My plan
Fun Littles

Fun and easy kids activities

Paper Roll Turkey Place Cards

Nov 8, 201226,826 views
Crafts
Thanksgiving Crafts for kids : Paper roll turkey Save
Paper Roll Turkey Place Cards Save
Paper Roll Turkey Place Cards Save
hanksgiving craft paper roll turkey Save

by TurkeyMom in Crafts

Ages3–7 yrs
Prep20 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

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.

⚠️ Safety first

  • 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 the kids arrive

  • 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.from the author
  • We cut our fans short because we liked our turkeys to be little cutie-patooties!from the author
  • Let the kids set the table with their turkeys. Big S loves to set the table for dinners.from the author
  • These will be great for the kids' table!from the author
  • 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

Make it your own

  • Use them as place cards at Thanksgiving dinner.
  • Make a group of turkeys into a centerpiece.
  • Turn them into party favors: close the bottom of the tube and fill it with treats or thank-you notes for guests to take home.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · November 2012
Thanksgiving Crafts for kids : Paper roll turkey
We made a paper roll turkey craft. My 4 year old had an amazing time making it, and we are planning on using them as place cards at our big Thanksgiving dinner.
1 / 7

Paper Roll Turkey Place Cards: the original post

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 here] Simple yet cute, these birds will be the talk at your dinner table!

  • Paper Rolls
  • Construction paper
  • Colored printing paper
  • Glue
  • Googly Eyes
  • 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.

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? hanksgiving craft paper roll turkey

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

---

What readers say

💬 8 comments ✍️ 2 answered by the author

🎉 Worked for us

Keeps kids busy while dinner cooks

A parent planned to make these with her kids while Thanksgiving dinner cooks, so they can contribute and the table looks more special.

“I like to have something for them to do while our dinner is being cooked. It helps the day go quicker, they get to contribute”
Stephanie Cameron, Nov 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Fun with a 7-year-old too

A parent made the paper roll turkeys with her 7-year-old and enjoyed it, so it works for kids older than preschool.

“This was so fun to make with my 7 year old.”
Samantha, Nov 2013

✨ Readers' twist

Place cards for the kids table

TurkeyMom suggests the turkeys make great place cards for the kids table at a holiday dinner.

“Of course- these will be great for the kids table!”
TurkeyMom, Nov 2013

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 8 comments

  1. TurkeyMomAuthor · Nov 2013 · replying to Samantha

    Glad you enjoyed making this with your child. Thanks for sharing your experience :)

  2. TurkeyMomAuthor · Nov 2013 · replying to Stephanie Cameron

    Of course- these will be great for the kids table! Happy Holidays :)

  3. Samantha · Nov 2013

    This was so fun to make with my 7 year old. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Stephanie Cameron · Nov 2013

    I'll be doing this craft with my kids this year! I like to have something for them to do while our dinner is being cooked. It helps the day go quicker, they get to contribute, and the table will look more special. Thank u for sharing. Happy Holidays!

  5. Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories · Nov 2012

    I love the colorful feathers! Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Showcase. :)

  6. Penny · Nov 2012

    These are too cute! And what a comprehensive guide on how to make them. Perfect for Thanksgiving!

  7. Dortha · Nov 2012

    Something to keep those little hands busy :)

Similar activities

25 Butterfly Crafts and Art Activities

25 ideas2–8 yrs

Easy Toddler Christmas Wreath

35 min2–5 yrs

Jack-O-Lantern Silhouette Sun Catchers

35 min2–7 yrs

Simple Hanging Ghost Craft

20 min3–6 yrs
🛒 Materials