Every November, a familiar note comes home from school: “Your turkey needs a disguise so it won’t get eaten on Thanksgiving!” The Disguise a Turkey project is a classic family craft, and Kaylee and I are working on ours for school this year too. If you’re staring at a blank turkey wondering where to start, these disguise a turkey ideas will get your family’s creativity flowing.
How the disguise a turkey project works
Kids get a turkey template (from school or printed at home) and turn it into something that is definitely not a turkey, so the farmer won’t find it. They decorate it with paper, paint, fabric scraps and anything else in the craft bin, then write what their turkey is disguised as. Most teachers want the child to come up with the idea and do as much of the work as they can, with grown-ups helping.
Step 1: Brainstorm together
The best disguises come from what your child already loves. Ask a few questions:
- What is your favorite animal, food or sport?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
- Who is your favorite character from a book? (Then make your own version!)
- What is the silliest thing a turkey could pretend to be?
Write down every idea, even the funny ones. Then let your child pick the winner.
30 disguise a turkey ideas
Jobs and grown-up dreams
- Chef: a paper chef hat and a tiny apron cut from a napkin.
- Firefighter: a red paper helmet and yellow stripes on the body.
- Astronaut: an aluminum foil suit and a clear plastic “helmet.”
- Doctor: a white coat and a stethoscope made from yarn.
- Scientist: a lab coat, safety goggles and a bubbling paper beaker.
- Artist: a beret, a paper palette and paint splatters.
- Farmer: the sneakiest disguise of all! A straw hat and overalls.
Animals
- Unicorn: a glitter horn and a rainbow yarn mane.
- Dinosaur: green paper with triangle spikes down the back.
- Bumblebee: yellow and black stripes plus wax paper wings.
- Ladybug: a red paper shell with black dots.
- Owl: brown paper feathers and big round eyes.
- Penguin: black and white paper and an orange beak.
- Puppy or kitty: floppy ears, whiskers and a pipe cleaner tail.
Food (the turkey’s favorite trick)
- Pizza slice: a cardboard triangle with paper pepperoni. Bonus points for an “EAT MORE PIZZA!” sign.
- Ice cream cone: a waffle-print cone and cotton ball scoops.
- Cupcake: a cupcake liner skirt and cotton ball frosting.
- Pumpkin: orange tissue paper all over and a green stem hat.
- Taco: a folded yellow shell with shredded paper “lettuce.”
Sports and hobbies
- Football player: a jersey with your child’s favorite number.
- Soccer player: a paper soccer ball and shin guards.
- Ballerina: a tulle or tissue paper tutu.
- Rock star: sunglasses and a paper guitar.
- Gymnast: a sparkly leotard made of foil or sequins.
Pretend and seasonal
- Superhero: a cape, a mask and a homemade logo.
- Princess or prince: a crown, a cape and a wand.
- Pirate: an eye patch, a bandana and a paper sword.
- Wizard: a starry pointed hat and a magic wand.
- Snowman: cotton balls, a scarf and a carrot nose.
- Scarecrow: a straw hat and yarn “hay” sticking out.
- Leaf pile: real fall leaves glued all over for perfect camouflage!
Supplies you probably already have
- Construction paper, cardstock and tissue paper
- Cotton balls, pom-poms and craft feathers
- Fabric scraps, felt, yarn and ribbon
- Buttons, googly eyes, sequins and glitter glue
- Aluminum foil, coffee filters and old magazines
- Real leaves, dry pasta and egg carton cups
Tips for a stress-free turkey project
- Read the teacher’s instructions first. Check size limits and whether 3D items are okay.
- Print on cardstock so the turkey holds heavy decorations.
- Let your child lead. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be theirs!
- Sketch it first so you know which supplies you need.
- Use white school glue for heavy pieces and let it dry flat overnight.
- Take a photo before it goes to school. These make the sweetest keepsakes.
Want everything in one place? Our printable Disguise a Turkey Kit includes bold turkey templates, 30 cut-out disguise pieces, a “My Disguise Plan” brainstorm page, a supply checklist, a turkey poem and a Master of Disguise award.
Looking for more creative fun? Read about the benefits of arts and crafts for kids or try our easy paper crafts.
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