Paper Cup Turkeys

Paper Cup Turkey

Intro

Celebrate the Thanksgiving turkey by creating your own out of a few simple supplies! In this activity, children will combine objects like paper cups and pom-poms while creating their own colorful turkey feathers. A great way to cultivate creativity and practice fine motor skills!

Set Up Ideas

Create a display with all of the materials, including construction paper, pom-poms, paint and cups, along with some completed models for children to visualize what their own creation will look like.

Let’s Get Started

To complete these charming little turkeys, you'll need to gather paper cups, 2'' pom-poms, construction paper in several fall colors (brown, orange, yellow and red), brown paint and wiggly eyes. Self-adhesive wiggly eyes work very will and save the mess of glue.

STEP 1

Paint a paper cup brown for each turkey to be created. Set the painted cups aside and allow the paint to fully dry before adhering pieces on.

STEP 2

While the painted cups are drying, cut several pieces of construction paper into the shapes of feathers, a beak and a wattle. Experiment with using different colors to create the turkey's bright feathers.

STEP 3

Once the painted cups are dry and all the construction paper pieces are cut, glue a large pom-pom on top of the cup. Then, glue eyes and a beak onto the pom-pom to create the turkey's face.

STEP 4

For the final step, glue the feathers onto the back side of the cup. Try gluing a row of feathers with some space between them, then adding a second row to fill in the gaps.

Children may be interested to learn that the turkey was almost our country's national bird! Benjamin Franklin was a great admirer of the turkey and the way that turkeys defend their territory. The bald eagle prevailed as our national bird, but Thanksgiving is all about the turkey!

Tips and Tricks

To complete this activity with younger children, you may need to help them as they cut their pieces or trace outlines for each shape that they may cut out themselves. Provide encouraging assistance when necessary.

Follow up Activity

Use remaining cups for a Thanksgiving-themed pom-pom cup toss game! Provide children assorted colored pom-poms, have them name a food the same color as the pom (e.g., broccoli, blueberries, mashed potatoes) and toss it into the Thanksgiving basket (cup).

10-15 Minutes 4 and up Thanksgiving