45 Fun Thanksgiving Crafts Preschool Kids Will Love
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to bring preschoolers together for fun, hands-on activities.
Thanksgiving crafts preschool projects help children practice creativity, fine motor skills, and color recognition while celebrating the season. There are so many simple and safe crafts, from turkeys and pumpkins to leaf collages.
Kids can enjoy making decorations, gifts, or keepsakes that reflect the colors and themes of fall. Doing crafts together also encourages teamwork and sharing.
It helps children feel proud of their creations. With a variety of easy, engaging activities, preschoolers can have a memorable, creative Thanksgiving experience filled with fun and learning.
Why Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts Matter?
Thanksgiving crafts give preschoolers a fun way to learn new skills and celebrate the season.
When children make handprint turkeys, leaf collages, or paper plate pumpkins, they strengthen fine motor control, color recognition, and creativity.
Craft time also encourages sharing, patience, and teamwork as kids work side by side. These projects help young learners express gratitude in a way they can understand – through art and imagination.
For teachers and parents, Thanksgiving crafts create simple moments to talk about kindness, thankfulness, and family. Each finished craft becomes a cheerful keepsake that reminds children what it means to be thankful.
Turkey-Themed Thanksgiving Crafts for Preschoolers
Thanksgiving crafts are a joyful way for preschoolers to express creativity and celebrate the season. Turkey-themed projects are always a favorite because they’re simple, colorful, and full of fun textures.
1. Handprint Turkey Keepsake
Start by tracing each child’s hand on colorful paper and cutting out the shape. Use a brown circle for the body and glue the handprints behind it as feathers.
Add a paper beak, wattle, and googly eyes on the front. Children can decorate the feathers with sequins, glitter, or drawings. Write their name and the year on it for a Thanksgiving keepsake parents will treasure.
Needed Materials: Colored paper, scissors, glue, markers, sequins, googly eyes, craft feathers
2. Paper Plate Turkey Mask
Paint a paper plate brown and let it dry completely. Cut out two holes for eyes and glue colorful feathers around the top and sides. Create a small beak and wattle from construction paper, then attach them to the center.
Punch small holes on both sides of the plate, then tie an elastic string through them. Preschoolers will love wearing their turkey masks and pretending to gobble all around the room.
Needed Materials: Paper plate, paint, feathers, construction paper, glue, scissors, elastic string, hole punch
3. Toilet Roll Turkey Puppet
Have children paint a toilet paper roll brown and set it aside to dry. Cut out paper feathers, a beak, and a wattle from bright construction paper.
Glue the feathers to the back of the roll and the facial features to the front. Add googly eyes to bring the turkey to life. Once done, kids can use the puppet for songs, stories, or a Thanksgiving play.
Needed Materials: Toilet paper roll, paint, construction paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes
4. Coffee Filter Turkey Feathers
Give each child a coffee filter to color with washable markers. Encourage them to use fall shades like red, orange, yellow, and brown. Spray lightly with water and watch the colors blend beautifully.
Once dry, glue the coffee filter to the back of a paper turkey body. Add eyes, a beak, and a wattle. The result is a bright, tie-dye turkey with feathers that look extra special.
Needed Materials: Coffee filters, washable markers, spray bottle, brown paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes
5. Paper Bag Turkey Puppet
Flip a brown lunch bag upside down so the flap becomes the puppet’s head. Cut and glue colorful paper feathers to the back and a beak, wattle, and eyes to the front.
Kids can draw on details or add stickers for fun. Once finished, they can slip their hands inside the bag to make the turkey talk, sing, or gobble during Thanksgiving story time.
Needed Materials: Brown paper lunch bag, construction paper, glue, scissors, crayons, googly eyes, feathers
6. Cupcake Liner Turkey
Flatten a cupcake liner and glue it onto a piece of construction paper for the turkey’s body. Cut out colorful paper feathers and attach them behind the liner to make a bright tail.
Add a small circle for the head, a paper beak, and a wattle. Finish it off with googly eyes. Preschoolers can mix colors and textures to create their own unique turkey friend.
Needed Materials: Cupcake liners, construction paper, glue, scissors, googly eyes, markers
7. Pom-Pom Turkey Art
Give each child a large brown pom-pom for the turkey’s body and a few smaller ones for extra detail. Glue bright paper feathers to the back of the large pom-pom and attach googly eyes on the front.
Add a small orange paper beak and a red wattle for character. Children can mount their turkey on construction paper, decorate a card, or use it as a fun Thanksgiving table centerpiece.
Needed Materials: Brown pom-poms, colored paper, glue, scissors, googly eyes, markers
8. Popsicle Stick Turkey
Glue four popsicle sticks side by side to form the turkey’s body, then add another stick across the back to hold them together.
Paint or color the sticks brown and let them dry. Cut paper feathers and glue them to the back. Add a paper head, beak, wattle, and eyes. Kids can stand it up or hang it as a festive craft display.
Needed Materials: Popsicle sticks, paint, construction paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes
9. Footprint Turkey
Have children dip one foot in brown washable paint and press it onto white paper to form the turkey’s body. After it dries, use colorful paint or paper feathers to decorate around the footprint.
Add eyes, a beak, and a wattle for personality. Kids can write their names and the date underneath. This fun, slightly messy project makes a wonderful keepsake for parents to remember Thanksgiving crafts by.
Needed Materials: Washable paint, white paper, brushes, construction paper, glue, googly eyes, wipes for cleanup
10. Clothespin Feather Turkey
Paint a wooden clothespin brown and let it dry. Cut out paper feathers and glue them to the top of the clothespin so they fan out behind it.
Add a small paper circle for the head, then attach googly eyes, a beak, and a wattle. These adorable turkeys can clip onto place cards, napkins, or display boards for Thanksgiving fun.
Needed Materials: Wooden clothespins, paint, construction paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes
11. Cereal Feather Turkey
Start with a cardboard or paper turkey body and give children colorful cereal pieces to create the feathers. They can glue the cereal in rows or a fun pattern for a bright, textured effect.
Add a small paper circle for the turkey’s head, and attach a paper beak, wattle, and googly eyes. Kids will enjoy the tactile experience of adding the cereal, and when finished, the craft can even double as a snack.
Needed Materials: Cardboard or paper, colorful cereal, glue, scissors, construction paper, and googly eyes
12. CD Turkey Craft
Use an old CD as the turkey’s reflective body. Cut paper feathers and glue them around the edges of the CD to create a fan of color. Add a small paper circle for the head, then attach a paper beak, wattle, and googly eyes.
Children can also decorate the CD with markers or stickers to make it even more playful. This craft is a fun way to recycle while making a sparkling turkey decoration.
Needed Materials: Old CDs, construction paper, glue, scissors, googly eyes, markers
13. Paper Strip Turkey Headband
Cut strips of construction paper for children to decorate with markers, stickers, or stamps. Glue the strips together to form a loop that fits around their head. Add a paper turkey face with feathers attached to the front for a festive look.
Kids can proudly wear their headbands for a classroom Thanksgiving parade or storytime. This craft encourages creativity and provides a fun, wearable decoration that they can play with throughout the holiday.
Needed Materials: Construction paper, markers, stickers, glue, scissors
14. Plastic Spoon Turkey Puppet
Use a plastic spoon as the turkey’s body and glue colorful paper or craft feathers to the back. Add a paper circle for the head, with a beak, wattle, and googly eyes.
Children can hold the handle to make the turkey move, flap, or act out Thanksgiving stories. This simple, lightweight craft encourages imaginative play while helping preschoolers practice gluing and assembling small parts.
Needed Materials: Plastic spoons, construction paper, glue, scissors, googly eyes, feathers
15. Yarn-Wrapped Turkey Feathers
Cut feather shapes from cardboard and have children wrap yarn around them in different colors. Once finished, glue the feathers to a paper or cardboard turkey body.
Add a head with a beak, wattle, and googly eyes. This craft builds fine motor skills, color recognition, and sensory play, resulting in a fun, textured turkey decoration that kids will enjoy making and displaying.
Needed Materials: Cardboard, yarn, construction paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes
Thanksgiving Sensory & Process Art Crafts for Preschoolers
Sensory and process art crafts let preschoolers use their senses as they create. These activities focus on feeling, touching, and experimenting with colors and textures.
16. Corn Painting with Bubble Wrap
Cut a piece of bubble wrap and let children dip it into yellow or orange paint. Press the painted side onto paper to create bumpy corn patterns. Kids can layer colors or overlap prints to make each corn unique.
This activity provides a tactile sensory experience and encourages experimentation. After stamping, children can add details, such as green husks or stems, with markers or paint, completing a fun, seasonal piece of artwork.
Needed Materials: Bubble wrap, yellow and orange paint, paper, scissors, paint tray
17. Feather Painting Fun
Give children feathers to dip in paint and drag across paper to make swirls, stripes, and soft textures. Feathers move differently from brushes, giving playful, flowing effects. Children can layer colors and experiment with overlapping strokes.
This activity promotes creativity and sensory exploration, letting preschoolers focus on motion, color, and pattern. The result is a unique, hands-on painting showcasing each child’s individual style.
Needed Materials: Feathers, washable paint, paper, paint tray
18. Marble Painting Turkeys
Place marbles in shallow paint containers and have children roll them across paper inside a tray. The rolling marbles leave streaks of color that resemble turkey feathers. Once dry, glue a paper turkey body, head, beak, and googly eyes onto the painting.
This messy activity encourages hand-eye coordination, creativity, and experimentation, giving preschoolers a fun, interactive way to make Thanksgiving-themed artwork.
Needed Materials: Marbles, paint, paper, shallow tray, construction paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes
19. Pumpkin Stamping with Apples
Cut apples in half and dip the flat side into orange paint. Press onto paper to stamp pumpkin shapes. Children can add stems and vines using paint or markers. This stamping activity is simple, tactile, and gives instant results.
Kids can create a pumpkin patch effect with multiple prints while practicing hand control. It’s a playful, hands-on way to create bright, festive Thanksgiving-themed artwork.
Needed Materials: Apples, orange and green paint, paper, markers, paint tray
20. Handprint Leaf Collage
Have children paint their hands in red, orange, yellow, and brown. Press overlapping handprints onto paper to make a colorful leaf collage. Kids can experiment with placement and color patterns while feeling the paint on their hands.
This activity encourages sensory play, color recognition, and hand-eye coordination. The finished layered artwork creates a festive, textured piece perfect for Thanksgiving displays in preschool classrooms.
Needed Materials: Washable paint, paper, paint trays, brushes (optional)
21. Sponge-Painted Turkey Feathers
Cut turkey feather shapes from paper or cardboard. Let children dab sponges in different paint colors and press onto the feathers, blending colors as they go. Once dry, attach the feathers to a paper turkey body with glue.
This activity encourages fine motor skills, color mixing, and creativity while giving preschoolers a fun, hands-on way to make bright, textured Thanksgiving decorations.
Needed Materials: Sponges, washable paint, paper or cardboard, glue, scissors
22. Thanksgiving Finger Painting Tablecloth
Cover a table with large sheets of paper and let children fingerpaint freely with fall colors. Encourage them to make handprints, swirls, or shapes to create a festive table design.
This activity promotes sensory exploration, creativity, and coordination. Children enjoy messy play while creating a colorful Thanksgiving tablecloth or display that shows their style and seasonal creativity.
Needed Materials: Large paper sheets, washable paint, paint trays, wipes for cleanup
23. Fork-Printed Pumpkin Art
Draw pumpkin shapes on paper and give children paint and forks to create textured ridges. They can drag the fork vertically over the pumpkin to mimic natural lines. Once dry, add stems and leaves with paper or markers.
This activity develops fine motor skills, hand control, and sensory awareness while letting preschoolers create fun, tactile pumpkin artwork perfect for Thanksgiving displays.
Needed Materials: Paper, paint, forks, markers, scissors, and construction paper
24. Coffee Filter Leaf Suncatchers
Cut coffee filters into leaf shapes, then let children spray or drip watercolor paint onto them. Once dry, attach a string or tape the leaves to a window to let light shine through.
The colors blend beautifully for a stained-glass effect. This project encourages creativity, color mixing, and sensory play while giving preschoolers a fun way to make bright, decorative Thanksgiving leaves.
Needed Materials: Coffee filters, watercolor paint, spray bottles, paper towels, string, tape
25. Corn Kernel Collage
Draw simple turkey, pumpkin, or leaf shapes on paper. Have children glue colored corn kernels onto the designs, filling them in completely or creating patterns.
This activity helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and patience while letting preschoolers create a tactile, textured piece of Thanksgiving artwork that is colorful and engaging.
Needed Materials: Colored corn kernels, glue, paper, pencils, or markers for outlines
26. Puffy Paint Pumpkin Pie
Mix equal parts white glue and shaving cream to make puffy paint. Children can paint pumpkin shapes on paper to create soft, fluffy “pie” tops. Add orange paint and details with markers if desired.
This sensory activity promotes fine motor skills, creativity, and tactile exploration while giving preschoolers a fun, textured Thanksgiving craft they can touch and proudly display.
Needed Materials: White glue, shaving cream, orange paint, paper, markers
27. Paint-in-a-Bag Color Mixing
Put fall-colored paints in a resealable plastic bag and seal it. Children squish and mix the paints through the bag, watching colors blend safely and mess-free. This activity develops hand strength and sensory awareness while introducing color mixing.
It’s a fun, hands-on way for preschoolers to experiment with paint while keeping their hands and workspace clean during Thanksgiving-themed play.
Needed Materials: Resealable plastic bags, washable paint, tape (optional for sealing), paper for tracing
28. Turkey Feather Sorting Bin
Fill a bin with colorful paper, foam, or fabric feathers. Children sort by color, size, or texture, then attach them to paper turkey bodies or use them in separate crafts.
This activity builds color recognition, fine motor skills, and early math concepts, such as sorting. Preschoolers enjoy tactile exploration as they create fun, hands-on turkeys for Thanksgiving.
Needed Materials: Paper, foam, or fabric feathers, bins, glue, and paper for turkey bodies
29. Salt-Painted Fall Leaves
Paint leaf shapes with watercolor, then sprinkle salt onto the wet paint. The salt absorbs some paint, creating sparkly, textured veins. Once dry, brush off the salt to reveal the effect.
This process-focused activity develops fine motor skills, patience, and observation while giving preschoolers a unique, sensory way to make colorful, sparkly leaves for Thanksgiving displays.
Needed Materials: Watercolor paints, brushes, paper, salt, leaf templates or drawings
30. Pom-Pom Painted Turkeys
Attach a pom-pom to a clothespin and let children dip it into paint to dab on turkey shapes. This creates dotted, feather-like patterns. Once dry, add a paper turkey head, beak, and eyes.
This activity encourages fine motor control, creativity, and tactile play while allowing preschoolers to create colorful, hands-on turkey artwork perfect for Thanksgiving crafts.
Needed Materials: Pom-poms, clothespins, paint, paper, glue, construction paper, and googly eyes
Fall & Nature-Inspired Thanksgiving Crafts for Preschoolers
Using natural materials adds a hands-on, seasonal touch to preschool crafts. These activities help children connect with the outdoors while exploring textures, shapes, and colors.
31. Leaf Collage Turkeys
Collect a variety of fall leaves and glue them onto paper or cardstock to form turkey feathers. Add a paper or pom-pom turkey body, beak, and eyes to finish.
Children can layer colors and shapes to create textured, natural designs. This craft encourages fine motor skills, creativity, and observation while letting preschoolers enjoy hands-on exploration of real leaves and fall colors.
Needed Materials: Real leaves, glue, paper or cardstock, markers, pom-poms (optional)
32. Pinecone Turkey Friend
Use a pinecone as the turkey’s body and attach colorful paper or craft feathers to the back. Add googly eyes, a paper beak, and a wattle to complete the face. Children can decorate with additional craft materials, such as pom-poms or stickers.
This three-dimensional craft promotes fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory play while giving preschoolers a fun, natural Thanksgiving decoration they can display or gift.
Needed Materials: Pinecones, paper or craft feathers, glue, googly eyes, markers, pom-poms (optional)
33. Pumpkin Seed Mosaic
Paint pumpkin seeds in fall colors and arrange them to create pumpkins, turkeys, or leaves on paper. Children can glue the seeds in patterns or shapes to make textured mosaics.
This activity encourages fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, and color recognition while allowing preschoolers to explore creativity using natural materials for a festive Thanksgiving craft.
Needed Materials: Pumpkin seeds, washable paint, glue, paper, markers (optional)
34. Nature Walk Wreath
Take children on a nature walk to collect leaves, acorns, and twigs. Arrange and glue them onto a circular base, such as cardboard or a paper plate, to create a wreath.
Children can layer materials to add texture and color. This activity encourages outdoor exploration, fine motor skills, and teamwork while producing a seasonal, nature-inspired decoration perfect for Thanksgiving.
Needed Materials: Leaves, acorns, twigs, cardboard or paper plate, glue, scissors
35. Twig and Yarn Pumpkins
Form a pumpkin shape with twigs and have children wrap orange yarn around it until covered. Add a small green yarn or paper stem at the top.
This tactile craft promotes fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. Preschoolers enjoy creating textured, 3D pumpkin decorations using natural and craft materials for Thanksgiving-themed art displays.
Needed Materials: Twigs, orange and green yarn, scissors, glue
36. Leaf Crown Headbands
Cut long strips of paper for a headband base and let children glue real or paper leaves along it. Add pom-poms, feathers, or markers for extra decoration.
Once dry, the strips can be formed into crowns for children to wear. This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and a sense of pride while giving preschoolers festive headwear for Thanksgiving celebrations.
Needed Materials: Paper strips, real or paper leaves, glue, markers, pom-poms, scissors
37. Acorn Cap Painting
Use acorn caps to hold small amounts of paint or press them into paper as stamps. Children can dip the caps in paint and create patterns, dots, or textured designs on paper.
This activity encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity while allowing preschoolers to explore new ways to use natural materials for colorful Thanksgiving-themed artwork.
Needed Materials: Acorn caps, washable paint, paper, brushes, markers (optional)
38. Corn Husk Dolls
Cut or fold paper into corn husk shapes and layer them to form a simple doll body. Tie with string or yarn to secure and add paper or fabric details for faces and clothing.
This craft encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and imagination while giving preschoolers a hands-on way to make traditional fall dolls safely and simply for Thanksgiving displays.
Needed Materials: Paper, yarn or string, markers, fabric scraps (optional), scissors
39. Nature Imprint Clay Ornaments
Roll out air-dry clay and press leaves into the surface to create textured imprints. Children can then cut the clay into shapes such as leaves, pumpkins, or circles.
Once dry, paint or decorate them. This activity encourages sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and creativity while giving preschoolers a lasting, handmade ornament to display or gift for Thanksgiving.
Needed Materials: Air-dry clay, leaves, rolling pins, paint, brushes, cookie cutters (optional)
40. Scarecrow Stick Puppets
Tie fabric scraps and yarn around twigs to make miniature scarecrow figures. Add paper or felt faces, hats, and other details for personality. This craft encourages fine motor development, creativity, and imaginative play.
Preschoolers can use their puppets for storytelling, role-playing, or Thanksgiving decoration, combining natural and craft materials in a hands-on activity that is both tactile and fun.
Needed Materials: Twigs, fabric scraps, yarn, glue, paper or felt, markers
41. Fall Leaf Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with real or artificial leaves and add small items like pinecones, acorns, or soft fabric leaves. Children can scoop, sort, and explore textures, colors, and shapes.
This activity develops sensory awareness, fine motor skills, and early counting or sorting skills while providing preschoolers with an open-ended, hands-on way to interact with natural materials in a Thanksgiving-themed sensory play.
Needed Materials: Real or fabric leaves, pinecones, acorns, bins, scoops, or tongs
42. Pinecone Painting
Children can paint pinecones with fall-colored paints and then roll them across paper to create textured, patterned designs. The pinecones’ natural shapes produce unique prints as children explore colors and movement.
This hands-on activity promotes fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and creativity. It also provides a fun way to turn simple natural materials into festive Thanksgiving artwork or seasonal decorations.
Needed Materials: Pinecones, washable paint, paper, trays or plates, brushes (optional)
43. Pumpkin Patch Collage
Cut or tear orange paper scraps and layer them on a sheet of paper to create a textured pumpkin patch. Children can add green stems, leaves, or paper vines to complete the design.
This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness. Preschoolers enjoy building a layered, tactile scene that can be used as a cheerful Thanksgiving decoration or keepsake.
Needed Materials: Orange and green paper, glue, scissors, markers (optional)
44. Nature Textured Rub Art
Place leaves, bark, or acorns under a sheet of paper and have children rub crayons over the top to reveal the textures. This activity introduces patterns and textures while strengthening hand muscles and fine motor skills.
Preschoolers can experiment with colors and layering to create unique, tactile artwork that reflects the shapes and textures of natural materials found during the fall season.
Needed Materials: Leaves, bark, acorns, paper, crayons
45. Fall Leaf Garland
Collect leaves or cut paper leaf shapes and punch small holes at the top. Children can thread string or yarn through them to create a garland. This activity promotes fine motor skills, sequencing, and creativity.
Preschoolers enjoy arranging colors and patterns while producing a cheerful, festive decoration that can be hung in the classroom or at home for Thanksgiving.
Needed Materials: Real or paper leaves, string or yarn, hole punch, glue or tape (optional)
Tips for Managing a Preschool Thanksgiving Craft Session
Getting preschoolers ready for a craft session can be a challenge, but a little planning goes a long way. Preparing materials and setting expectations helps children stay focused and enjoy the activity without frustration.
- Pre-Cut Key Pieces for Little Hands: Cut tricky shapes ahead so kids can focus on gluing and decorating safely.
- Set up Glue Stations and Have Aprons Ready: Keep supplies within reach and protect clothes from messes.
- Limit Choice to 1-2 Craft Options: Offering fewer choices helps children focus and finish their projects.
- Use Music or a Timer (20-30 Min): Short sessions with music or a timer keep kids engaged and on track.
- Display Finished Crafts: Showcasing their work boosts confidence and encourages creativity.
With some preparation and structure, Thanksgiving craft time becomes fun, creative, and stress-free. Children enjoy hands-on creativity and feel proud seeing their work beautifully displayed.
The Bottom Line
Thanksgiving crafts and preschool projects are a fun way to keep little ones busy while helping them learn. These activities encourage imagination and creativity.
They also teach important skills like cutting, gluing, and color recognition. Each craft gives children a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work.
From painting turkeys to making leaf collages, there are plenty of simple, hands-on ideas to enjoy. Crafts can be done at home or in a classroom setting. Watching the children’s excitement while they create is always rewarding.
Share your child’s favorite craft or finished artwork in the comments. I would love to see their creative creations!
