Disguise a Turkey Ideas for Thanksgiving Fun!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and there are so many fun traditions to dive into—one of my all-time favorites has to be this turkey activity! I hope the kids like these Disguise A Turkey Ideas!
Disguise a Turkey Ideas make for the perfect mix of creativity, learning, and pure fun. Whether you’re gathering around the table as a family or looking for a memorable classroom project, this activity is an amazing way to get everyone’s imaginations rolling!
I love how each “turkey in disguise” turns out unique, from superheroes to silly holiday characters – like Olaf! Plus, it’s a fantastic way for kids and adults alike to bond while sneaking in some learning.
Ready to add a new, joyful tradition to your Thanksgiving plans? Let’s get those creative juices flowing, and you can make them flow more with my other creative Thanksgiving ideas!
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What Is Disguise A Turkey Project?
The “Disguise a Turkey” project is a creative educational activity often used in schools around Thanksgiving. The main idea is for students to use their imagination to disguise a paper turkey so it doesn’t get eaten for Thanksgiving dinner.
The “Disguise a Turkey” project draws inspiration from Wendi Silvano’s story, “Turkey Trouble.” In this tale, Mr. Turkey cleverly camouflages himself around the farm to escape becoming the main course for Thanksgiving dinner.
The Disguise a Turkey project is one of those Thanksgiving traditions that I absolutely adore. The idea is simple: you take a turkey (don’t worry—it’s a paper or cardboard one) and dress it up in a clever, silly, or downright hilarious disguise to help it “escape” the dinner table!
This little turkey can be anything your imagination dreams up, from a snowman like Olaf (yes, a turkey in a carrot nose and a winter scarf!) to a superhero with a cape, or even a rockstar with shades and a mini guitar.
I’ve seen turkeys dressed as everything from unicorns to T-rexes. The possibilities are endless, and the more outrageous, the better!
I love that this activity brings out everyone’s inner artist. You can grab all sorts of supplies like markers, glue, glitter, felt, buttons—whatever you have on hand works! The best part? There’s no right or wrong way to disguise a turkey, and that freedom lets everyone go wild with their creativity.
This is a project that everyone in the family, young and old, can enjoy, and it always leads to fits of laughter and big smiles.
After all, who wouldn’t want to save a turkey by turning it into a disco dancer or a mermaid for the day? Just grab some paper, a little imagination, and get ready to see your turkey transformed!
Reasons Why You Should Do This for Thanksgiving
If you’re looking to add a bit of extra fun (and a lot of laughs) to your Thanksgiving festivities, the Disguise a Turkey activity is a must-try!
Not only is it a great way to bring everyone together, but it also adds a creative twist to the holiday that’s bound to become a new favorite tradition.
It’s An Educational Activity
Believe it or not, disguising a turkey can sneakily double as a learning moment! Kids (and adults, honestly) get to practice their fine motor skills as they cut, glue, and decorate.
If you’re a teacher, you can even add a writing element: have kids write a “backstory” for their turkey—why it chose that disguise, or what its new personality is. I love how this lets everyone use their brains while having a blast!
Fun and Creative Expression
If there’s one thing I love about this activity, it’s that it lets everyone’s imagination go wild. There’s no wrong way to disguise a turkey, so you can go as big and bold as you like.
Want a rockstar turkey with a mullet? Go for it! How about a turkey disguised as a taco? Yes, please! This activity turns Thanksgiving prep into a mini art studio filled with laughter, glue sticks, and glitter everywhere.
Bonding Time with Family
There’s something truly special about gathering around the table with family, scissors, markers, and feathers flying everywhere. I think of it as a mini Thanksgiving “craft-off” where everyone gets to show off their ideas and laugh at each other’s quirky designs.
It’s the perfect way to create some pre-dinner memories together, and it’s a tradition worth repeating every year. Plus, those turkeys look hilarious in family photos!
Whether you’re in it for the laughs, the creative outlet, or the bonding time, Disguise a Turkey is a Thanksgiving activity with something for everyone. It’s the perfect way to make memories, have fun, and save a turkey from the holiday feast—at least in spirit!
More Creative Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids!
Thanksgiving is all about family time and creative fun, especially for the kids! If you’re looking to add some extra excitement to your Thanksgiving holiday, these Creative Thanksgiving Ideas are perfect for keeping little ones engaged and smiling.
- Looking for an adorable Thanksgiving activity that the kids will love? This Turkey Popsicle Stick Craft is a perfect pick! It’s one of the cutest Creative Thanksgiving Ideas and will keep them entertained while they make their own little turkeys to show off!
- These 28 Thanksgiving Turkey Projects are a fantastic way to enjoy Thanksgiving together! Kids will have fun making turkeys for the home and dinner table décor—plus, you can even use a few as edible treats! Each craft adds a special handmade touch to the holiday and makes time with family even more meaningful.
- This Printable Thanksgiving Coloring Pages mini-coloring book offers eight unique and festive pages for kids and adults alike. You can laminate the pages as keepsake placemats or use them as party favors for your guests—both options bring a touch of creativity to your Thanksgiving setup.
- For easy and affordable fun, these 25 Thanksgiving Popsicle Stick Crafts are unbeatable. They’re an ideal way to keep everyone occupied during Thanksgiving break with little materials and lots of room for creativity, making them some of the best Creative Thanksgiving Ideas!
These Thanksgiving crafts are more than just fun—they’re a way to make memories, bring the family together, and add homemade charm to your holiday. Enjoy every moment and every creative twist this Thanksgiving!
Disguise A Turkey Ideas for Thanksgiving Fun!
When it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving, one of the most fun and creative traditions for kids is the "Disguise a Turkey" project. The idea is to take a simple turkey outline and dress it up in a clever way, hiding its identity to prevent it from becoming dinner.
If you’re looking for something easy and quick of all kinds of turkey disguises, there’s something here for everyone!
It has a printable gumball machine that kids can color and decorate to hide a turkey. The bright colors make it exciting, and kids can use stickers, markers, or other craft items. Here, you can use popsicle sticks and pom poms and put it on the belly to look like it's a gumball machine.
This printable allows kids to turn a turkey into a soldier. It features fun army patterns and accessories like a helmet and camouflage. Kids can color and decorate their turkey to make it look brave and ready for adventure! Perfect for Thanksgiving fun!
This build-a-droid printable template is loads of fun on its own. But adding in a turkey who can sneak around in a droid disguise gives it a great Thanksgiving spin.
There are many options for the turkey costume, but this one will hide him right in plain sight. This printable pack includes several options, including one to dress the turkey as a chef, which is the last place anyone would look.
Here are a couple of fun disguises for turkeys that don’t usually make an appearance. Instructions are included to turn a turkey into a pretty peacock or a perspicacious pirate.
This printable turkey disguise is out of this world! It will be hard for anyone to get this astronaut turkey when he’s safely located on the moon.
This mix-and-match printable template offers so many options. Kids can dress the turkey up in various costumes or even use a picture to transform it into themselves.
This printable features a fun design to turn a turkey into Elsa from "Frozen." It includes a turkey shape with Elsa's signature ice-blue dress and long blonde braid. The design is colorful and playful, perfect for Thanksgiving celebrations.
Here, we have a printable that offers multiple jobs for the turkey. The printable templates can be cut out and assembled and come in pre-colored or black-and-white colorable versions.
Here’s another printable, but it’s a coloring page instead of a craft. There is also a short writing prompt for kids to fill in just what that turkey is since it isn’t a turkey.
Transform a turkey into a fun surfer! Dress it in colorful swim trunks and a Hawaiian shirt. Add sunglasses on its beak and a beach hat. You can even give it a surfboard to hold. It’s a silly and festive way to celebrate!
This set includes 50 fun and easy Thanksgiving crafts to disguise a turkey. Each craft is a printable that lets kids use their creativity to decorate and disguise a turkey in different styles.
Perfect for classrooms or family gatherings, these activities encourage imagination and festive fun while celebrating the holiday.
Do You Want To Build A Snowman? Thanksgiving Turkey Olaf Edition!
This idea involves decorating a turkey to look like Olaf, the friendly snowman from Frozen. You can use white feathers or cotton to create a fluffy body, add a carrot nose, and make big, happy eyes using black and white materials.
Transforms a turkey into a dinosaur! It features a turkey body dressed up in colorful dinosaur scales and a big, friendly dinosaur head on top. The legs and tail are also decorated to match, creating a silly and festive look perfect for Thanksgiving.
The "Disguise A Turkey Alphabet Game" is a fun activity for kids. Players get a turkey template and must use letters to create a disguise for it. They can color, cut out, and attach items to hide the turkey. It helps kids learn their letters while being creative. Great for Thanksgiving or classroom fun!
Turkey Disguise Project Ideas: Creative ways to dress up a turkey for Thanksgiving. Examples include a mermaid turkey, a bee turkey, and many more! Check out to see more ideas here!
Children can use their creativity to color and decorate the turkey in different costumes or disguises. This activity is great for Thanksgiving-themed crafts and helps develop artistic skills while providing entertainment.
Imagine a turkey dressed as a Minion. The turkey has a bright yellow body with blue overalls, just like the Minions from the movies. Its feathers are slightly ruffled, giving it a playful look.
The turkey's head features large, round goggles perched above its eyes, with a big, cheerful grin on its beak.
It features a turkey outline that children can decorate and dress up like a princess. The printable may include costumes, crowns, and accessories for the turkey. Kids can use crayons, markers, or stickers to bring their creative designs to life, making it a delightful Thanksgiving craft.
A fun craft idea where a turkey is dressed up like a construction worker. The turkey wears a hard hat, a bright safety vest, and carries a little tool belt. You can set this up as a playful centerpiece or yard decoration for Thanksgiving.
The turkey has bright, colorful feathers spread out like a peacock's tail, with vibrant greens, blues, and golds. Its body is turkey-shaped, but the feathers give it a fun, unique twist for a playful Thanksgiving theme.
This printable template lets you turn a turkey into a firefighter! It includes fun designs like a firefighter hat, a badge, and a fire hose. Just print it out, cut out the pieces, and decorate your turkey for a unique Thanksgiving craft. Perfect for kids to enjoy!
The design includes Pikachu’s signature yellow color with feathers, a turkey beak, and a festive look, perfect for Thanksgiving. It's fun and cute, making it a great addition to holiday decorations or activities.
While many ideas exist for turkey disguises, such as policemen, superheroes, and even children, this printable coloring page has a new spin. This turkey is disguised as a deck of playing cards!
This template lets you turn a turkey into a mermaid. It includes cutouts for a mermaid tail, seashells, and fun accessories. Kids can color and decorate their turkey to look like a mermaid, making it a fun and creative project for Thanksgiving.
Let me know your thoughts and favorites in the comment section below!