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I’m always on the hunt for easy seasonal crafts that pull double duty – something that keeps the kids busy on chilly fall afternoons and adds a touch of festive cheer to our holiday decor. This Pilgrim Turkey paper craft checks both boxes! It’s simple to make, adorable to display, and requires only a few basic supplies.
Whether you’re crafting as a family, planning a classroom activity, or looking for a screen-free boredom buster, this little turkey will quickly earn a spot on your Thanksgiving table or mantel.
Here’s a simple tutorial that you can follow to recreate these turkeys!
Supplies
- Cardstock or construction paper in: kraft/brown (body + wings), black (hat), yellow (hat band), orange (beak), red (wattle), green/blue/orange/red (feathers), white (eye whites)
- Glue stick or tacky glue
- Scissors
- Black marker (medium tip works great for the cartoon outline)
Before You Start: Cut Your Shapes
Use the photos for reference and freehand the pieces, or lightly sketch first:
- Body: 1 rectangle (about 5″ × 7″ works well), cut from kraft/brown.
- Hat: 1 top-hat shape from black (a rectangle with a wider brim at the bottom).
- Hat band: 1 yellow strip.
- Feathers for hat: 3–4 tear-drop shapes in bright colors.
- Eyes: 2 white circles + 2 black crescent pupils.
- Beak: 1 large diamond/kite shape from orange (slightly wider than the space between the eyes).
- Wattle: 1 red droplet shape.
- Wings: 1 brown circle cut in half, then snip two small inner “feather” scoops on each half.
Tip: Keep the shapes on the larger side – this gives kids more gluing room.
How to Make a Pilgrim Turkey
- Outline the pieces.
Using a black marker, trace around every cut piece (hat, band, feathers, wings, eyes, beak, wattle). The bold outline gives the craft its cute, cartoon look. - Build the hat.
Glue the 2 black rectangle pieces together like this:
- Attach the hat to the body.
Place the hat along the top edge of the brown body rectangle and glue down. The brim should slightly overlap the body so it looks like the hat is sitting on the turkey’s head.
- Add the eyes and accessories.
Glue the black crescent pupils onto the whites, both pointed in the same direction for a goofy, friendly expression. Glue the eyes to the brown rectangle, under the hat. Glue the yellow band across the black hat. Layer the colorful feathers so they peek out from the left side of the band. Set aside to dry for a minute.
- Add the beak and wattle.
Glue the orange beak centered between the eyes with a corner pointing down (diamond orientation). Tuck the red wattle just under the right side of the beak so it peeks out.
- Glue on the wings.
Glue a half-circle wing to each side of the body, curves facing out and the feather notches pointing inward. With the black marker, draw small “V” marks on the body to suggest feathers.
- Let it dry and display.
Allow the glue to dry completely. Hang your Pilgrim Turkey on the fridge, bulletin board, or front door, or mount it on a larger sheet of paper as a festive placemat.
Classroom & Group Tips
- Pre-cut the small pieces (eyes, pupils, wattle) for younger crafters.
- Use glue sticks for speed; switch to tacky glue for foam sheets.
- Send home on a 9″ × 12″ background sheet so it travels flat in backpacks.
Variations to Try
- Paper bag puppet: Glue the face to the flap of a brown lunch bag and add feet under the body.
- Holiday Place cards: Shrink the template pieces and write names on the yellow hat band.
Be sure you browse through our collection of Thanksgiving content while you’re here!
Finished Pilgrim Turkey
You’re done! The bright hat feathers and oversized beak give this turkey tons of personality. Make a whole flock for your Thanksgiving table or classroom door.
Let us know if you give this craft a try! We’d love to hear how it turned out for you!
