Thanksgiving Crafts For Elementary Students: A Curated List of Engaging Ideas
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for families to gather, reflect on gratitude, and enjoy delicious food. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to engage elementary students in creative activities that celebrate the season. Crafting offers a perfect blend of fun, learning, and hands-on engagement.
Finding the best Thanksgiving crafts for elementary students can sometimes feel overwhelming with so many options available. This curated list is designed to simplify your search, presenting a variety of exciting projects perfect for home, classroom, or group settings. We’ve gathered some top choices that cater to different skill levels and interests.
Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly options or something a bit more elaborate, this collection has something for everyone. From simple paper creations to more intricate gratitude projects, these craft ideas will help children express their creativity while embracing the spirit of Thanksgiving. Explore these great options to find the perfect activity for your young crafters.
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1. Foam Turkey Craft Kits
These popular foam turkey craft kits are a perennial favorite for elementary students. They typically include pre-cut foam shapes, googly eyes, and colorful craft feathers, making assembly simple and mess-free. Children can easily peel and stick the pieces to create their own unique turkey.
It’s a fantastic choice for younger elementary grades, providing an accessible way to engage with the Thanksgiving theme. The kits often come in bulk packs, making them ideal for classrooms or large family gatherings. This craft offers great value and encourages fine motor skill development.
2. Paper Plate Thanksgiving Characters
Paper plate crafts are a classic for a reason: they’re versatile and budget-friendly. These kits usually provide paper plates along with various cutouts like turkey heads, pilgrim hats, or cornucopia elements. Students can color, glue, and decorate their plates to transform them into festive characters or scenes.
This is perfect for encouraging imaginative play and allows for a lot of personalization. It’s a great option for a wide age range within elementary school, from kindergarten up. The simplicity makes it a top pick for quick and easy crafting sessions.
3. Wooden Thanksgiving Ornaments to Paint
For a craft with a lasting keepsake quality, consider wooden Thanksgiving ornaments. These sets typically feature small wooden cutouts of turkeys, pumpkins, fall leaves, or acorns. They come with a variety of paints and brushes, allowing children to personalize each piece.
These ornaments are excellent for developing artistic skills and can be hung on a small “gratitude tree” or given as gifts. It’s a slightly more involved project, making it perfect for mid-to-upper elementary students who enjoy painting. This craft offers a tangible reminder of the holiday spirit.
4. Gratitude Jar or Tree Craft Kits
Cultivate thankfulness with a gratitude jar or tree kit, an activity that combines crafting with reflection. These kits usually include a jar or pre-cut tree shapes, along with small paper slips or leaf cutouts for writing down things they are grateful for. Embellishments like stickers or ribbons are often included.
This project is wonderful for fostering a sense of appreciation and can become a meaningful family tradition. It’s ideal for all elementary ages, promoting literacy and emotional development. The best part is reading all the notes aloud on Thanksgiving Day.
5. Fall Leaf Suncatcher Kits
Bring the beauty of autumn indoors with fall leaf suncatcher kits. These kits typically contain leaf-shaped templates, colorful tissue paper, and contact paper or glue. Children tear or cut the tissue paper and arrange it to create vibrant, translucent leaf designs.
These suncatchers are perfect for brightening windows and celebrating the changing seasons. They are particularly engaging for younger elementary students but can be enjoyed by all. The resulting colorful displays make for beautiful decorations.
6. DIY Pilgrim Hat and Bonnet Kits
Engage elementary students in historical role-play with DIY Pilgrim hat and bonnet kits. These sets often include pre-cut paper or foam pieces, buckles, and ribbons, allowing children to assemble wearable costumes. They can decorate them further with markers or crayons.
This craft is excellent for classroom activities, especially when learning about the first Thanksgiving. It’s a fun way to bring history to life and encourages imaginative play. These kits offer a hands-on approach to understanding the past.
7. Native American Inspired Headband Crafts
For a respectful and engaging craft, consider Native American inspired headband kits. These typically provide pre-cut paper strips, colorful feathers, and sometimes beads or natural elements. Children can decorate the bands and attach feathers to create their own unique headwear.
This craft is a good opportunity to discuss the history and culture of Native American peoples during Thanksgiving. It’s best suited for all elementary grades, encouraging creativity and cultural awareness. Ensure materials are chosen with sensitivity and accuracy.
8. Cornucopia Craft Kits
The cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is a classic symbol of abundance for Thanksgiving. Cornucopia craft kits usually include foam or paper cornucopia shapes, along with felt fruit, vegetables, and other harvest embellishments. Students can glue these items inside or around the horn.
This craft is perfect for teaching children about the meaning of harvest and thankfulness. It’s suitable for various elementary ages, offering a chance to create a festive centerpiece. The finished product makes a lovely decoration for the holiday table.
9. Handprint Turkey Craft Supplies
Handprint turkeys are a timeless Thanksgiving craft, celebrating growth and family. While not always a “kit,” you can easily assemble supplies like brown, red, orange, and yellow construction paper, washable paint, and googly eyes. Children trace their handprints to form the turkey’s body and feathers.
This project is especially cherished by parents and makes a wonderful keepsake. It’s ideal for younger elementary students, but older kids enjoy the nostalgia too. The best part is seeing how their hands grow each year.
10. Beaded Indian Corn Crafts
Beaded Indian corn crafts offer a tactile and colorful experience for elementary students. These kits typically include pipe cleaners and a variety of colorful pony beads. Children thread the beads onto the pipe cleaners, then twist them together to resemble ears of Indian corn.
This craft is excellent for developing fine motor skills and pattern recognition. It’s a mid-range option that provides a satisfying sensory experience. The finished corn can be used as decorations or even strung together to form a garland.
11. Felt Thanksgiving Garland Kits
Create a festive atmosphere with felt Thanksgiving garland kits. These sets usually feature pre-cut felt shapes like turkeys, pumpkins, leaves, and acorns, along with string and sometimes a blunt needle. Children can thread the shapes onto the string to create a decorative banner.
This craft is perfect for adding a handmade touch to your Thanksgiving decorations. It’s suitable for elementary students, offering a gentle introduction to basic sewing or threading skills. The soft felt textures are also appealing to young crafters.
12. Thanksgiving Scratch Art Kits
Thanksgiving scratch art kits provide a magical reveal as children create their designs. These kits include special paper with a black coating that, when scratched with a stylus, reveals vibrant colors underneath. Designs often include turkeys, pumpkins, or fall scenes.
This is a wonderful, mess-free craft that produces stunning results. It’s ideal for all elementary ages, as it requires minimal instruction and offers instant gratification. The precision of scratching helps develop fine motor control.
13. DIY Thanksgiving Coasters
Craft personalized DIY Thanksgiving coasters that can be used for the holiday meal. Kits might include foam or cork coaster blanks, along with fall-themed stickers, stencils, or paints. Children can decorate them to reflect their individual style.
These coasters make thoughtful gifts or practical additions to the family table. It’s a mid-range project suitable for elementary students who enjoy both decorating and creating functional items. They offer a lasting memory of their creativity.
14. Thanksgiving Window Cling Kits
Decorate windows with festive Thanksgiving window cling kits. These kits typically include special paints and stencils or outlines for creating peel-and-stick decorations. Designs often feature turkeys, cornucopias, or fall leaves that adhere easily to glass.
This craft is perfect for adding a touch of holiday cheer to any room. It’s a great choice for all elementary students, as the process is simple and the results are colorful. The temporary nature means they can be enjoyed and then easily removed.
15. Turkey Paper Bag Puppet Kits
Bring a touch of whimsy to Thanksgiving with turkey paper bag puppet kits. These kits usually provide paper bags along with pre-cut paper shapes for feathers, beaks, wattle, and eyes. Children glue these pieces onto the bags to create their own turkey puppets.
This craft is wonderful for encouraging imaginative play and storytelling. It’s ideal for younger elementary students, offering a simple and engaging activity. After crafting, kids can put on a Thanksgiving-themed puppet show.
16. Pinecone Turkey Craft Kits
Embrace natural elements with pinecone turkey craft kits. These sets typically include pinecones, along with felt pieces, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners to transform them into charming turkeys. The pinecones provide a unique texture for the body.
This craft is perfect for connecting children with nature and using found objects creatively. It’s suitable for all elementary ages, offering a fun way to combine natural and craft materials. Each pinecone turkey will have its own distinct character.
17. Thanksgiving Sticker Scenes
Thanksgiving sticker scenes offer an easy and portable crafting experience. These kits typically include background scenes (like a farm, a Thanksgiving table, or a fall landscape) and a variety of reusable stickers depicting turkeys, pilgrims, pumpkins, and other holiday elements.
This is a fantastic, mess-free activity for quiet time or travel. It’s great for younger elementary students who enjoy arranging and rearranging scenes. The portability makes it a top option for keeping kids entertained on the go.
18. Fall-Themed Button Art Kits
For a unique and textured craft, explore fall-themed button art kits. These kits often come with a canvas or cardstock background, a template, a variety of colorful buttons, and adhesive. Children glue the buttons onto the template to create a mosaic-like picture.
This craft is excellent for developing fine motor skills and creativity. It’s a mid-range project suitable for elementary students who enjoy working with different textures. The finished artwork makes a lovely display piece.
19. DIY Autumn Wreath Kits
Create a welcoming autumn wreath with a DIY kit, a slightly more advanced but rewarding craft. These kits might include a small grapevine wreath base, faux leaves, berries, small pumpkins, and ribbon. Children can arrange and attach the elements to their liking.
This project is perfect for older elementary students, offering a chance to create a beautiful decoration for their home. It encourages design thinking and can be a fun group activity. The best part is hanging their creation on the door.
20. Thanksgiving Bookmark Craft Kits
Encourage a love for reading with Thanksgiving bookmark craft kits. These sets typically include pre-cut cardstock bookmarks, fall-themed stickers, tassels, and sometimes markers or glitter glue. Children can decorate their bookmarks to celebrate the season.
This craft is perfect for all elementary students and makes a thoughtful gift for family or friends. It promotes creativity while also creating a useful item. Every time they open a book, they’ll be reminded of their Thanksgiving craft.
21. Personalized Placemat Craft Kits
Make the Thanksgiving table extra special with personalized placemat craft kits. These kits often include blank paper placemats, markers, crayons, and laminating sheets. Children can draw pictures, write gratitude messages, or create designs.
This craft is wonderful for making the holiday meal more personal and memorable. It’s ideal for all elementary ages, allowing for a wide range of artistic expression. The laminated placemats can be used year after year, offering great value.
22. Paint Your Own Ceramic Turkey
For a more artistic and lasting project, consider a “paint your own ceramic turkey” kit. These kits usually include a bisque ceramic turkey figurine, a set of paints, and a brush. Children can bring their turkey to life with their chosen colors.
This craft is excellent for developing painting skills and creating a cherished keepsake. It’s a premium option that results in a beautiful, display-worthy item. The finished turkey can become a permanent part of your Thanksgiving decor.
23. Thanksgiving Perler Bead Kits
Thanksgiving Perler bead kits offer a fun challenge for elementary students. These kits include pegboards, a variety of colorful Perler beads, and ironing paper. Children arrange the beads on the pegboard to create fall-themed designs, which are then fused together with an iron (adult supervision required).
This craft is perfect for developing fine motor skills, patience, and pattern recognition. It’s a mid-range option that produces durable, colorful creations. The finished designs can be used as ornaments or decorative accents.
24. Pumpkin Decorating Kits (No Carving)
For a fun, safe alternative to carving, explore pumpkin decorating kits. These kits typically include stickers, glitter, foam shapes, and sometimes paint or googly eyes, all designed to adhere to small pumpkins (not included). Children can create festive, non-messy pumpkin designs.
This craft is ideal for all elementary students, especially those who might find carving challenging. It allows for creative expression without the need for sharp tools. The decorated pumpkins make charming fall decorations for indoors or out.
25. “Thankful” Banner Craft Kits
Create a meaningful “Thankful” banner with a dedicated craft kit. These sets often include pre-cut letters spelling “THANKFUL,” string, and various embellishments like fall leaves, acorns, or small pumpkins. Children can decorate each letter and then string them together.
This craft is perfect for reinforcing the theme of gratitude during the holiday season. It’s suitable for all elementary ages, offering a collaborative or individual project. The finished banner makes a lovely and personal decoration for your home.
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Last Words
Choosing the best Thanksgiving crafts for elementary students means finding activities that spark joy and creativity. This list provides a diverse range of options, ensuring there’s something to capture every child’s imagination. From simple paper projects to more detailed painting endeavors, each craft offers a unique way to celebrate the holiday.
Remember to consider the age and skill level of your young crafters, as well as the time you have available. Whether you’re aiming for a quick activity or a more involved project, these top picks promise engaging fun. They are all designed to help children express gratitude and enjoy the festive spirit.
We encourage you to explore these wonderful options further. Checking current prices and availability on Amazon can help you find the perfect Thanksgiving crafts for elementary students that fit your needs and budget. Happy crafting, and have a truly thankful holiday!
About the Author
I dig until I hit truth, then I write about it. Diane here, covering whatever needs covering. Rock climbing clears my head; competitive Scrabble sharpens it. My engineering background means I actually read the studies I cite. British by birth, Canadian by choice.
