them in the kids’ art section, possibly right beside the craft feathers.
Label the parts of a turkey.
Turn this into an educational activity and have your child label the body parts. Be prepared to answer the question “Why does a turkey have a wattle?”
Try one of these special writing prompts.
- Imagine you’re the turkey. What are you doing today?
- If you had a pet turkey, what would you do together?
- Create your own turkey knock-knock joke.
- Write a haiku. A haiku is a poem that doesn’t rhyme and has a pattern of 5, 7, then 5 syllables. (Turkeys are so cute / Did you know that they can fly? / Look there goes one now)
Hand Turkey Thanksgiving Craft
Ingredients
- 1 piece printer paper
- 1 pencil
- 1 box crayons
Instructions
- Print the template on printer paper and set out art supplies.You can guide kids or make this more of an invitation to create.
- Trace your hand onto the template box.Use a pencil to trace your hand – left or right. Big kids may need to turn the paper sideways.
- Draw a turkey face and other details.Add the eye, a beak, and the wattle on the end of the thumb. Give the turkey some legs and wings if you like.
- Color the body and feathers.We suggested brown on the printable, but kids can use whatever colors they like.
- Write a story or poem on the lines.Littles can practice writing the word turkey. Older kids can work on creative writing skills.
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What’s Next?
If you liked this hand turkey kids craft, then be sure to check out Backyard Summer Camp for even more easy kids’ activities.
More Fall Ideas
If you enjoyed this hand turkey craft then you will love these Thanksgiving ideas:
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