Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get creative with the kids, and these Thanksgiving paper plate crafts are a great way to celebrate the season while keeping little hands busy.
If you’re looking for more inspiration to bring Thanksgiving fun to your home or classroom, check out these Thanksgiving crafts for ideas that excite everyone.
Whether preparing for a fun-filled classroom activity or a cozy family gathering, paper plate crafts are a great way to get kids involved in the spirit of Thanksgiving. With just a few supplies, children can create festive keepsakes that make for adorable decorations or memorable gifts.
These activities are an excellent opportunity to encourage creativity and even sneak in a little learning along the way! Below are some of the most entertaining paper plate crafts to try with your kids—each one a unique way to add charm to the holiday season.
Thanksgiving Crafts With Paper Plates
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This activity allows children to explore their creativity by decorating a paper plate. With colorful materials and simple instructions, they can create something festive.
It's a beautiful way to spend time together and share laughter.
Kids can create a fun ship using simple materials like paper plates, straws, and cotton balls. This DIY project combines painting, assembling, and imaginative play as they decorate their version of a historical ship.
The sensory aspect of using cotton balls for painting adds a creative touch. It's an excellent way for kids to build fine motor skills while crafting and learning something new.
Related: Pilgrim Photo Craft
Here's a playful way to introduce a holiday favorite while mixing in some learning. Children can decorate while also practicing valuable counting skills.
This project provides the perfect blend of imagination and education.
Children will enjoy transforming basic supplies into something that celebrates holiday traditions. They can explore historical themes using a few materials while adding unique touches to the design.
This DIY is an entertaining way to combine storytelling with hands-on activities.
Children can practice recognizing and pairing colors by arranging paper feathers along a paper plate. It's a fun activity that combines sorting, coordination, and creativity.
Once finished, these turkeys make cheerful additions to a classroom board or the refrigerator, showcasing each child's unique design!
Related: Turkey Coloring Pages
This adorable creation will wobble and rock when given a gentle push, making it extra fun for the season. The little details bring it to life, and it's an entertaining way to engage kids in holiday preparation.
You'll love seeing these proudly displayed on the table or windowsill!
If you're looking for more fun with paper crafts, don't miss our delightful torn paper turkey craft!
Kids can make a colorful turkey using a paper plate and coffee filters. After painting the filters, they'll assemble their turkey by adding fun details like googly eyes.
This project is a great way to combine creativity with fine motor skill development.
Related: Turkey Paper Cup Craft
Kids can learn history by making their ship with a simple paper plate. They'll love adding sails and drawing little passengers while imagining life aboard.
It's a great hands-on way to introduce them to the past while encouraging creativity.
Related: Pilgrim Puppet Craft
Kids can design their little ship using a paper plate, paint, and paper sails. They'll love assembling the boat and adding fun details like tiny window stickers.
This hands-on activity encourages imaginative play and helps children explore history fun and creatively.
Want another similar craft? Try out this mayflower handprint craft!
It's always fun to add texture, and this one lets kids play with yarn! The mix of materials gives it a playful, unique feel, and kids will enjoy pulling everything together.
You can even use it as a decoration for family gatherings or festive celebrations.
This unique turkey activity combines outdoor fun with creativity. Kids will gather real autumn leaves to create the turkey's feathers. With a paper plate as the base, children use their leaf collection to bring their turkeys to life.
This activity also includes a movable puppet element, allowing kids to play with their turkey after assembling it.
Keep the Thanksgiving fun going with our playful turkey card craft—great for storytelling!
This activity brings smiles with its colorful and charming details. The materials are simple, and kids will enjoy choosing their colors.
It's a lovely way to keep little ones busy while creating something festive.
Related: Turkey Do A Dot Printables
With this activity, you can have fun letting kids express their creativity. Watching them decide which colors to use and how to arrange everything is a joy.
The result is always something to be proud of.
Related: Turkey Photo Craft
Get ready for a colorful splash of fun with this paper plate turkey project! Using a creative blot painting technique, preschoolers will love pressing paint on folded plates to reveal unique, vibrant feather patterns.
It's a playful way to explore colors and create a turkey whole of personality.
Related: Turkey Connect The Dots
Kids will enjoy painting and decorating their turkeys with bright, colorful feathers. Choosing and arranging the feathers adds a playful, personal touch.
The final result is a cheery, one-of-a-kind turkey perfect for holiday fun.
Related: Turkey Popsicle Stick Craft
Kids can have fun painting a paper plate and creating colorful tail feathers to bring their turkeys to life. With googly eyes and a cute beak, this playful project is perfect for the fall season.
It's a great way to boost creativity while making something fun and festive.
Related: Accordion Turkey Craft
This adorable idea uses simple materials and adds a little movement! Watching it sway back and forth adds an extra charm that kids will love.
It's the kind of activity that can spark creativity, especially when choosing colors and decorations.
Related: Thanksgiving I Spy Printables
This cute creation lets kids proudly wear their work. It's a fun combination of a hat and a playful design that will excite little ones to show off.
It's also great for group activities where everyone can customize their look!
Related: Turkey Headband Craft
This DIY is an entertaining way to add holiday cheer to your door or classroom! The circular design is a lovely detail, and combining different materials makes it even more fun.
It's a perfect choice for little hands to stay busy and engaged.
Related: Corn Puppet Craft
Kids can create a fun turkey using a paper plate and vibrant hand-painted feathers. The mix of colors makes each turkey unique, and adding little eyes and a beak gives it personality.
It's a simple, enjoyable activity that lets kids express their creativity and practice basic crafting skills.
This sweet idea gives kids a great way to think about what makes them happy. It's an enjoyable way to add a little extra to a regular afternoon activity, and the materials are simple enough that you already have them at home.
Whether indoors or outdoors, this one encourages creativity and gratitude.
This DIY is a cute way to welcome the fall season! The details added to the face make it more engaging for kids, and it's such a fun way to work with different textures.
It's perfect for a relaxing afternoon with family or in the classroom for some autumn excitement.
If you're in the mood for more seasonal crafting, why not try this cute paper plate scarecrow craft? It's perfect for Thanksgiving festivities!
This DIY is a cheerful and colorful way for kids to express their artistic side! The layering technique makes it more engaging, helping little ones focus on details.
It's the perfect activity to wind down after a busy day, plus it's just the right balance of hands-on and playful.
This bright, textured design adds charm to any craft table. It's easy to adjust depending on your surroundings, making it ideal for spontaneous fun.
Kids will love creating their masterpieces while getting hands-on with many textures and colors.
Little ones will love hands-on with the simple steps for this adorable activity. It's a great way to encourage creativity and fine motor skills while they add personal touches.
The best part is how unique each creation will be, making it memorable for the kids and adults involved.
If you’re looking for more Thanksgiving-inspired fun, why not make our adorable turkey handprint craft?
Kids can have fun turning a simple paper plate into a colorful turkey by adding bright feathers and a cheerful face.
The activity combines painting and gluing, letting children experiment with colors and create unique designs. It's a playful way to practice coordination and get into the Thanksgiving spirit.
This cute activity is perfect for adding a festive touch to any room. Children can decorate the pieces with fun details, making each pie unique.
It's also a lovely way to get into the season's spirit while enjoying quality time together.
Transform a simple paper plate into a cheerful turkey using colorful pom poms for painting. Kids will love dabbing bright colors onto their plates, bringing the turkey to life with their artistic flair.
Practicing scissors while creating a festive fridge or classroom board decoration is fun!
This adorable activity lets little ones use their imagination as they build something special. The materials are easy to find, making them great for indoor afternoons.
You can even tie the project into a story about an exciting journey across the sea!
Tiny hands make the sweetest keepsakes with this cute idea. The project is perfect for a group, with everyone adding their personal touch to create a fantastic display.
This is something you'll want to hang up and admire every year!
With just a few supplies, kids can create a charming display full of character. The little touches added along the way make each creation unique and playful.
It's a simple way to entertain young ones while working on something cute and festive.
This playful project brings a festive Thanksgiving turkey to life using warm colors and fun shapes. Kids will love seeing their turkey's tail fan out with bright paper cones while adding googly eyes, which gives it a quirky personality.
The painting, cutting, and gluing mix keeps little hands busy and encourages artistic expression.
This fun activity turns an ordinary paper plate into a colorful turkey bursting with personality. Kids can get inventive with bright feathers and silly googly eyes, making each turkey as unique as they are.
It's an excellent way for little hands to practice cutting, gluing, and creating their festive creation.
Kids will enjoy putting this together with a few items you likely have around the house. It's a great way to teach about history while getting hands-on.
The final result is so cute, making it a keepsake that will bring smiles for years.
Related: Handprint Pilgrim Craft
This DIY is a fun, creative way to teach kids about thankfulness. It's engaging and encourages conversations about gratitude while decorating.
It's perfect for little ones who enjoy making something special to share.
Bright colors and soft textures make this one extra special for young artists. They'll enjoy crumpling up tissue paper and gluing it to create something unique.
It's an enjoyable activity that keeps little hands busy and hearts happy!
Related: Tissue Paper Turkey Craft
This activity is an excellent way for little ones to explore their artistic side. Kids will enjoy adding vibrant colors to their plates, creating unique turkeys.
The result is a fantastic, handmade decoration that they can proudly display.
Using handprints and footprints, children can make a festive hat that's both fun and meaningful. This hands-on activity allows for personal touches with colors and designs.
Creating a keepsake while enjoying crafty time together is a beautiful way.
Kids will love creating their colorful turkeys with this fun Thanksgiving-themed project! They can decorate each one with unique designs and messages of gratitude using vibrant feathers and a paper plate as the body.
It's a playful way to celebrate the holiday while practicing their fine motor skills and personal expression.
Children can have a blast matching shapes and colors to create their turkeys. This activity combines learning with creativity, making it both educational and enjoyable.
Each turkey will turn out uniquely, reflecting the child's style.
Related: Shape Turkey Craft
Kids will have a blast turning a simple paper plate into a colorful turkey, complete with playful cupcake liner eyes. They can cut out bright feathers and goofy turkey feet, bringing their turkey to life with lots of fun details.
This project is an excellent way for kids to practice their cutting and gluing skills while adding their personal touch to this festive creation.
Kids will love transforming everyday items into festive turkeys with bright, colorful feathers. The fun part? Watching as water magically blends the colors on a coffee filter creates a beautiful rainbow effect.
This hands-on project is a playful way to celebrate Thanksgiving while boosting color recognition and fine motor skills.
Engage your little ones with this colorful activity that combines art and learning. They'll enjoy matching colors and arranging feathers to create their perfect turkey.
It's a beautiful blend of fun and education!
This is also a fantastic project to try—our turkey art project is perfect for stirring up some creative fun this Thanksgiving!
With this fun Thanksgiving project, kids can turn a simple paper plate into a colorful turkey. They'll love creating their gobbling friend while working on color recognition and cutting skills using pom-poms and bright paper cutouts for feathers.
Once finished, Kids can proudly display the turkey, adding a festive touch to the fridge or bulletin board.
This toilet paper roll turkey craft is another fun idea!
This charming activity lets kids mix creativity with Thanksgiving spirit. They'll enjoy adding pilgrim details to their turkeys and showing off their handiwork.
It's a sweet way to celebrate and get into the holiday mood!
Need another Thanksgiving craft idea? Try this cute toilet paper roll pilgrim craft!
Kids can turn a simple paper plate into a fun turkey hat with colorful feathers and googly eyes. This easy activity lets them personalize their turkey with bright colors and playful details, all while practicing cutting and gluing.
Once finished, they can wear their turkey creation and have fun showing it off around the house.
Related: Turkey Puppet Craft
More Fun Kid’s Ideas
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- 55 Cute Paper Plate Crafts For Kids
- 19 Easy Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.