Kids Can Make a Turkey Centerpiece for the Table

Create a Construction Paper and Paint Thanksgiving Decoration

Nov 9, 2009 Susan Caplan

Paint and paper are all that it takes for kids to create a turkey decoration that can be used as a Thanksgiving table centerpiece.

Incorporate a large paper turkey into a floral centerpiece for the main table, feature this turkey at the children’s table, or make several small turkeys that will act as place cards at the table. Kids dip their fingers in paint and press them against construction paper to make the details for the feathers.

Make a Sponge Stamp Pad

Wet a rectangular sponge and squeeze out the excess water. Place each sponge in a pie tin. Pour two quarter-sized drops of tempera paint on a sponge. For this turkey project, use colors like orange, brown, yellow, and black. Keep one color to each sponge.

With the fingers, spread the paint over the sponge. Press the fingers against a piece of scrap paper to test the intensity of the color. There should be enough paint so the fingerprints can be seen clearly without too many gloppy spots.

Make Fingerprint Feathers

Place four fingers, from near the palm to the tip, on one of the sponge stamp pads. To avoid mixing the colors on the stamp pads, press the fingers in one stamp pad at a time. Spread the fingers apart and press down on a sheet of orange, brown, yellow, or black paper. Cover the sheet of paper with full finger prints. Make fingerprints with the same color paint onto different colored paper. The larger the turkey, the more fingerprint feathers needed.

Wash hands, remove all of the paint and then make more finger marks with different color paint. Allow the prints to dry. When dry, cut around the marks, making each shape look like a feather, or an elongated oval.

Make a Paper Turkey

Cut two piece of brown or tan construction paper into strips that will be folded and glued or taped into tubes. A small tube will create the head and the larger tube will create the body. The size of the tubes determines the size of the turkey. For a large centerpiece, use a piece of paper 18” x 24” for the body and a piece 9” x 12” for the head. For individual place cards, use strips of paper 3” x 9” and 1-1/2” x 6”.

Fold the strip so the short ends touch and glue or tape in place. Glue the head to the body so the flat parts of the tubes touch. Cut eyes, beak, wattle, and turkey feet from scraps of construction paper. Glue the feathers in a fan shape to the backside of the turkey (the size of the tube opposite the head). Make a few fans of feathers to give the turkey an impressive display. Hot glue the turkey to a skewer or two and work it into a flower arrangement.

With paint and paper, children can create a turkey for a Thanksgiving table centerpiece or a flock of smaller turkeys as individual place cards. This project can help occupy children the day before or morning of the big dinner. Be certain to have other simple activities and games ready to occupy children before, during, and after the meal.

The copyright of the article Kids Can Make a Turkey Centerpiece for the Table in Kids Crafts is owned by Susan Caplan. Permission to republish Kids Can Make a Turkey Centerpiece for the Table in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Paper Turkey

Paper Tube Turkey

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