Thanksgiving is a time where we can express our thankfulness and gratitude for all of the things and people we have in our lives. We also recognize and celebrate the blessing of bountiful harvests, as did the Pilgrims and Puritans many years ago. To help educate young learners about the importance of Thanksgiving, hands-on learning can be done through constructing holiday crafts. Here are five ideas that preschoolers will love making.
5 Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers
Feather Headdress
Supplies:
- Feathers
- Crayons
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
Instructions:
Cut construction paper into 2” strips. Let children design and color one side of pre-cut strip. Next, help preschoolers to glue on feathers to the uncolored side of the paper. Once dry, wrap around the child’s head and secure with tape. Early learners will enjoy dramatic play while wearing their newly made feathered headdresses.
Thankful Garland
Supplies:
- Markers
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Tape
Instructions:
Cut construction paper into 2” strips. While children talk about what they are thankful for, write down each of the things on a strip. When everyone is ready, begin creating a paper chain of everything the children are grateful for, such as family, friends, and school. Paper chains are made by making a loop with one strip (taping it together), then making another loop by interlocking the next strip into the beginning loop and so on. Once complete, hang around the room in one big chain. Feel free to add on to the chain as preschoolers discover more and more things they are thankful for.
Leaf Wreath
Supplies:
- Paper Plate
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Ribbon
- Tape or Stapler (optional)
Instructions:
Cut out the center of the paper plate, leaving just the outside. Attach a looped ribbon (to hang when complete) with glue, tape, or staple. Next, create leaves by tracing the little hands of the preschoolers on different colored construction paper. Have children practice their scissor skills by cutting out the traced hands. Once all the traced hands have been cut out, early learners can begin to glue the hand shaped leaves onto the plate. When dry, hang to display.
Pilgrim Hat
Supplies:
- Cardstock
- Construction Paper (brown, yellow/gold, black)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
Instructions:
Cut a 2” strip of cardstock that will fit around the child’s head as a headdress. Using the black construction paper, cut out a hat shape. With the brown paper, cut a strip about 1” wide. The yellow/gold construction paper should then be used to cut out the shape of a belt buckle. Show preschoolers how to glue the yellow buckle to the brown strip; and then, the brown strip to the black hat in order to resemble a pilgrim’s hat. When the hat has dried, trim off uneven edges and glue or tape it to the headdress strip. Attach the ends of the strip together with tape to form the headband. Children can now turn into pilgrims as they put on their new pilgrim hats for some pretend play interactions.
Hand Turkey
Supplies:
- Paper Plate
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Cardstock
Instructions:
Help preschoolers paint one of their hands with what they think the colors of a turkey should be. Keep in mind, the fingers will be its feathers, the thumb its head, and the palm its body. When their hand is all painted, have them press it down onto a piece of cardstock. Use the paintbrush again to help children draw the legs, beak and waddle of the turkey. Let dry and hang up for display!