Thanksgiving Day Activities for Kids

Studio 5 Contributor Kiersten Blanchard shares some great ideas to help the kids have a great Thanksgiving Day.


Thankful Puppets

Needed:

Felt*

Scissors

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Permanent marker (I used a purple Sharpie)

Pattern (printed from the links on this page)

Googly eyes (2 for each puppet)

Black yarn

Trim for Native American Puppets (optional – I got mine at JoAnn’s Fabrics)

Beads and floss (optional for Native American girl’s necklace)

*Felt colors I used:

Antique White: Pilgrim’s bonnet, collar, apron, Native
Americans’ sash & arm bands

Baby Pink: Pilgrims’ faces

Black: Pilgrim’s shoes, Pilgrim boy’s hat & belt,
Native American boy’s hair

Cashmere Tan: Native Americans’ faces, Turkey body
Cocoa Brown: Turkey fluff 2, Native American girl’s shoes,
Native American boys, pants

Dark Pink: cheeks

Gold: Turkey feathers, Pilgrim’s hat band

Iris: Pilgrim girl’s body, Turkey feather

Navy Blue: Pilgrim boy’s body

Orange: Turkey feathers, feet & beak, Pilgrim’s buckles,

Peacock: Native Americans’ sash & arm bands

Red Presto Felt (sticky-back): mouths, Native American head bands & triangle detail, Turkey waddle

Red: Turkey’s feathers

Walnut Brown: Native American’s bodies, Native American boy’s shoes, turkey fluff 1 & 3

White: Native Americans’ feathers

Important Hint: When printing out the patterns, your computer may automatically adjust the scaling size “shrink to printable area.” Change this setting in the print menu to “none” and your puppets will print out the correct size. Should clipping occur on the edges, cut them out as the printed line appears on the pattern.

Directions:

1. Print the patterns onto card stock and cut out each shape.

2. Using a permanent marker, trace each pattern onto the desired color of felt. Cut out each piece, and turn it over (so any markings from tracing will face the puppet) To cut out puppet bodies, trace the pattern and pin two pieces of felt together so they will match exactly when cut out. To hide markings, turn both piece of felt around, so the outsides are now together in the inside.

3. Stitch or hot glue around the edge of each body, making sure to leave the bottom edge open.

4. Glue on each piece, beginning with bottom layers (like faces) and proceeding to the top layers. To glue on shoes, open up the puppet. Apply a small amount of glue along the top of each shoe and stick it to the back of the front body piece (between the two layers).

5. For Native American Girl’s hair, tie 12-18″ pieces of black yarn together in the center. Tie it one more time on each side 2 inches from the center. Then braid each side and tie at the bottom. Use hot glue to adhere hair to puppet. For her necklace, place several beads on a strand of floss and tie off the ends. The Native American’s clothing detail can be created by cutting out small triangles or a thick zigzag line. I also used a small circular paper punch to create the detail along the edge of the Pilgrim girl’s apron.

6. Glue on eyes and any desired accessories.

7. Enjoy a reenactment of the First Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving story link:
http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Thanksgiving/

Turkey Bowling

Needed:

10 Brown paper lunch or craft sacks

10 Plastic bottles (I used 12 oz. bottles of
Sprite…which can double as the kid’s drinks for dinner)

White paper napkins

Tape

Ball (For an extra challenge use a small circular pumpkin without its stem)

Directions:

To create each bone, unfold two napkins and crumble one of them into a ball. Drape the second napkin over the ball and twist the bottom to form the narrow part of the bone. Trim a sack to 8 inches tall, then open it and smooth it around your fist to shape it. Place one bottle in each paper sack. Note: the fuller the bottles are, the more difficult they will be to knock over. For smaller kids, you may want to empty some of the liquid out first. Gather the top of the bag around each bottle top. Insert the narrow part of the “bone” into the bag. Twist and tape to secure together. Then, just set up your pins and bowl them over!

Perfect Pie Bar

For picky little eaters, the pie bar is the perfect create-it-yourself solution.

Start with some miniature Ready Crust graham cracker pie crusts. (They come six to a pack. I got mine on sale at Dick’s for $2.19.)

Then have a plethora of yummy fillings and topping available to choose from. Some ideas include:

Cherry pie filling

Chocolate pudding

Chocolate mousse (recipe below)

Vanilla pudding

Apple pie filling

Bananas

Lemon pudding

Pumpkin mousse

Cheese cake pudding

Ice cream

Chocolate chips

Canned whipped cream

Nuts

Sprinkles

Marshmallows

Oreo crumbs

Chocolate shavings

Coconut

Crushed candy bars

Caramel and chocolate sauce

Streusel topping

Indian corn

and so much more…really, the “pies” the limit!

Chocolate Mousse

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

½ c. cold water

1 small pkg. instant chocolate pudding

2 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate

1 pint heavy whipping cream, stiffly whipped

In large bowl, mix condensed milk and melted chocolate. Stir in water, then instant pudding until smooth. Chill in refrigerator for at least 30 min. Remove chocolate mixture from refrigerator and stir to loosen. Fold in whipped cream and return to fridge for at least an hour.


Pattern for Pilgrims (PDF)
Pattern for Face And Pilgrims (PDF)
Pattern for Puppet Body (PDF)
Pattern for Native American (PDF)
Pattern for Turkey (PDF)

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