Torn Paper Turkey Craft for Kids is a fun, hands-on art project that’s perfect for fall and Thanksgiving. If you’re looking for an easy way to keep your kids learning and creating during the season, this craft is a great way to keep little hands busy while sneaking in some educational moments.

Hunting for more ideas? Don’t miss my full collection of turkey ideas in my list of turkey activities for kids. It’s packed with crafts, printables, and simple projects you can do with early learners at home.

I’m sharing how we made our own paper turkey, what you need to make it, and how this simple craft can teach more than just scissor skills. I also added a few book suggestions, toy ideas, and ways to build on the craft with more turkey-themed learning. Stick around and get inspired.

The finished Torn Paper Turkey Craft for Kids placed on a table

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How to Make Learning About Turkeys Fun

Try this Thanksgiving turkey craft to bring up colors, shapes, and bird facts without needing a full lesson.
Use cutting and tearing paper as a way to build fine motor skills.
Let your child match shapes and colors as they build their turkey.
Turn the project into a quiet bonding moment by working alongside them and chatting as you go.

Recommended Turkey Books

These read-alouds add extra learning to your day and give your child more context about turkeys and Thanksgiving. Try one before or after your craft time.

A Plump and Perky Turkey Turkey Claus (Turkey Trouble)Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble (Ready, Freddy! #15)Turkeys on the Family Farm (Animals on the Family Farm)Turkey: Fun Facts on Farm Animals for Kids #10 Turkeys in Disguise

What can kids learn from this turkey activity?

This craft may look simple, but there’s plenty going on under the surface. Here are a few things your child can pick up:

Fine motor skills from tearing paper, using scissors, and assembling the pieces
Following directions through multi-step instructions and visual cues
Color and shape recognition while matching the feather colors and body parts

Recommended Thanksgiving Printable Packs

You can also build on this activity with my printable packs. They’re print-and-go ready, so if you want to keep the learning going, just print and start.

Little Learners Print & Go Activity Kit: Thanksgiving

pages of Junior Scientist Science Study: Turkey Life Cycle

The final result of the Torn Paper Turkey Craft for Kids

Turkey Craft Supplies Needed

Construction paper
Paper plate
Marker
Scissors
Double-sided tape or glue

Recommended Turkey Toys

If your child loves hands-on learning, a few themed toys can help them stay focused even longer. Look for ones that encourage pretend play, problem-solving, or building skills.

PLUS PLUS – Mini Maker Tube – Turkey – 70 Piece, Construction Building Stem Toy, Interlocking Mini Puzzle Blocks for Kids Schleich Farm World, Animal Toys for Boys and Girls, Realistic Bird, Turkey Toy Figurine, Ages 3+Safari Ltd. Domestic Turkey Figurine – Detailed 3 Mud Pie Kids Turkey Shaped Floor Puzzle, 21 Thanksgiving Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles 100 Pieces for Adult Kids – Thanksgiving Turkey Wood Puzzle Fall Harvest Autumn Pumpkin Puzzle Flower Garden Sunflower Puzzle Fun Educational Toy 4E’s Novelty Thanksgiving Craft for Kids (Makes 4) Includes Pinecone Turkey, Thankful Tree, Turkey Plate Craft, Pilgrim Magnet, DIY Dinner Activity for Toddlers Kids Adults

Materials needed for the Torn Paper Turkey Craft for Kids

Making the Turkey Craft

I first worked on this project with my daughter when she was younger. She loved being able to tear the paper instead of cutting everything perfectly, and that freedom made the project more fun. We talked about turkey feathers and how they help birds stay warm.

This activity is also ideal when you have more than one child working at a time. My kids always ended up making theirs look a little different, which was fine. Some feathers were arranged in neat rows, while others were scattered all over the place, but it still worked.

We hung our turkeys on the wall for the season. Even my teenager at the time stopped to say, “That actually looks like a turkey,” which I’ll take as a win. It was one of those easy projects that didn’t require a lot of prep but gave us a solid half hour of creativity.

A collage of steps to make the Torn Paper Turkey Craft for Kids

Ways to Extend the Activity

This turkey project can easily lead to more learning or themed activities. Here are a few simple ways to build on it:

Make a Turkey Lapbook – Use this Turkey Lapbook to collect turkey facts and add more writing practice to your day.
Try Turkey STEM Activities – Check out these Turkey STEM Activities to work in some science and engineering thinking.
Read Turkey-Themed Books – Follow up with a turkey read-aloud that matches their reading level.
Create a Turkey Sensory Bin – Fill a bin with feathers, corn, and small turkey toys to explore with their hands.

More Turkey Activities To Try

Looking for even more turkey-themed projects? Try these next:

Fun Turkey Crafts for Kids
Turkey Activities for Kindergarten
Turkey Activities for Toddlers
Turkey Coloring Pages by Simple Everyday Mom
Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies using Pudding Cups by Crystal and Comp.

A Torn Paper Turkey Craft for Kids on a blue table.

Crafts like the Turkey Art Project are a great way to bring learning into your day without a formal lesson. With just a few supplies and a bit of time, you can teach real skills and make lasting memories at the same time.