15 Easy Preschool Thanksgiving Craft Ideas That Spark Joy

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down, get creative, and make memories with your little ones. But if you’re a busy parent or teacher, the last thing you want is a complicated craft that leaves more mess than meaning.

That’s why we’ve rounded up 15 fun and simple Preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas—all designed to spark creativity without the stress. Whether you want to build fine motor skills, practice gratitude, or just enjoy some screen-free bonding time, there’s something here for every child and every schedule.

Want everything in one place—ready to print and go?
Our Thanksgiving Activity Pages Bundle includes a variety of printable crafts that preschoolers love: dot marker art, cut & paste turkeys, color-by-code pages, and more. It’s your all-in-one toolkit for easy holiday fun!

Let’s dive in!

Printable Preschool Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

These printable crafts are perfect for preschoolers who are still developing fine motor skills—and for adults who prefer no prep, no mess activities. Just print, hand out, and let the fun begin!

1. Turkey Dot Markers Page

Dot markers are a preschool favorite, and this turkey template turns them into a festive art project. Kids can fill in the feathers using colorful dots—no need to stay inside the lines!
Why it’s great: Builds hand-eye coordination and color recognition with zero frustration.

Find this activity in our all-in-one Thanksgiving Activity Pages Bundle.

2. Cut & Paste Cornucopia

This craft lets preschoolers practice cutting and gluing as they build their own cornucopia full of Thanksgiving goodies. Cutting along lines, curves, and shapes helps kids strengthen hand muscles, improve grip, and develop control — essential for writing and other motor-based tasks.

Why it’s great? Develops scissor skills, creativity, and patience in one hands-on project.

Check out our Fun Thanksgiving Preschool Cutting Practice Worksheets, also Included in our thanksgiving printable bundle—ready to download and use!

3. Color-by-Number Pumpkin

Combining coloring with number recognition, this pumpkin-themed printable is fun and educational.
Why it’s great: Reinforces early math and number concepts while engaging kids in seasonal fun.

Available inside our Mixed Thanksgiving Activity Pages, alongside with other fun thanksgiving activities that will keep your little toddlers engaged while having fun.

4. Trace the Turkey Lines

Designed for little hands, this tracing page helps kids practice pencil grip and line control while decorating a cute Thanksgiving turkey.

Why it’s great: Strengthens pre-writing skills in a calm, focused way.

The All-in-one Thanksgiving Printable Bundle

Our Thanksgiving Activity Pages Bundle is your ultimate solution — a carefully curated 4-in-1 collection of printable worksheets designed to keep little hands and minds busy, happy, and learning all season long.

What’s Included in the Bundle:

• Thanksgiving Coloring Pages (40 pages): Fun, festive scenes for kids to color — turkeys, pumpkins, harvest icons, and more.
• Thanksgiving Mixed Activity Pages (47 pages): Mazes, word searches, dot-to-dots, tracing, matching, crosswords, and more.
• Thanksgiving Dot Markers Pages (34 pages): Big, bold designs for toddlers to enjoy do-a-dot play while building focus and coordination.
• Thanksgiving Cutting Practice Worksheets (29 pages): Scissor skill printables for developing fine motor skills with festive cut lines and shapes.

No prep, no mess. Instant download and unlimited fun that promotes fine motor & cognitive development.

Handprint Preschool Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

Handprint crafts are always a hit when it comes to preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas—and parents treasure them for years to come. These keepsake crafts are easy to prep, fun to make, and offer a meaningful way to celebrate Thanksgiving with your little ones.

5. Handprint Turkey Craft

A Thanksgiving classic that never goes out of style! For this craft, preschoolers dip their hands in paint and press them onto paper to create a colorful turkey, using their fingers as feathers. It’s a fun, sensory-rich activity that results in an adorable keepsake parents will cherish for years.

Among the most popular preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas, this one is super simple to set up and always delivers joy and giggles.

6. Thankful Handprint Wreath

This craft invites preschoolers to reflect on what they’re thankful for while also getting creative. Kids trace and cut out their handprints on colorful paper, then write (or dictate) one thing they’re grateful for on each handprint. Once assembled into a wreath shape, it becomes a beautiful reminder of the season.

If you’re looking for preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas that combine creativity with emotional growth, this one’s a favorite among teachers and parents alike.

7. Handprint Turkey Card

With just cardstock, paint, and a little imagination, kids can create a sweet Thanksgiving card featuring a turkey made from their handprint. Add a personal message inside, and you have a thoughtful gift for grandparents, teachers, or friends.

This is one of those preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas that’s not only fun to make, but also teaches kids the value of giving and expressing gratitude.

We’ve done the hard work for you! Read our Ultimate guide where we gathered 32 of the best Thanksgiving crafts for kids—sorted by age, activity type, and prep level.

Simple Paper Crafts Using Everyday Supplies

Not every Thanksgiving activity needs fancy supplies or a trip to the store. These preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas use basic materials like paper plates, construction paper, and glue—making them ideal for classrooms, homeschoolers, and busy parents who want easy wins.

8. Paper Plate Turkey

With just a paper plate, some colorful construction paper, glue, and googly eyes, your preschooler can make an adorable turkey. Let them color or paint the plate for added fun, then attach feather cutouts around the edges to bring their turkey to life.

Why it’s great: This is one of the most classic Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers, encouraging creativity and motor skills with materials you already have on hand. Bonus: It makes a great table decoration too!

9. Leaf Turkeys (Real or Paper Leaves)

Take a nature walk to collect fall leaves—or use paper cutouts if you’re indoors—and turn them into vibrant turkey feathers. Glue them behind a simple turkey body made from circles and ovals, and let your preschooler decorate the face however they like.

Why it’s great: This craft blends sensory exploration with hands-on creativity. It’s one of those Thanksgiving craft ideas for preschoolers that combines art with learning about the seasons.

10. Shape Scarecrow

Cut out large basic shapes like squares, triangles, circles, and rectangles. Preschoolers can use these to build their own scarecrow by gluing the shapes together on a large sheet of paper. Add buttons, googly eyes, or draw faces to personalize the scarecrow.

Why it’s great: This activity turns a simple art project into a learning moment. It supports shape and color recognition, and is a clever twist on traditional preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas that also touches on early math skills.

Upcycled & Recycled Thanksgiving Crafts for Preschoolers

Looking for fun and sustainable ways to get crafty this fall? These preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas are all about turning everyday items—like pasta, paper rolls, and coffee filters—into adorable holiday keepsakes. Perfect for budget-conscious classrooms or eco-minded parents, these crafts show that a little creativity goes a long way.

11. Toilet Paper Roll Pilgrims and Turkeys

Instead of tossing those empty toilet paper rolls, turn them into festive Thanksgiving characters! With a bit of construction paper, googly eyes, and markers, kids can create cute turkeys or pilgrim figures to display at home or in the classroom.

Why it’s great: This is one of the most accessible Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers, requiring no fancy supplies. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to teach about reuse and resourcefulness while enjoying a fun craft session.

12. Pasta Turkey Craft

Dried pasta makes for the perfect turkey feathers! Kids can use macaroni, rotini, or penne—painted in fall colors—to glue onto a turkey-shaped template. Add a construction paper beak and some googly eyes, and you’ve got a pasta turkey that’s both fun and educational.

Why it’s great: This textured activity supports sensory development and fine motor skills. Among our favorite preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas, it’s a simple way to mix art with early learning.

13. Coffee Filter Turkeys

Have preschoolers color coffee filters with washable markers, then spray them lightly with water to watch the colors blend beautifully. Once dry, attach a paper turkey body to the filter to complete this vibrant Thanksgiving decoration.

Why it’s great: This craft combines science (color blending and absorption) with creativity. It’s one of those Thanksgiving craft ideas for preschoolers that always gets a “wow” reaction—and it’s easy to do in groups or at home.

Thankfulness & Gratitude Crafts for Preschoolers

Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkeys and pies—it’s also the perfect opportunity to teach young kids the importance of gratitude and appreciation. These simple yet meaningful preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas help children reflect on what they’re thankful for while being creative.

14. Thankful Tree Craft

Provide preschoolers with a bare tree trunk drawn on paper or cardstock. Then, cut out leaf shapes from colored paper and have the kids write (or dictate) something they’re thankful for on each one. Glue the leaves onto the tree to create a personalized “Thankful Tree.”

Why it’s great: This craft combines emotional learning with creativity. As one of the most heartwarming Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers, it’s perfect for circle time, family night, or a classroom display.

15. “I’m Thankful For” Coloring Sheet

Sometimes the simplest activities leave the biggest impact. With a pre-designed coloring sheet that includes prompts like “I’m thankful for…” and spaces to draw or color, preschoolers can express gratitude in a way that feels fun and age-appropriate.

Why it’s great: This is an ideal low-prep Thanksgiving craft idea for preschoolers, especially for younger kids who aren’t yet writing.

Bonus: This activity is included in our Thanksgiving Activity Pages Bundle, ready to print and use!

Parent & Teacher Tips for a Stress-Free Craft Time

Crafting with preschoolers doesn’t have to be chaotic. The key is to keep it simple, structured, and low-mess—especially when tackling fun preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas. Set up stations in advance, use washable materials, and offer visual examples to guide little ones. And for a quick, no-prep solution that can be printed and reused year after year, check out our Thanksgiving Activity Pages Bundle—it’s designed to make craft time easier for you and more fun for them.

Final Thoughts

Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday—it’s a chance to slow down, get creative, and build meaningful memories with your little ones. Whether you’re a teacher planning for your classroom or a parent looking for screen-free activities at home, these preschool Thanksgiving craft ideas are a wonderful way to combine learning, fun, and gratitude.

Want to make things even easier? Our Thanksgiving Activity Pages Bundle has everything you need—ready to print and use whenever you need a calm, educational activity.

Recap of What’s Included in the Bundle:

• Thanksgiving Coloring Pages (40 pages)
• Thanksgiving Mixed Activity Pages (47 pages)
• Thanksgiving Dot Markers Pages (34 pages)
• Thanksgiving Cutting Practice Worksheets (29 pages)

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