Flapping Turkey Craft for Kids (Free Printable
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Looking for a fun Thanksgiving craft that kids can actually play with? This flapping turkey craft is more than just a cute paper turkey. With a little string and a straw, kids can pull the strings to make its wings move!
I love crafts that are simple to make but keep kids entertained afterward. This one uses my free printable turkey template and a few basic supplies you probably already have at home. It makes a fun Thanksgiving activity for home, homeschool, or the classroom.
Why Kids Will Love This Moving Turkey Craft
- Kids get to color and decorate their own turkey.
- Cutting, folding, and gluing give little hands practice with fine motor skills.
- The string-and-straw mechanism makes the finished craft interactive.
- You can try pulling both strings together or one at a time to see what happens.
Supplies for the Flapping Turkey Craft
- Free flapping turkey printable template (PDF)
- White printer paper or cardstock
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Tape
- Two pieces of string
- A drinking straw (wide enough for the strings to move through)
My tip: I used a clear straw and white string that I colored brown with a marker because I liked how they blended in with the turkey. That part is completely optional—any straw and string that work for the mechanism are fine!
How to Make a Flapping Turkey Craft
Follow the photos below to make your own moving paper turkey. Younger kids may need an adult to help with cutting and threading the string.
Step 1: Print and color the turkey
Download the free turkey template and print it. Color the turkey and its tail feathers however you like. I chose orange, red, yellow, and brown for a traditional fall look, but kids can get as creative as they want.
Step 2: Cut out the pieces
Carefully cut around the turkey and each tail feather. You should have one turkey body and six separate feathers.
Step 3: Glue on the tail feathers
Turn the turkey over. Arrange the feathers in a fan shape behind its head and body, then use a glue stick to attach them to the back of the turkey. Flip it over to see how your colorful tail looks from the front.
Step 4: Fold and color the wings
Fold both wings along the dotted lines on the template so they can move. Color the backs of the wings, too, since you will see them when the turkey flaps.
Step 5: Tape string to each wing
Cut two pieces of string. Tape one end of a piece of string to each wing, as shown below. Leave the other ends loose so you can pull them later.
Step 6: Thread the strings through the straw
Feed both loose ends of the string down through a straw. Then tape the straw vertically to the belly of the turkey, leaving the ends of the strings hanging out below. Make sure the string can still slide through the straw—do not tape the strings in place.
Step 7: Make your turkey flap!
Hold the straw with one hand and gently pull the strings with the other to make your turkey flap its wings. For an extra-funny movement, pull one string at a time to make the turkey look like it is waving!
Download the Free Flapping Turkey Printable
Ready to try this craft with your kids? Download the template below, print it, color the pieces, and follow the photos above to make your own moving turkey!
For best results, print on US Letter (8.5 × 11-inch) paper at 100% scale. Cardstock can help make the turkey sturdier, but regular paper works for a lighter craft.
Tips to Help the Wings Flap
- Keep the fold flexible. Crease along the dotted lines without taping the wings flat against the body.
- Check the string. The strings should slide freely through the straw. If they stick, check for tangles or tape blocking the opening.
- Adjust where the string attaches. If a wing does not move well, try moving the taped end of the string slightly on the wing.
- Try different motions. Pull both strings for a flap, then alternate sides to make your turkey wave.
More Fun Turkey Crafts and Thanksgiving Activities
If your kids enjoyed this craft, try one of these other activities from Raising Veggie Lovers!
- Turkey Toilet Paper Roll Craft – Another easy turkey craft with a free printable.
- Fall Leaves Turkey Craft – Use colorful leaves to create a turkey tail.
- Turkey Puppet Craft – Make a turkey puppet kids can play with.
- Tree of Thanks – A printable gratitude activity for Thanksgiving.
And if you like interactive crafts, check out my Flying Bat Craft! It uses a similar straw-and-string idea to make the wings move.
I hope your kids have as much fun making their flapping turkeys as they do playing with them! If you try this craft, I’d love to hear how it turned out.
