My neighbor’s kids’ school gives students a week off for Thanksgiving break. My daughter gets two days (Thanksgiving and Black Friday), so I’m not scrambling for childcare or for boredom busters to keep her busy while I plan and execute our Turkey Day feast.
However, my neighbor is desperately trying to find ways to keep her kids occupied while she cooks, cleans and preps for out-of-town guests. I suggested she put her kids to work. Then, I recommended that she visit our local craft store and stock up on materials to make the following Thanksgiving-theme crafts. After all, there’s no reason kids can’t help prepare for the holiday by making homemade decorations.
TURKEY FRAME
Materials:
9-inch paper plate
Craft paint (gold, brown, yellow, orange, green, red, white and black)
Black marker
Paintbrush
Felt pieces in fall colors (red, gold, yellow, orange, etc.), cut into 1-inch squares
Googly eye
Directions:
Place the paper plate on a flat surface upside down and have your child write his name and the date (for prosperity sake).
Flip the plate over.
Paint the entire plate with gold paint.
Allow to dry thoroughly.
In the meantime, cut felt into 1-inch squares.
Next, have your child cover his palm and thumb with a generous amount of brown paint.
Then, work quickly to paint each of the child’s four fingers with red, green, orange and yellow paint.
Have your child gently place his handprint in the center of the paper plate. Gently press down on the child’s hand and each individual finger to ensure a good print.
Have your child lift up his hand directly into the air, being careful not to smear the print.
Use a paintbrush to add a red gobbler and an orange beak and the black marker to draw the turkey’s legs and feet.
While the paint dries, have your child finish the border of the frame.
Place glue on the edges of the plate and then press felt squares onto the glue, so the outer rim of the plate is completely covered with felt.
Use glue to attach googly eye to turkey.
Let glue dry thoroughly before displaying.
FALL LEAF PLACEMAT
Materials:
Construction paper or felt in assorted fall colors
Fabric glue
Clear contact paper
Directions:
Collect fall leaves from your yard or around the neighborhood.
Trace the largest leaf onto a piece of paper, cut out, and use as a pattern.
Trace leaf shape onto colored felt or construction paper (you’ll need about 12 to 16 leaves).
Arrange leaves into a rectangle shape making sure to overlap the leaves slightly. The leaves should be touching, but with open spaces in between each.
Glue leaves together where they overlap.
If using construction paper, laminate each placemat or cover with contact paper.
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