Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft
Turkey craft made from an empty toilet paper roll I always have laying around, construction paper, and googly eyes. This easy toilet paper roll turkey craft uses simple supplies most parents already have to make a cute Thanksgiving turkey kids will keep around as decoration through November. The perfect easy turkey craft for preschool classrooms, kindergarten Thanksgiving units, homeschool activities, or family Thanksgiving crafting afternoons.
The Easy Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft That Kids Will Actually Want to Put on Display
Two things make this toilet paper roll turkey craft for kids a Thanksgiving classic in my winning parenting-toolkit. The supplies list is stuff you already have! Just empty toilet paper rolls, construction paper scraps, googly eyes from some previous project. No craft store run required and no scrambling for specialty Thanksgiving craft supplies at the grocery store when everyone else is buying the last of the Thanksgiving pumpkin decor in November. The finished turkey looks legitimately cute enough that my kids have wanted to keep theirs around as actual Thanksgiving decoration, which is high praise from a crew of kids whose crafts usually end up in the recycling bin the next day.
A few practical notes from making these for classroom parties and family Thanksgiving crafting. Start collecting empty toilet paper rolls a few weeks before you need them, especially if you’re making a batch for a classroom. Pre-cut the feather and face shapes for younger preschoolers who don’t have scissor skills yet, this keeps the focus on assembly rather than frustration with cutting. Use fall-colored construction paper like red, orange, yellow, brown for authentic turkey feather colors. And add a name tag to each finished turkey to use them as place cards at the kids table for actual Thanksgiving dinner. My kids have used theirs three years running.
Why You’ll Love This Craft
- With minimal supplies needed it’s an easy craft that you can probably do with craft supplies you have in your house, including the empty toilet paper rolls that have been piling up for a craft like this one!
- This turkey toilet paper roll craft is great for kids of all ages. Elementary school aged children can do it completely on their own and preschoolers can help cut, glue and create with a little help.
- Perfect to do in the classroom, at home or at your holiday parties, this is a craft everyone will love making.
Supplies Needed
- Empty toilet paper roll – Finally, a chance to use that stash in the craft cupboard! A paper towel roll cut in half works great, too or even cut an empty roll of wrapping paper into several pieces. In a pinch, cut a rectangle out of cardstock and tape it into the shape of a toilet paper roll.
- Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft Template – All of the pieces you will need to make this craft.
- Cardstock – I used red, orange, yellow, blue, green and purple to create turkey feathers, but use whatever colors you’d like!
- Small googly eyes – If you don’t have any googly eyes, you can also cut small circles out of white paper and use a black marker for the center.
- Glue stick – Glue sticks are less messy and take less time to dry than a liquid glue.
- Scissors – Use safety scissors for small kids, or have an adult do the cutting.
Variations
- Trace the kids’ handprints for the feather shapes. Don’t forget to write the year on one!
- Use craft feathers, tissue paper, foam or felt instead of paper to change up the texture.
- Make mama, papa, and baby turkeys as a family set. Paper towel and wrapping paper rolls are great ways to make different sized turkeys.
- Attach the finished turkeys to a craft sticks to make hand puppets.
How to Make Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys
Print template. Begin by printing the turkey template. Cut out all the pieces.
Make feathers. Trace the feathers on 6 different colors of cardstock and cut out.
Make base for feathers. Trace the half circle on the color of your choice and cut out. Glue the feathers around the half circle.
Cut slots for feathers. Make 2 snips in the cardboard roll, about halfway down. Adhere googly eyes between the snips.
Cut and arrange beak and wattle. Cut the turkey’s beak out of orange paper, fold in half so it flaps, and the wattle out of red. Glue both into place.
Create feet. Cut two feet out of orange paper and glue those in place.
Add feathers. Insert the feathers into the slits in the cardboard roll to complete the turkey.
More Thanksgiving Activity Ideas
- Keep the kid’s minds active while they wait for the big meal with this free Thanksgiving Word Find Printable.
- Another fun craft is these quick and easy Fall Leaf Pom Pom Paintings. This is a great one for the kids to do all October long.
- Love mind games? Check out these free Thanksgiving Sudoku puzzles!
- Keep everyone entertained with a friendly game of Thanksgiving Bingo.
Pro Tips
- Step it up a notch and paint the toilet paper rolls a darker shade of brown ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the really fun part! There are so many different ways to use this toilet paper turkey craft. If you have a lot of kids to make these turkeys, ask them to make enough for everyone and use them as a place setting.
Younger children might enjoy practicing their fine motor skills using clothespins to hang them on a string, like a garland.
Before gluing the colored feathers onto the half circle, you can have everyone write something they are grateful for on each feather.
Equipment
Ingredients
- Turkey Template
- Cardboard roll
- Cardstock – red orange, yellow, blue, green, purple
- Googly eyes small
Instructions
- Begin by printing the turkey template. Cut out all the pieces.
- Trace the feathers on 6 different colors of cardstock. Cut out feathers.
- Trace the half circle on the color of your choice and cut out.
- Glue the feathers around the half circle.
- Now, make 2 snips in the cardboard roll, about halfway down.
- Adhere googly eyes in the middle of the snips.
- Cut the beak out of orange paper, fold in half so it flaps, and the snood out of red. Glue in place.
- Next, cut two feet out of orange paper and glue those in place.
- Finally, insert the feathers into the slits on the cardboard roll.
More Toilet Paper Roll Craft Ideas for Any Time of Year
- Have the kids create some fun rockets and see who’s will fly the furthest!
- Be sure to put this bird feeder out for your feathered friends before it gets too cold.
- How much fun is this Roll Frog craft? SO much! And you’ve probably already got everything you need for it at home.
