Paper Plate Turkeys
While waiting for the Thanksgiving turkey to finish cooking, why not make some turkeys with the younger set? These can be used as center pieces or hung on the refrigerator with magnet tape stuck on the back. Or make lots and lots of turkeys and hide them around the house for a post dinner turkey hunt.
Three plate turkey
You will need:
3 desert size paper plates per turkey
Googley eyes
Stapler
Scraps of yellow and red paper
Feathers from the craft store
Scissors
Tempera or acrylic paint in Autumn colors
Scraps of red felt, if desired
Pieces of sponge
Markers
Head and neck cut from brown construction paper
Have children dip sponge into paint and cover the “bottom” side of three small plates with color. Set aside to dry. Have children help you clean up paint and sponges while their plates get completely dry.
Staple 2 plates together for the turkey body. One side will be the front of the turkey and the other will be the back. Let children work on the front first. Glue on head and neck and add eyes. Draw on beak and wattle, or cut these from scrap paper and glue on. If desired, cut a wattle from felt and glue on. Turn plate over and let child glue on feathers to make the tail of the turkey. Make sure the tail feathers extend over the top so they will show on the other side.
Fold extra plate in half and cut a slit to make the stand for the turkey.
Handprint turkey
You will need:
dinner size paper plates
Sponges
Brown, red, yellow, and blue paint
Bits of paper, dried peas and beans
Light background paint in 2 shades
Craft glue
Paintbrush
Markers
Write each child’s name on the back of her plate. Let children use the light background paint and sponges to completely cover the “right” side of the plate. Allow these to dry. While the paint is drying, have children help cut or tear scrap paper into small pieces and pour peas and beans onto spare plates. Then, for each child, paint the palm and thumb brown and each finger a different color. Quickly press the child’s hand onto her plate and have her lift it straight up. Let the plates dry while you wash hands. You might need an adult assistant for this step.
After the turkeys dry, have children add legs, beak and wattles with markers. Have them place a dot for the eye. Then have them decorate the rim with paper, beans and peas. Let the plates dry thoroughly before moving them.
Teeny turkeys
Cut out the middle of a dessert size plate to make a teeny turkey. Add a construction paper head and neck to one side, with tiny googly eyes. Glue on craft store feathers for the tail. Tape a safety pin to the back and wear your turkey, or put a strip of magnetic tape on the back so it can be displayed on the refrigerator.
Turkey hat
Cut the center from a cheap paper plate. Punch two holes in and string with yarn for a tie. Have child color the rim with markers. Glue on a construction paper head and neck, bent so it stands up, to the front of the hat and craft store feathers to the back. Make sure the glue is thoroughly dry before letting the child wear this!
This activity can keep the kids occupied and happy while waiting for dinner. Provide a few nutritious appetizer snacks if it's going to be a long wait.
References and further information:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/framed-handprint-turkey.html
http://www.sheknows.com/holidays-and-seasons/articles/801136/paper-plate-tom-turkey
http://www.first-school.ws/activities/crafts/animals/birds/turkeyleaves.htm
