If your child has come home from school with a Disguise a Turkey project, you know how much fun these can be! The idea is simple: disguise a turkey so it does not end up on the Thanksgiving dinner table.
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But figuring out what to disguise the turkey as? Sometimes that is the hardest part!
So I created a free Disguise a Turkey printable with eight different costumes kids can cut out, decorate, and glue onto their turkey. From a superhero and unicorn to an astronaut and even a slice of pizza, there are so many fun ways to give this Thanksgiving turkey a whole new identity!
The printable includes both full-color and black-and-white disguises, plus a blank turkey template and a creative writing activity.
Get the Free Disguise a Turkey Printable
What is the Disguise a Turkey project?
Disguise a Turkey is a popular Thanksgiving classroom activity where kids are challenged to come up with a clever disguise to save their turkey from becoming Thanksgiving dinner.
The activity is often inspired by the children’s book Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. In the story, a turkey comes up with all kinds of disguises in hopes of avoiding the Thanksgiving dinner table.
Kids get to use their imaginations to transform a turkey into something completely different, whether that is an animal, a favorite character, a food, or even a profession.
And the best part? There really is not a wrong way to do it!
Some classrooms also have kids write a short story explaining their disguise and why they think it will work.
What is included in the free Disguise a Turkey printable?
I wanted to make this activity easy for parents and teachers to set up, while still leaving plenty of room for creativity.
Our 12-page printable bundle includes:
- Blank turkey template – a simple black-and-white turkey that kids can color and decorate however they like.
- Pre-colored turkey – a colorful version for younger kids or anyone who wants to skip straight to the disguising.
- 8 full-color disguises – ready to print, cut, and glue onto the turkey.
- 8 black-and-white disguises – the same costumes, but kids can color them in their own way.
- Turkey Story worksheet – a fun writing activity where kids name their turkey, describe their disguise, and explain how it will save them.
The disguises include an astronaut, unicorn, superhero, princess, firefighter, pizza slice, football player, and chef.
You do not need to print all 12 pages for each child. Just choose your turkey template, print the costume page you want, and you are ready to go!
How to make your turkey in disguise
This activity is really simple to put together, and you probably already have everything you need at home.
- Free Disguise a Turkey printable
- Printer paper or cardstock
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Optional: googly eyes, feathers, stickers, glitter, or other craft supplies
- Print your turkey. Start by downloading and printing the blank turkey template. Kids can color it themselves, or you can use the pre-colored version included in the bundle. I recommend cardstock if you have it, especially if your child will be bringing their finished turkey to school.
- Choose a disguise. Let your child look through the eight different disguises and pick their favorite. They can choose a full-color costume or one of the black-and-white versions to color themselves. And if they want to come up with their own costume, go for it! The blank turkey makes a great starting point.
- Cut out the costume pieces. Carefully cut along the dashed lines around each costume piece. Younger kids might need a little help cutting out the smaller accessories, while older kids can usually tackle this step on their own.
- Glue the disguise onto your turkey. Arrange the costume pieces on top of the turkey and glue them into place. Start with the larger pieces, like the outfit or helmet, then add the smaller accessories. A glue stick works great for this because it does not leave the paper too wet.
- Make it your own. Want to add some extra sparkle to the unicorn? Or give your superhero a different emblem? Let the kids get creative! You can add real feathers, fabric scraps, cotton balls, sequins, or whatever else you have in your craft supplies.
- Tell your turkey’s story. Once the disguise is finished, kids can complete the included Turkey Story worksheet. They will give their turkey a name, explain what it is disguised as, and share why they think their disguise will save it from Thanksgiving dinner. There is even space to draw their finished turkey!
8 fun turkey disguise ideas included in the printable
Need help choosing a costume? Here is a closer look at the eight disguises included in our printable bundle.
Space helmet, suit and boots, for the kid who is already obsessed with space.
Horn, flower crown, tutu and a rainbow tail. Add glitter if you have it.
Mask, cape, suit and lightning boots. They can invent the superhero name.
Gown, crown, pearls and a magic wand. A turkey fit for royalty.
Helmet, jacket, boots and a little fire extinguisher.
A whole slice with a crust hat and extra toppings. Possibly my favorite.
Helmet, jersey, cleats and a football. Change the number to their favorite player.
Hat, jacket, apron, spoon and bowl. A turkey disguised as the person who cooks it.
30 more disguise a turkey ideas
Of course, kids do not have to use one of the printable costumes! There are so many fun ways to disguise a turkey, and you can get pretty creative with things you already have around the house.
Here are 30 more ideas to try.
Characters and costumes
- Pirate – add an eye patch, bandana, and paper sword.
- Cowboy – make a cowboy hat, boots, and a little string lasso.
- Ballerina – use a coffee filter to create a tutu.
- Doctor – add a white coat and homemade stethoscope.
- Wizard – make a pointed hat, beard, and magic wand.
- Mermaid – create colorful paper scales and a mermaid tail.
- Knight – use aluminum foil to make shiny armor.
- Scarecrow – add a floppy hat and strips of shredded paper for straw.
- Fairy – make wings from tissue paper.
- Rockstar – add sunglasses, a microphone, and a paper guitar.
Animal disguises
- Penguin – use black and white construction paper.
- Dinosaur – add colorful spikes down the turkey’s back.
- Cat – make ears, whiskers, and a long tail.
- Owl – cover the body with layers of paper feathers.
- Butterfly – add colorful coffee filter wings.
- Bunny – give your turkey long ears and a fluffy cotton ball tail.
- Flamingo – use pink paper or feathers and long paper legs.
Food disguises
- Ice cream cone – turn the turkey into a giant scoop of ice cream.
- Cupcake – add a paper cupcake liner and colorful frosting.
- Taco – make a folded paper shell with all the toppings.
- Donut – cover the turkey with colorful icing and sprinkles.
- Hamburger – layer paper buns, lettuce, cheese, and a patty.
Other creative ideas
- Snowman – use cotton balls, a scarf, and a carrot nose.
- Christmas tree – add green paper branches and tiny ornaments.
- Flower – surround the turkey’s face with colorful petals.
- Rainbow – cover the turkey with strips of rainbow-colored paper.
- Palm tree – turn the tail feathers into palm leaves.
- Lighthouse – make a striped lighthouse with a paper light at the top.
- Hot air balloon – use colorful paper to create a balloon around the turkey.
- Sunflower – turn the turkey’s head into the center of a giant sunflower.
How to write your turkey in disguise story
Some teachers also ask kids to explain their turkey’s disguise and why it will save them. This can be just as fun as making the costume!
Our printable includes a Turkey Story writing page with three simple prompts:
- My turkey’s name is…
- I disguised my turkey as…
- This disguise will save my turkey because…
For example, if your child chooses the pizza costume, their story might look something like this:
I disguised my turkey as a pizza.
This disguise will save my turkey because people will think he is a big slice of pizza instead of a turkey!
Kids can make their stories as silly or creative as they want. They can also draw their finished turkey at the bottom of the page.
For younger kids who are not writing independently yet, you can have them tell you their story while you write it down.
Tips for making your turkey disguise extra fun
One of the things I love about this project is how different every child’s turkey can turn out, even when they start with the same template.
Here are a few ways to make the activity even more fun.
- Let kids take the lead. It is tempting to help them make everything look perfect, but the funny, unexpected ideas are usually the best part!
- Use different materials. Construction paper, cotton balls, felt, feathers, and stickers can all make great additions to a costume.
- Think beyond clothing. A turkey wearing a hat is cute, but what about a turkey disguised as an entire pizza, cupcake, or flower?
- Encourage a silly story. Have your child think about why their disguise would actually fool someone. The more imaginative, the better.
- Make a classroom display. If you are doing this with a group, hang everyone’s finished turkeys together. It is so fun seeing all the different disguises!
And remember, it does not have to look perfect. This project is all about creativity and having fun!
Disguise a Turkey printable FAQs
Is the Disguise a Turkey printable free?
Yes! Our 12-page printable bundle is completely free to download. It includes the turkey templates, eight costumes in both full color and black and white, and the Turkey Story writing activity.
What ages is this activity for?
This activity is great for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary-aged kids. Younger children can focus on coloring and gluing while an adult helps with cutting. Older children can do more of the project independently and write their own turkey stories.
Can teachers use this printable in the classroom?
Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print copies for their own classrooms. You can let every child choose their own disguise, or use the activity as part of a Thanksgiving classroom project. Please do not resell or redistribute the digital file itself.
Do I need to print all 12 pages?
Nope! Just print the turkey template and whichever costume page your child wants to use. You can also print the Turkey Story worksheet if you would like to include the writing activity.
What size paper should I use?
The printable is designed for standard US Letter paper (8.5 x 11 inches). You can use regular printer paper or cardstock. Cardstock is a great option if you want a sturdier finished turkey. If you are printing on A4 paper, select Fit to Page in your printer settings.
How long does the Disguise a Turkey project take?
It really depends on how much your child wants to decorate! Using the pre-colored costumes makes this a quick cut-and-glue activity. The black-and-white versions are great if your child wants to spend more time coloring and adding their own details.
What if my child wants to create a different disguise?
Go for it! The blank turkey template is perfect for creating something completely original. Your child can use crayons, construction paper, fabric, stickers, or anything else they can think of.
Download your free Disguise a Turkey printable
Ready to save your turkey from Thanksgiving dinner? Grab our free Disguise a Turkey printable and let the kids get creative!
Whether your turkey becomes a superhero, a unicorn, a pizza, or something completely unexpected, this is such a fun Thanksgiving activity for home or the classroom.
Download the Free Disguise a Turkey Printable
More Thanksgiving activities for kids
Looking for more ways to keep the kids busy this Thanksgiving? Here are a few more activities to try!
