There’s a stack of empty cardboard tubes in nearly every house by November, and most of them go straight into the recycling bin. This is one of those crafts that puts them to work instead.
The turkey stands on a toilet paper roll, so it holds itself up without any folding or fussing. And the eight feathers behind it are the real point. Each one holds something the children are thankful for, written in their own hand.
It comes together in about fifteen minutes, which makes it a good one for younger children and for mornings when you don’t have long.
a little about this craft
Children color and cut out a round little turkey in a pilgrim hat, holding a sign that reads “Thank You God For…” Every feather they add finishes that sentence, and the thanks goes to God.
Then the turkey is glued onto a covered toilet paper roll, with the feathers fanned out behind it. The roll does all the work of standing, so the finished craft is sturdy enough to sit on a table or a windowsill all through the season.
That sign says plainly what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
There are eight feathers, which is a comfortable number for one child to fill in without running out of ideas. If you’d like a bigger version with fifteen feathers and a paper base instead of a roll, our easy 3D turkey craft is the one to reach for.
what you’ll need
There’s nothing fancy here, and you probably have most of it already.
- The free printable (you’ll find it near the end of this post)
- An empty toilet paper roll, or a paper towel tube cut down to size
- Brown paper or brown paint to cover the roll
- Regular paper or cardstock for the printable
- Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
- Scissors
- A glue stick, and tape if you’re covering the roll with paper
- A pen or fine marker for writing on the feathers
The printable comes in two versions, one already colored and one in black and white. If you’re working with the littlest ones or you’re short on time, print the color set and go straight to cutting. The black and white set gives them more to do, since the coloring becomes part of the afternoon.
If you have a growing collection of cardboard tubes, these cute toilet paper roll crafts for kids will help you use up a few more.
how to make the turkey toilet paper roll craft
The steps are simple enough for a child to follow with a little help.
1. print and color the pieces
Print the turkey and the feather pages. If you’re using the black and white version, let the little ones color the turkey and the eight feathers however they like.
Mine tend to reach for the same two or three colors every time, and that’s just fine.
2. cut out the turkey and feathers
Cut out the turkey along with the sign in its hands, then cut out the eight feathers.
The feathers are long and rounded, so it helps to cut those ahead of time for younger children while they work on the coloring.
3. write what you’re thankful for
This step is the heart of the whole craft. Have them write one thankful thing on each feather. It might be their family, their friends, their home, food to eat, good health, their pets, or God’s love.
Little ones who aren’t writing yet can tell you theirs and let you write it down, or draw a small picture instead. Don’t rush this part, because the list is the whole point of the turkey.
4. cover the toilet paper roll
Wrap the roll in brown paper and tape it closed, or paint it brown and let it dry.
Painting takes longer, so if you’re working with a group or you’re short on time, the paper is the easier way.
5. glue everything onto the roll
Glue the feathers around the back of the roll so they fan out above it like a tail, spacing them evenly. Then glue the turkey onto the front, covering the ends of the feathers.
Stand it up and give the glue a minute to set. Then read the feathers out loud together and thank God for each one. That’s a sweet way to finish the afternoon.
simple ways to use this craft
One of the nice things about this craft is how many places it fits.
- On the Thanksgiving table, as a little place setting each child makes for themselves
- In Sunday school or children’s church, since the pieces are few enough for a whole class to finish in one sitting
- At home or in your homeschool, as a quiet November afternoon
- As a gift for a grandparent, with the feathers filled in about them
If you’d like more for a Sunday school morning, these thanksgiving sunday school crafts pair nicely with it. And for a few more ideas to fill out the season, take a look at these easy thanksgiving crafts for kids.
grab the FREE turkey toilet paper roll craft
The free printable is yours to download and print as many times as you need for your family, your classroom, or your co-op. Both the color and black and white versions are included, along with eight feathers, so you can pick whatever works for the children you’re with.
Get the FREE Turkey Toilet Paper Roll Craft
Don’t let Thanksgiving pass without your kids saying thank you to God—help them name their blessings one feather at a time.
With this free turkey toilet paper roll craft, kids color the turkey and his feathers, then write one thing they’re thankful to God for on each one. The turkey wraps around an empty toilet paper roll so he stands up holding a sign that reads “Thank You God for…”
a gentle thought before you go
Children don’t learn to be thankful by being told to be thankful. They learn it by stopping long enough to name a few good things out loud, which is easier to do when their hands are busy.
A cardboard tube and some paper feathers won’t do that work on their own. But they give a child a reason to sit down, think of eight good things, and remember that every one of them came from God.
If you make this one at home, in a classroom, or with a little group, I’d love to hear how it went. Leave a comment below and tell me what ended up on your feathers.
With love,
Betty
frequently asked questions
what age is this craft best for?
It works well for children around three and up. The roll takes care of the standing, so there’s no folding to manage, and that makes it easier for little hands than most standing crafts. For the youngest ones, do the cutting yourself and let them color, write, and glue.
do I need a toilet paper roll, or can I use something else?
A paper towel tube cut down to about four inches works just as well. If you don’t have either, roll a piece of cardstock into a tube and tape it closed. Anything that stands on its own will do the job.
should I print on cardstock or regular paper?
Regular paper is fine here, since the roll does the standing rather than the paper. Cardstock makes the feathers a bit sturdier if you have it, but it isn’t necessary.
what if my child can’t write yet?
That’s perfectly okay. Let them tell you their thankful things and write the words for them, or let them draw a small picture on each feather instead. Saying it out loud is the part that matters.
how long does it take to make?
Plan on about fifteen minutes with the color version and closer to thirty with the black and white one, since the coloring takes a while. If you’re painting the roll instead of covering it with paper, allow a little extra time for it to dry.
