Thanksgiving Craft

Thanksgiving is an important American tradition commemorating the hungry Pilgrims who had settled at Plymouth Rock, now known as Massachusetts. The first thanksgiving in the USA was a feast in 1621 when the native Wampanoag Indians shared their corn, squash and wild turkeys with the Pilgrims. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in USA.

In Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving Day was declared a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. Check out how you can make some thanksgiving crafts at home.

Thanksgiving crafts tips

Thanksgiving Day craft projects are popular with preschool, kindergarten and elementary school children. Check out simple ideas for thanksgiving crafts:

• Pilgrim collage craft made from construction paper templates
  
  
• Thankful tree with handprint leaves
  
  
• Paper scarecrow
  
  
• Hand and foot turkey craft made by the child's handprints and footprints
  
  
• Thankful turkey craft made from construction paper
  
  
• Pine cone turkey craft made from pine corn, an acorn and construction paper
  
  
• Pop-up place cards of pilgrim hats
  
  
• Pumpkins and acorns
  
  
• String of leaves, simple and yet beautiful to decorate a room
  
  
• Magical leaf image with crayons and paper
  

Thanksgiving craft guide

Most of the crafts are inexpensive and serve as exciting activities for children. The materials like egg, cartons, cardboard, paper, boxes, string, crayons, paint glue which are normally found in and around the house are used as Thanksgiving craft materials by kids. This is in keeping with the tradition of the First People of North America who relied on items found in nature to make everything from clothing to toys.

Combined with paint to make all the colors of the rainbow, these Thanksgiving craft sessions are inspiring and immensely enjoyable. Thanksgiving craft is a time for learning with fun.

The thanksgiving craft project is a very successful activity in school clubs. Older children and younger children with assistance and supervision from adults produce impressive works of art without much difficulty.

Thanksgiving craft is just not a time for fun alone. These crafts also help improve fine motor skills and hand eye coordination in toddlers, preschoolers and grown up kids. Many of the thanksgiving crafts are biblically based and serve to complement bible lessons. The crafts are designed for Sunday school teachers and home school parents. They are also of great use in pre school and home school, elementary school and vacation bible school.

Popular thanksgiving craft suggestions

Pre schoolers

• Alphabet soup picture: Using noodles and construction paper, kids can make fun picture of alphabet soup. The parent should enure that the kid does not put small noodles into the mouth. For younger toddlers, it is better to use larger noodles so that their little finger can pick them up.
  
  
• Bubble print pictures: Using colored bubble solution, a picture can be made. The bubbles are made using a straw. Make sure that the kid only blows the straw and does not suck the solution.
  
  
• Cereal jewelry: Simple jewelry can be made using cereal. This project could double as snack for the toddlers and preschoolers.
  
  
• Finger-painting with pudding: Finger paint with pudding instead of paint. This way the parent does not have to worry about putting dirty finger into the mouth as it is only pudding not paint.
  
  
• Painting with ice cubes: This could be a unique experience for the toddlers.
  

Finger puppets: Using empty film containers, finger puppets could be made. These could be put on a puppet show.

Musical instrument Kazoos: Most kids love this. Using a rubber band and a cardboard toilet paper roll and tissue paper, one can transform it into a musical instrument.

Lacing card: A parent can help the kid make simple lacing cards and let them lace and unlace over and over again.

Thanksgiving craft ideas for 6 - 12 year olds

• Animal face magnets: Various animal magnets are created using plastic lids and embellishment items.
  
  
• Feather face pencil: Fancy homemade pencils help the kids to display their creativity and uniqueness everyday in class.
  
  
• Finger Cymbals: Kids can learn to turn two ordinary jar lids into a fun musical instrument.
  
  
• Puff paint: This can be a two-part activity - on one hand make the paint mixture, and on the other enjoy painting with it.
  
  
• Stained glass window picture: Kids can fancy picture using only a piece of paper and crayons.
  

11 - 14 year olds

• Birds of a feather book mark: A child can make adorable bookmarks of feathers
  
  
• Personalized picture frames: This is a great gift idea and can be used to share with friends.
  
  
• Plaster of Paris charms: A variety of shapes can be made in Plaster of Paris.
  
  
• Sand Candle: Candles can be made with sand molds.
  

Teenagers

• Beaded Curtain: Using ones own ideas, beaded doorway curtain could be made.
  
  
• Denim pocket book: Unwanted blue jeans could be recycled this way. Small purse could be made using the pockets from blue jeans.
  
  
• Message board: A bulletin board for the wall or locker that could hold special messages, notes and photographs could be made in various sizes, shapes and colors.
  
  
• Paper Mache: This is one versatile craft with no right or wrong way to do it. It can be done for school projects and decorations as well.
  
  
• Soap surprises: Simple soap bars can have hidden treasures, with ingenuity and little hard work.
  
  
• Tie and dye: Colorful T-shirts and other articles like matching sheets, pillow covers and curtains can be made using tie-dye technique.