Thanksgiving Crafts and Activities for Kids

Thanksgiving Coloring Card From Memory Cross

Memory Cross has a unique Thanksgiving card that will help you teach your kids why we give thanks and to whom we give thanks. 

Memory Cross - The most innovative way to share the Gospel

Foam Leaves and Marshmallow Thanksgiving Turkey Craft for Kids

What you will need: foam fall leaves, foam marshmallows, craftspoons, brown paint, black and yellow paper or foam for the hat.

You can buy the fun foam leaves, craft spoons, and foam marshmallows from Oriental Trading Company, Just type in 57/2058 to find the marshmallows, 48/10500 to find the foam fall leaves, and 57/1019 to find the craft spoons .

What to do:

1. Paint the foam marshmallow and craft spoon brown.

2. Glue the craft spoon to the front of the marshmallow as shown in the diagram on the right.

3. Glue foam leaves to the back of the marshmallow for feathers. Glue two leaves to the sides for wings.

4. Cut the tips off of two yellow oak leaves for the feet and glue them to the bottom of the marshmallow for feet.

5. Cut a waddle from a red leaf and a beak (diamond shape) from a yellow leaf. Glue them to the craft spoon as shown.

6. Cut a hat shape from black foam or colored paper and glue on a yellow band. Glue to the turkey's head.

Thanksgiving Potholder Craft for Kids

What you will need: potholders and permanent makers or fabric paint. You can buy cotton potholders from Oriental Trading Company, Type in 48/2148 in the search box at the top of the page to find this item.

What to do:

1. Decide what you would like to draw on the potholder and draw the picture with a pencil.

2. When you have the picture the way you would like it to look, trace over it with permanent markers or fabric paint.

Count Your Many Blessing Coloring and Activity Sheet

Children help the squirrel count his blessings and then think of ways they have been blessed.

Patterns and Directions for this craft are available to members only.

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Basket Full of Leaves Paper Craft

This is a fun and easy craft for all ages. This craft can be used in many ways:

1. Children can send notes written on the leaves to their friends. They can write one word on each leaf and see if their friends can put the leaves in order to find figure out the message.

2. Children can write their vocabulary, math facts, or spelling words on the leaves and use them to review.

3. They can use them on Thanksgiving, and write thankful things on the leaves.

For directions to this craft go to the Language Arts Page.

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Thanksgiving Memory Baskets

Candy and Crackers are placed in the basket to represent different parts of the Thanksgiving story. Print out the basket patterns: blank basket (large file or small file), pattern shown basket (large file or small file), or triangle pattern basket (large file or small file). Color the baskets and then staple the sides together by overlapping the pointed ends. Staple the basket handle to the sides. Introduce each of the following objects and ask your students how they might relate to the First Thanksgiving story.

Chocolate Earth Balls - The pilgrims lived in England where the king made all the laws and the people had to obey them. He told them what church they had to go to and how they had to worship. The pilgrims believed that they should be free to worship God the way they wished. When they heard about the New World in North America, they thought it would be a great place where they could go and live in freedom.

Tiny Twist Pretzels - The pilgrims believed in God and felt that they should be free to worship God the way they wanted to. They should be able to pick their own pastors and make their own laws. The pretzels represent praying hands. The pilgrims prayed for a place they could go to be free to worship God the way they wanted to. They prayed for Gods protection on their trip across the ocean and for God to help them in the new land.

Oyster crackers or other dried bread and jerky - If the weather was bad on the Mayflower, the pilgrims had to eat cold biscuits and salted meat.

Stick Pretzel - The pilgrims cut down trees and used logs to build their homes.

Mini Marshmallows - Reminds us of snow and the first winter in the new land in which only half the pilgrims survived.

Candy corn and gold fish crackers - Squanto showed the pilgrims how to grow corn by placing four seeds into a little mound of earth and placing fish around the seeds.

Life Saver Candies - God helped the pilgrims survive in the new land. He sent Squanto to help the pilgrims and show them how to find food. He was their life saver.

Maple candies - Squanto showed the pilgrims how to tap the maple trees to get their sap.

Teddy Grahams - The pilgrims had to learn to defend themselves against wild animals like bears.

Trix Fruity Flavors or other fruit shapes or dried cranberries - Squanto taught the pilgrims where to find wild berries and fruits and how to dry them for the winter.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information - It is illegal to copy this poem and place it on another web site even if you include the author.

Thanksgiving Treat Baskets

Use these baskets to thank people in your life that have helped you in the past year. Place treats such as cookies, candy and small gifts in the basket with a "thank you" note.

A pattern for this craft is available to members only.

Candy Corn Book

Candy Corn Stars
Written by Nancy Foss

"One candy corn just for me.
Two candy corns make me smile with glee.
Three candy corns of yellow, orange, and white.
What a colorful sight.
Four candy corns I hold in my hand to share.
Five candy corns I place on my plate with care.
A star, a star of candy corns so sweet.
Thank you, God, for this special treat.

Directions and patterns for this craft are available to members only.
You will also find other crafts and activities to go along with this theme on the members only section: a candy corn rhyme, math, and baking.

It is illegal to copy this poem and place it on another web site even if you include the author.

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Sweet Treat Candy Corn Frame with Bible Verse

The Bible verse in the frame is -- “How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey.” (Psalms 119:103) Written on the candy corn, fun foam shapes from Oriental Trading Company, (Type in 48/15810 in the search box at the top of the page.) are great tasting words for the soul such as: peace, love, joy, forgiveness, faith, trust, etc.

Go the the Candy Corn Crafts and Activities Page for directions and a pattern.

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Fall Acorn Craft

"There's power in the acorn and there's power in me.
Just like the tiny acorn that grows to be a tree,
Whose branches reach to heaven for all the world to see,
When I reach up to thee, Lord, I'll become what I am supposed to be."
© Carolyn Warvel

It is illegal to copy this poem and place it on another web site even if you include the author.

What you will need: Brown and tan construction paper or card stock, brown yarn, hole punch, Scotch tape, and glue.

What to do:

1. Print out the pattern for the acorn tops 100 dpi or 72 dpionto dark brown paper and acorn bottoms 100 dpior 72 dpionto tan paper. If you would like your children to come up with their own poem, you can use the blank acorn bottom pattern or 72 dpi (no words).

2. Cut out the patterns, punch hole where indicated.

3. Cut long lengths of brown yarn and wind tape around each end.

4. Show your children how to weave the yarn around the acorn top through the holes. Tape the end of the yarn to the back of the acorn.

5. Glue the top of the acorn to bottom of the acorn.

This craft goes along with the book The Boy Who Dreamed of an Acorn by Leigh Casler, Illustrated by Shonto Begay, published by Penguin Books, 345 Hudson, NY, 10014.

In this book a young Indian boy goes on a spirit quest to discover what his gifts are. He wanted to dream a powerful dream of a bear or mountain lion, but he only dreamed of a tiny acorn that seemed to him to have no power at all. He went to a wise man who told him, "To each a different gift is given, and to each a different dream does come. Be happy with your dream." This story is about how a boy learns to accept his gifts and learns that each gift has a different kind of power. (This book is currently out of print, but you may be able to find it in your library. If your library doesn't have this book, ask them to place a request for this book. If the publishing company gets enough requests, they just might put it back into print.)

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Acorn Shape Book

This little acorn shape book comes with a poem page and pages on which your children can write or draw about what they would like to be.

What you will need: Tan and brown construction paper, white paper, scissors, and crayons or markers.

What to do:

1. Print out the Acorn Pattern onto tan paper and the Acorn Cap Pattern onto brown paper. Cut out the patterns. In class have your children glue the cap to the acorn and then draw a face on the acorn.

2. Print out the Poem and Title Page onto white printer paper, make copies, and cut them out. Print out the Acorn Pattern onto white paper to make extra pages.

3. In class have your children read the poem and discuss it. Have them think about what they would like to be and draw pictures or write about it in their books.

What I Can Be
Written by Carolyn Warvel

You may think I’m just a little acorn,
Living way up in this tree,

But I have a little secret,
I’m much more than you can see.

You only see my outside,
But there’s a glorious seed in me.

I have a lot of potential,
There’s much more that I can be.

Someday I’ll fall from here
And grow to be a tree!©Carolyn Warvel

©2009, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Emma shows off her Thanksgiving Display
(You can find links to these crafts below.)

Pilgrim and Indian Paper Dolls

These cute paper dolls come with all kinds of accessories, turkey, hats, head bands, horse, papoose, pumpkins, and more.

 

Teepee Table Place Holders for your Thanksgiving Table

What you will need: Paper, tape or glue, large toothpicks, and crayons or markers.

What to do:

1. Print out the teepee pattern or make your own design using the pattern as a guide.

2. Color the teepee and write the names of the people who will be sharing your Thanksgiving dinner on each teepee.

3. Tape or glue 3 toothpicks onto the back of the teepee. at the top.

4. Curl the pattern into a teepee. shape and tape the back closed.

Craft spoons Turkey Craft

What you will need:  Craft spoons, wiggly eyes, wooden shapes for the turkey's wattle and beak, red, brown, black, and white paint,  and glue.

What to do: 

1. Use the pattern provided to glue the craft spoons together to form the turkey's body. Cut the skinner part off of two craft sticks to form the turkeys wings.

2. Glue on wiggly eyes.

3. Paint a teardrop shaped wooden piece red and glue it on to the turkey as shown. 5. Glue on a smaller teardrop shaped piece upside down to form the beak.

4. Glue onto smaller craft sticks on each side of the turkey's head and neck to form wings.

4. Paint your turkey.

©2006, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Leaf Wreath Craft

What you will need: Different colors of paper, tag board or poster board, scissors. 

What to do:

1. Print out the leaf pattern.  Use the leaf patterns to cut out leaves from different colors of paper.

2. Cut out the wreath base from tag board or poster board.  Cut a circle about 9" wide and then cut out a 4 3/4" circle from the inside of the 9" circle.

3. Glue on the different leaves around the circle to make a wreath.

Comment from subscriber: I used the Leaf Wreath Craft idea and pattern to make a special set of paper dishes with my class. In the middle of the plate they wrote a Thanksgiving Prayer to read before the meal. The first grade children were very exited and went wild on thanking God.
Alessandra

Paper Pilgrim Hat Craft for Kids

What you will need: Paper Grocery bags scissors and white paint, white ties cut from material.

What to do:

1. Cut the bottom off the grocery bag so that it is about 8" high.

2. Cut one of the short sides out. (One of the sides that has the folds in it.)

3. Fold back the edges of the side that you just cut about two inches. Do it two times. Now paint the hat white and staple or glue on some ties. If you don't have time to make a hat you can just tie a white scarf on the pilgrim.

©2006, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Apple Turkey Craft

Materials for each student:
1 red apple
1 large marshmallow
5-6 small marshmallows
12-14 raisins
As many toothpicks as marshmallows
1 candy corn

To assemble turkey:

1. Place apple on hard surface with stem up. Take off stem if there is one.

2. On each toothpick, you will have 2 raisins and 1 marshmallow. The marshmallow will be at the top (or rounded tip of the pick) and the raisins will be below the marshmallow. (Nearest to the pointed end of the pick)

3. Evenly space the toothpicks directly behind where the stem would have been.

4. Directly opposite of where the marshmallow/raisin toothpicks are is where you will place the large marshmallow face.

To make the face:

Use 2 raisins for the eyes; push them into the large marshmallow. Use the 1 candy corn for the nose; push the corn into the marshmallow using the pointed end. Mount the head and you're done!! Sent in by Roberta G.

Thank You Boxes

Another good Thanksgiving craft is to make Thank You God boxes. The kids decorate small boxes (check boxes or small gift boxes or any other kind of box of an appropriate size) that are large enough for a small pad of paper and a short pencil. During the year, the children and their families use the paper to write down things they are thankful for and put the paper in the box. On Thanksgiving, all of the "thank you's" are read during the families prayers. Mary Funderburg--Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Blessing Mix

*Each ingredient in this snack mix symbolizes something associated with Thanksgiving.

2 cups   Bugles brand corn snacks - shaped as a cornucopia, a horn of plenty.
2 cups   pretzels - represent arms folded in thanks and prayer.
1 cup    candy corn - during the first winter, the Pilgrims were each allotted 
only 5 kernels of corn per day because food was so scarce.
1 cup    dried or candy fruits - Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest.
1 cup    peanuts or sunflower seeds - seeds represent the potential of a
bounteous harvest for the next season if they are planted and well tended.

In a large bowl mix all ingredients together. Other ingredients such as dry  cereals, candies, or marshmallows can also be added. Make this mix as a family and eat while discussing each ingredient and how it relates to Thanksgiving.    Nance from Reno

The Pumpkin Patch Parable
10th Anniversary Edition: The Parable Series #1

By Liz Curtis Higgs / Tommy Nelson

This charming story for children illustrates how a loving farmer can turn a simple pumpkin into a simply glorious sight. Liz Curtis Higgs weaves a beautiful parable as the farmer picks out a special pumpkin from his garden, and scoops out all the messy "goo" to make room for his light to shine from inside. In the same way, God's transforming love can fill each of our hearts with joy and light. Liz Cutis Higgs originally created this parable as a way to share the Good News with her own precious children each harvest season. After 10 years, she has touched children everywhere! Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Fun Foam Turkey Napkin Holder Craft for Kids

What you will need:  Fun foam (Red, yellow, brown, black), napkins, glue, wiggly eyes.

What to do: 
1. Print out the pattern provided.

2. Cut the turkey's beak and feet from yellow fun foam, the body, head and neck, and wings from brown fun foam, the wattle from red fun foam.  Glue the pieces together  to form the turkey.

3. Glue on some wiggly eyes.

4. Cut a piece of brown fun foam 1 1/2" x 5 1/2". Staple the piece together to form a loop.  Glue the side of the loop to the back of the turkey so that it holds up the turkey.

5. Fold up a napkin use a fan fold and then fold it in half.  Place it in the loop so that it stand up to form the turkey's tail feathers.

6. White paper towels work well for the tail feathers.  You can paint the napkin with water colors, let it dry and then fold it using the fan fold.

©2005, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Craft Stick Turkey Craft

What you will need:  Colored craft sticks, short craft sticks, craft spoon, wiggly eyes, wooden shapes for the turkey's wattle and beak, pipe cleaners, red paint, black and yellow construction paper and glue.

What to do: 

1. Glue colored crafts stick around the wooden spoon to form the turkey's tail feathers.

2. Cut out a pilgrim hat shape from black construction paper and glue on a yellow trim and then glue it on to the top of the craft spoon.

3. Glue on wiggly eyes.

4. Paint a tear drop shaped wooded piece red and glue it on to the turkey as shown. 5. Glue on a smaller tear drop shaped piece upside down to form the beak.

5. Glue onto smaller craft sticks on each side of the turkey's head and neck to form wings.

6. Shape brown pipe cleaners to form the turkey's feet and glue them on to the back of the turkey.

©2005, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Paper Plate Turkey Dish

What you will need: Large dinner size paper plates, small snack size paper plates, red fun foam or construction paper, paint, scissors, hot melt glue, and googly eyes.

What to do:

1. Print out the tail feather pattern and the head pattern and cut them out. Trace the tail feather pattern onto a dinner sized paper plate and cut it out. Then cut away the outside pattern to make the smaller pattern. Trace that pattern onto another dinner sized paper plate and cut it out.

2. Cut the center out of one dinner sized paper plate. You may want to use a heavy duty paper plate for this part of the turkey. Turn the paper plate with the hole cut out right side up. Glue the smaller tail feather onto the paper plate so that the feathers are curved downward. (See the picture above.) Glue the larger tail feathers onto the smaller tail feathers so that it is curving downward also.

3. Cut out a wing shape from another large paper plate so that the outer part of the wing is cut from the outer edge of the paper plate. Use that wing as a pattern to make another wing only turn it upside down so that both wings will be curved in the same direction when you glue them to the paper plate. Glue the wings to the paper plate with the tail feathers as shown in the picture.

4. Cut a 1" by 4" rectangle to make a neck from the left over circle you cut from the inside of the paper plate. Glue that onto the same paper plate that you glued the tail feathers and wings.

5. Turn another dinner sized plate upside down and glue it onto the paper plate with the tail feathers, wings, and neck glued to it. Turn the whole thing over.

6. To make the head use the head pattern to cut the slits out of a small snack sized paper plate. Roll the paper plate up so that the beak comes to a point and glue where indicated, overlapping the sides of the paper plate. Glue where indicated on the pattern and bring the flap you created by cutting the two slits over the two glued areas. Glue the head to the neck.

7. Paint the turkey. Glue on googly eyes and a waddle cut from red fun foam or construction paper. Add crackers or other snacks to the bowl.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Garden Scarecrow

What you will need: Newspapers, brown grocery bags, brown lunch bag, paper bowl, construction paper, tape, glue, stapler, paint, and markers.

What to do:

1. To make the main stake, roll up 6 sheets of newspaper to make a tight roll. Roll another sheet of newspaper around the roll and tape it closed. For the arms, roll up 5 sheets of newspaper to make a tight roll. Roll another sheet of paper around the roll and tape it closed. Glue or tape the arms across the main stake to make a cross shape.

2. To make the head stuff a brown lunch bag with crinkled up newspapers. Place the top of the bag on the top of the main stake and gather it around the stake. Tape it to the stake. Draw a face on the bag.

3. To make the clothes. Open up some brown grocery bags and flatten them. Place the scarecrow frame on the grocery bags. Draw around the frame to make an outline of a shirt and pants. Draw the outline at least 3" from the edge of the frame. Cut out the shirt and pants shapes and use them to trace another pattern for the back of the shirt and pants. Paint a design on the shirt and pants and then glue or staple the front and back shapes to each other onto the frame. Leave the arm holes and leg holes open.

4. To make the straw for the hands, feet, and hair. Fold a piece of yellow construction paper in half lengthwise. Cut slits down the short length of the folded paper, but do not go all way through stop about 2" before you get to the fold. Roll the paper up and crinkle up the cut paper slightly. Place some glue on the folded end and shove them into the arms. Glue or staple some straw in the arm and leg holes, and around the neck, and on the head.

5. To make the hat, lay another grocery bag out flat on a table. Place a paper bowl in the center of the bag. Trace around the edge of the bowl and then draw a large circle around the bowl. Cut out the circle and the inter circle. Glue the circle onto the hat. Paint the hat and glue it to the head.

6. To display your scarecrow, pound a stake into the ground and slide the scarecrow on the stake.

©2005, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Thanksgiving Sunday School Bible Lessons

Thanksgiving Bible Lessons on The Resource Room You can find more Thanksgiving crafts on The Resource Room.  The Resource Room is designed for Sunday School teachers and home school parents.  All of the crafts on The Resource Room are biblically based .  Most of the crafts go along with one of the Bible lessons found on The Resource Room.  All the crafts were designed for preschool and elementary age children. All the crafts are original and inexpensive which are great for home school use and large groups such as Sunday school classes and vacation Bible school. Patterns for TP Pilgrims

Thanksgiving Bread Basket with Colorful Napkin Turkey Treat Jar Balloon Turkey Count Your Blessings Mini Book

I Thank God for . . . " Book Children glue objects in the book to complete each page. Thanksgiving Mystery Message Activity Sheet "God is Always with You" Pilgrim Suitcase Craft

Thanksgiving Games

1. Play a Matching Game - Print thanksgiving pictures such as: pilgrims, Indians, fish, corn, a papoose, dog and pony. Glue them onto cards and play a match game with them.

2. Play a toss game - Make eight of the teepee place holders shown above and mark them with numbers, 5 points, 10 points, etc. Make rings from pipe cleaners. Have the children throw the rings over the teepees to score points.

3. Play Pin the Tail on the Turkey - Draw a turkey without feathers. Cut out feathers from construction paper. Place double sided tape on the feathers and have the children try to tape them onto the turkey blindfolded.

4. Play a bean bag game - Make no-sew pumpkin bean bags. Just glue them together and then decorate them on the outside. Draw a Thanksgiving theme picture on cardboard and cut holes in it. Children can throw their bean bags at the picture and try to get them through the holes.

5. Fishing Game - Children fish for items they can put into a cornucopia like pictures of apples, corn on the cob, little pumpkins, grapes, etc. Attach a paper clip to the end of the line for a hook so the item cab be attached (and removed) easily. As they lower their line on a pole over a wall, (or some kind of poster board) a person on the other side attaches a picture to the hook. Then the lucky fisherman can place their prize in the cornucopia.

6. Unscramble the Words - (For older kids) Write words related to Thanksgiving such as: pilgrim, turkey, and feast on cards with the letters all jumbled up. The kids try to unscramble the words. Or they can match the scrambled words to the correct counterparts on a list.

7. Write the word THANKSGIVING on the board and see how many words you can make out of it in a 5-minute relay race.

Sent in by Diana Romberg

8. How much do you know about turkeys?

Also see our Fall Crafts and Activities for Kids

Ready-to-Assemble Crafts

Great for Parties, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts, Sunday school and any kind of get-together!
from Oriental Trading Company,