It’s that time of year when turkeys take the spotlight in crafts and activities! If you’re looking for a fun and engaging Thanksgiving craft that also doubles as a puppet, this paper plate turkey craft is perfect for preschoolers and toddlers.
With its bright fall colors and simple assembly, it’s a fantastic way to keep little hands busy while working on fine motor skills.
Plus, who doesn’t love a turkey that bobs and moves around? Let’s find out more about this fun project – and to make it even easier for you we have a free printable template for this fun craft.
What You’ll Need for your Fine Motor Paper Plate Turkey
This turkey craft is made with easy-to-find simple materials and craft supplies, most of which you probably already have at home or in your craft stash including paper plates which are a classic for simple toddler crafts.
The scrunching of tissue paper and assembling the turkey offers great opportunities for kids to practice fine motor skills while having a blast. The scrunching of tissue paper in this craft is more than just a fun way to craft – it’s a fantastic way to develop fine motor skills in young kids.
As they scrunch the tissue paper into tiny balls, they strengthen the small muscles in their fingers and hands, which are essential for tasks like writing, cutting, and buttoning clothes.
This repetitive motion also helps with hand-eye coordination and encourages focus, making it an engaging and beneficial activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Plus, it’s a sensory delight that keeps kids happily busy!
How to Make the Bobbing Turkey Puppet
Follow along with the step by step below for detailed instructions on how to make this fun fall craft with the whole family.
Paper Plate Turkey Puppet Craft
Create a playful paper plate turkey that bobs and moves! With vibrant fall colors, scrunched tissue paper feathers, and a fun puppet design, this easy turkey craft craft is a Thanksgiving hit for little hands.
Materials
- 2 paper plates
- Brown paint
- Free printable turkey template (download below!)
- Googly eyes (optional if preferred over using the template)
- Colored construction paper (yellow, red, brown, white)
- Tissue paper in fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown)
- Popsicle stick
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions
- Take one of the paper plates and cut it as shown in the template (into a half-circle shape). This will be the front of your turkey.
- Paint the half-circle brown and let it dry completely.
- Cut two smaller pieces from the left over from that paper plate
- Paint these a darker brown and leave to dry
- Once all the paint is dry, glue these pieces together as shown.
- Download and print the free turkey template (link below).
- Cut out the shapes from the template and trace them onto the colored construction paper.
- Assemble the turkey head by gluing the pieces together - first the eyes
If you prefer you can switch these to googly eyes, or just stick with the ones provided in the template - Then the beak
and wattle 
and a frill for the neck 
- Glue the turkey head to a popsicle stick.
- Take the second paper plate and divide it into sections. Scrunch small pieces of tissue paper into little balls
- Now glue them onto the plate, filling each section with a different color. This will create the turkey’s colorful tail feathers.
- Glue the painted half-circle plate onto the front of the tissue-paper-covered plate, leaving a small gap at the top to fit the turkey head.
- Insert the turkey popsicle stick through the gap between the two plates so that the head pops out at the top.
And voilà! You now have a fun turkey puppet that can bob and move when you wiggle the popsicle stick.
This easy turkey craft is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with some fun Thanksgiving crafting! Using simple materials like paper plates, tissue paper, and our free template, this little project is a great way to keep kids of all ages entertained.
The best part of this craft is that it doubles as a fine motor workout and a fun fall craft. Scrunching up tissue paper is an easy way for kid’s little hands to strengthen their muscles and improve coordination, making it a great opportunity to build skills while creating something special.
This cute turkey craft uses different materials like tissue paper and construction paper to keep the process engaging, and it’s a great activity to share with the whole family. Whether you’re prepping for Turkey Day or looking for fun Thanksgiving activities to keep the kids busy, this easy craft will make sure everyone has a wonderful time crafting together.
Download the Free Turkey Template
To make things even easier, we’ve created a free printable turkey template for you to use. Simply download it, print it, and let the crafting fun begin! Click below to download the template now!
Terms of use: This free printable turkey head template is free for personal use, and free for classroom use. Not for commercial use.
This craft isn’t just adorable – it’s also packed with benefits for kids! The scrunching of tissue paper helps develop those little finger muscles, and assembling the turkey encourages creativity and fine motor coordination.
It’s a great project for toddlers and preschoolers, especially as part of a Thanksgiving activity day or classroom craft. Plus, the end result is a moving puppet that kids will love to play with, making it both a craft and a toy in one!
More Turkey Crafts for Kids
Looking for even more turkey-themed fun? We have plenty of turkey crafts to keep the creativity flowing! From paper turkeys to handprint keepsakes, there’s something for everyone. Check out our full collection of turkey crafts for kids and get inspired for more Thanksgiving fun.
- Hopping Turkey Paper Cup Craft
- Easy and Cute Pumpkin Turkey Craft
- Easy Printable Turkey Handprint Craft
- DIY Thanksgiving Paper Plate Turkey Craft for Toddlers
- 3D Pumpkin Thanksgiving Card Craft
- Free Build a Turkey Printable Kids Craft
- Thanksgiving Turkey Headband Craft Printable For Kids
Share the Fun!
We’d love to see your turkey puppets in action! You can come share with us in our kids crafts Facebook group and if you enjoyed this craft, share this blog post with your friends on Pinterest, Facebook, or wherever you love to hang out online. Let’s spread some Thanksgiving crafting joy! Happy crafting.
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