Celebrate the upcoming holidays with a colorful Paper Plate Turkey craft! This simple, hands-on activity is perfect for preschoolers and older children alike, and it’s a creative way to sneak in some math skills like measuring, fractions, and spatial reasoning.
Holiday-themed crafts are a great way to keep kids engaged and excited, and this paper plate turkey combines art, learning, and fun in one project. Preschoolers can explore colors and textures, while older students can practice fractions by dividing the plate into equal sections.
Pre-school children can be creative with this inexpensive paper plate turkey craft. Use vibrant colors for the feathers. For Older children, use this project to teach the fractions of 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8.
Supplies You’ll Need
- White paper plate (any size works)
- Scissors
- Craft glue
- Orange Pipe cleaner (chenille stems)
- Google eyes
- Black marker
- Paint – orange, red, yellow, black, brown (markers can also be used)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Divide the Plate – Start by splitting the paper plate into four equal sections. You can cut apart one plate to use as a template if needed. Remove one section to serve as the turkey’s head.
- Create the Feathers – Take the remaining three sections and divide each in half with a black marker. This will give you six equal sections, each representing 1/8th of the circle, perfect for learning fractions.
- Decorate the Feathers – Use fall colors like red, yellow, and orange to paint or color each feather. Encourage children to be creative and mix colors if they like.
- Make the Turkey’s Face – Paint or color a brown crown and an orange beak for the turkey’s head. Add googly eyes to bring it to life.
- Form the Legs – Bend the pipe cleaner into two legs and shape the ends to create turkey toes. Attach them to the bottom of the plate with craft glue.
- Assemble the Turkey – Attach the head to the front of the plate and let the entire craft dry completely before displaying.
This Paper Plate Turkey craft is not only a fun art project but also a great educational activity for teaching fractions and symmetry in a festive, hands-on way. Use it to decorate your classroom, kitchen, or Thanksgiving table for a colorful holiday display that children will be proud to show off.
