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    Home » Thanksgiving Recipes and Kids Crafts

    Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids: Pipe Cleaner Turkey

    Published: Nov 21, 2023 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    This Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids: Pipe Cleaner Turkey is a simple project that would be perfect for kids to make on Thanksgiving day when the food is being prepared. Thanksgiving Activities for Kids are are a great to keep kids entertained.

    This turkey would make adorable place cards at a Thanksgiving table. If you are still looking for turkey crafts, enjoy this Scrapbook Paper Turkey Craft. Gobble, gobble!

    pipe cleaner turkey.

    🦃Why This Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids: Pipe Cleaner Turkey Is Awesome

    • Depending on the age/skill level of the child, this craft provides fine motor practice.
    • Kids can play with their turkey by holding the cups on their hands and pretending they are puppets.
    • Easy to make using supplies you probably already have at home just like the Best Pilgrim Crafts for Kids.
    • When kids are done with this craft, they can try this Thanksgiving Memory Game Printable.


    ✂Supply Notes

    • pipe cleaners - We used fall-colored pipe cleaners
    • Plastic or paper cup - This will be the base of the turkey. A paper cup will be easier to work with, but you can make plastic work if that is all you have on hand.
    • Orange and brown construction paper - You will make the body of the turkey with brown construction paper and use the orange paper for the beak.
    • Kids scissors - For kids to cut out a beak.
    • Adult scissors - For adults to cut turkey body out of brown paper.
    • Tape - Used to attach the turkey body to the cup.
    • Glue - To glue on the eyes and beak. We used liquid glue, but a glue stick would work as well.
    • Googly eyes - The movement in these adds some fun and whimsy to the turkey.
    pipe cleaner turkey supplies.


    📋How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Turkey Craft

    STEP 1: If you are using paper cups, poke 5 holes in a rainbow shape into the bottom of the cup. If you are using a plastic cup, you can make easy holes by heating up the tip of adults scissors over a flame and holding the hot scissors on the plastic until holes have been melted. This step is only for adults. Please use caution when working with hot scissors.

    cup with holes in it.

    STEP 2: Provide your child with 5 pipe cleaners in various colors and the cup with the holes. If you have fall-colored pipe cleaners, they would work well for this activity. Explain that two ends of a pipe cleaner must be pushed into one hole.

    child placing pipe cleaners in holes in cup.

    STEP 3: Cut a turkey body out of brown construction paper. The easiest way to do this is to draw and cut a shape that looks like a bowling pin. You will want a shape that is big enough to disguise the cup but not so big that it will flop over when attached to the cup.

    STEP 4: Have your child use the glue to attach the googly eyes to the turkey's head.

    gluing googly eye on turkey.

    STEP 5: Make a beak by cutting and gluing orange construction paper to the turkey. We cut a diamond shape and folded it in half for the beak.

    pipe cleaner turkey craft.

    STEP 6: When the glue has dried, tape the body to the cup and spread out the pipe cleaner feathers.

    pipe cleaner turkey craft.

    If you want more fun Thanksgiving crafts, kids will enjoy making their own Woven Paper Placemats. You can also check out these Kids Thanksgiving Crafts!

    🤷🏻‍♀️Activity FAQs

    What can I do with this pipe cleaner turkey craft?

    Kids can use it to play with and it would also make a cute place setting just by writing your guest's name on the turkey body. Kids will love being involved in the preparations for Thanksgiving.

    ✂️Expert Tips

    Tip 1: I used a plastic cup for this activity because I had some leftover from a previous party. You can use a paper cup as well.

    Tip 2: When you finish this craft, you may have worked up an appetite. Try these Turkey Donuts!


    🍁Related Posts

    • Turkey Suncatcher Craft
    • How to Make Turkey Pudding Cups
    • Paper Plate Turkey Craft for Kids
    • 50 Turkey Thanksgiving Crafts


    ✂Craft Tutorial

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    Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids: Pipe Cleaner Turkey

    Thanksgiving crafts for kids - Pipe cleaner turkey. This is so simple to make and stands up on his own. What a fun turkey craft for kids to make on Thanksgiving.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Active Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Author: Vicky

    Materials

    • 5 pipe cleaners
    • Plastic or paper cup
    • Orange and brown construction paper
    • Kids scissors
    • Adult scissors
    • Tape
    • Glue
    • Googly eyes

    Instructions

    • For a paper cup - poke 5 holes in a rainbow shape into the bottom of the cup.
      For a plastic cup - You can make holes by heating up the tip of adult scissors over a flame and holding the hot scissors on the plastic until holes have been melted. Obviously, this step is only for adults. Please use caution when working with hot scissors.
    • Provide your child with 5 pipe cleaners in various colors and the cup with the holes. Have your child push both ends of a pipe cleaner into one hole to form a feather.
    • Cut a turkey body out of brown construction paper. The turkey body will look like a bowling pin. Cut a shape that is big enough to disguise the cup but not so big that it will flop over when attached to the cup.
    • Attach the googly eyes to the turkey's head using glue.
    • Make a beak by cutting and gluing orange construction paper to the turkey.
    • When the glue has dried, tape the body to the cup and spread out the pipe cleaner feathers.

    Video

    Notes

    I used a plastic cup for this activity because I had some leftover from a previous party. You can use a paper cup as well.

    More Thanksgiving Recipes and Kids Crafts

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      Thanksgiving Activities For Kids
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      Kids Thanksgiving Crafts
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      Thanksgiving Memory Game Printable
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      Free Printable Thanksgiving Placemats

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    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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