# Paper Roll Turkey Place Cards
> Turn half a toilet paper roll into a little turkey with a brown paper body, googly eyes and a colorful fan tail folded from printing paper. Add a name label to the belly and use the turkeys as Thanksgiving place cards.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-for-kids/
- Ages: 3–7 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low
- Time: prep 20 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: fine-motor, scissor-skills, folding, colors, following-directions

## Materials (one batch)
- 0.5 piece Toilet paper rolls (household)
- Brown construction paper
- Colored printing paper
- 2 piece Googly eyes
- Glue
- 1 piece Stapler (household)
- 1 roll Tape (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)

## Safety
- Googly eyes are small parts and a choking hazard. Supervise closely, especially with children who still mouth objects.
- Supervise scissors and the stapler. An adult can do the stapling for younger children.

## Before you start
- Halve the toilet paper rolls (one roll makes two turkeys).
- For younger children or a whole class, consider pre-cutting the brown turkey bodies.

## Steps
1. Cut a toilet paper roll in half.
2. Cut a turkey body from brown construction paper.
3. Glue the turkey body to the paper tube.
4. Add the eyes, beak, wattle and feet.
5. Fold colored printing paper back and forth in a zig-zag to make fans for the feathers.
6. Cut the fans shorter to suit your roll, or keep them long.
7. Staple different colored fans together and gently separate the folds to open out the tail.
8. Place the feathers on to the paper tube behind the turkey.
9. For place cards, cut out a small label, write a name on it and attach it to the turkey's belly.

## Tips
- We used colored printing paper so little hands could easily manipulate it, and of course for the vibrant colors.
- We cut our fans short because we liked our turkeys to be little cutie-patooties!
- Let the kids set the table with their turkeys. Big S loves to set the table for dinners.
- These will be great for the kids' table!
- A parent planned it as something for the kids to do while dinner cooks: it helps the day go quicker, they get to contribute, and the table looks more special. (from readers)
- A reader made it with her 7-year-old and found it fun. (from readers)

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2012)

We are back with another Thanksgiving craft, this time for a preschooler. What's Thanksgiving without a turkey anyway ? The ever (in)famous paper roll never disappoints us with it's infinite crafting possibilities. We made a paper roll turkey craft.My 4 year old had an amazing time making this thanksgiving craft and we are planning on using them as our place cards at our big Thanksgiving dinner. [ Access all our [**paper roll crafts**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/paper-rolls/) here] Simple yet cute, these birds will be the talk at your dinner table!

- Paper Rolls
- Construction paper
- Colored printing paper
- Glue
- **[Googly Eyes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0074MHV7W/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- Stapler
- Tape
- Scissors

**Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving**

### Step 1: Getting the parts ready

Halve the toilet paper rolls. Cut a body for the turkey from brown construction paper. Glue the turkey body to the paper tube. 

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### Step 2 : Add the features

Add the eyes, beak, wattle and feet. 

### Step 3: Making the feathers

We used colored printing paper so little hands could easily manipulate them and of course for their vibrant colors.. To make the feathers , fold in a zig-zag pattern to make fans or in this case, turkey feathers.  Now depending on the length of your toilet rolls you can cut the fans or keep them long. We cut ours because we liked our turkeys to be little cutie- patooties! Staple different colored fans and gently separate the folds to open out the fan. Place them on to the paper tubes.  Since we are using our turkeys as placecards, we cut out a small labels with names and attached it to the belly. Big S loves to set the table for dinners and she is looking forward to setting the table for our big Thanksgiving dinner.  Which bird gets the raves at the table? – Will it be my 10 pounder Butterball or Big S’s cutie-patootie TP roll bird? 

### Heres' a thought:

You can expand on this idea to make a center piece, or placecards like we did, or even turn them into party favors for your guests. Just close the the bottom of the paper tube and place some treats or thank you notes for your guests to to take home.

**Thanks for reading**

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