a F.U.N. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Crafts





Here are some Thanksgiving craft ideas.
If you have an idea you'd like to share, we'd love to add it!



THANKSGIVING DINNER PLACEMAT
MATERIALS: Construction paper, Scissors, Glue, Crayons or markers, Old magazines
INSTRUCTIONS: Ask the children to make a placemat for every guest. Have the children think about things they know about every person and make a personalized placemat specifically with someone in mind. If you have a newcomer, this gives children a chance to get to know them and makes that guest feel welcome in the process. They can use pictures from old magazines, drawings or both.


PAPER SACK PUPPETS
MATERIALS: Small brown paper bags; Poster paints and brushes, crayons, or markers; Scissors; Pencil; White glue;
Any of these: beads, feathers, buttons, fluffy white cotton, material scraps, colored paper
INSTRUCTIONS: This special activity lets children exercise their imaginations in many different ways. Plus, the children's performances can provide some fun for an adult audience. It's a bonus that paper bag puppets are easy to make and fun to use.


LEAF RUBBING PLACE CARDS
MATERIALS: Typing paper, Crayons, Scissors, Dry leaves, List of guests' names
INSTRUCTIONS: Ask children to help you make the name cards and seating arrangements for dinner. Have the children cut each piece of typing paper in fourths then fold each of those in half. Tell them to insert a leaf inside each and gently rub a crayon across the front. Provide them with a list of names to copy for place settings. And then, have the children place each name card at a table setting.


TURKEY NAPKIN HOLDER
MATERIALS: 9"lightweight paper plate, poster paint and a small brush, scrap construction paper, scissors, marker, tape
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Roughly paint the plate's edges (like feathers, each indentation a different color). Let dry.
  2. Cut a 2 1/2" long scrap of construction paper, rounding one end to make head.
  3. Carefully notch a v-shape on head for a beak, or draw a beak with marker. Cut or draw two curves along side of head for turkey's wattle.
  4. Draw eyes.
  5. Bend the paper plate in two straight lines--one 3 1/2" from the top, one 3 1/2" from the bottom.
  6. Bend head 1/2" from the straight edge. Secure it to the bottom of the paper plate with tape.


BLESSING TREE
MATERIALS: 18"x12" piece of blue felt for background; 6"x5" piece of brown felt, cut in the shape of a tree trunk; glue; about 20 small pieces of felt, cut into leaf shapes; fabric paint (paint pen); 14" rod; yarn
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Glue tree trunk to felt background.
  2. Glue background to the rod to make a banner.
  3. Tie yarn around rod to hang banner.
  4. On each leaf, write a blessing using fabric paint. Let dry.
  5. Stick felt leaves to the background to form a tree.


CLAY POT TURKEYS - SUBMITTED BY NATI
MATERIALS: Clay pots,2 1/4' tall,four. Wooden ball knobs, 1 1/2' diameter, four Autumn silk leaves:3 1/2'across 3"long, four;3 3/4 long, eight. Raffia. Pillar candle, 3"diameter, 8"tall. Yellow and red felt. Acrylic paints: black, white,copper terra cotta. Pink powder blush cotton swab, (I didn't do the blush and they look fine). Satin water-based sealer.
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. With sandpaper, gently sand any rough edges off clay pot and ball knob.
  2. For head, paint ball knob two coats of terra cotta/copper(I mixed them together) letting dry between coats.
  3. For body gently stroke paint over the pot making it look like feathers - just small strokes with a fan paint brush.
  4. Glue on head to top center of each body. (if your heads are totally round make sure and sand off the bottom to make it flat).
  5. Use the end of a paint brush to make the eyes, and a toothpick to put a white dot in the center of the eye. Also with toothpick put black little eyes brows above eyes.
  6. Before you put any leaves on it or the felt make sure you spray it with the sealer about two coats, let dry.
  7. Cut a beak from the yellow felt and a wattle from the red felt.
  8. Hot glue about four autumn leaves for each, then wrap a piece of raffia around and tie a bow.



WAITING FOR DINNER IDEAS
FRUIT TURKEY Give older kids a cored apple or pear half for a turkey's body. Then provide toothpicks and small foods (raisins, celery, cherries, marshmallows) that they can use to create turkey heads and tails.
 
COLORING PLACEMAT Cover the table with butcher-block paper. Trace plates at each seat. Let kids use crayons to draw a meal while they wait for the real thing. Then give them a fresh sheet while they wait for dessert!
 
SHIP OF THANKS Make a ship by attaching a construction-paper sail to a paper cup. Have each child draw or write something that he or she is thankful for on a slip of paper, then place it in the ship and sail it on to the next person. Later, take turns reading the papers and guessing who wrote what.




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