Turkey Noisemaker Craft

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, creator of the website CraftSanity, recommends creating this festive turkey noisemaker craft with your preschoolers to give them something special to play with during Thanksgiving preparations!

Supplies You'll Need

• Plastic drinking cup
• String
• Sponge
• Recycled paper bag
• Mod Podge
• Craft feathers
• Craft felt
• Wiggle eyes

Prepare for the activity by poking two holes in the top of each plastic cup, about 1/2-inch apart, and cutting the sponges into 1" x 2" pieces. Also, cut 12-inch pieces of string, knotting one end. For their first task, invite your students to strengthen fine motor skills by threading the un-knotted end of the string all the way up through one of the holes and back down through the other. When completed, invite them bring their cup and sponge piece to you or an assistant. Tie the sponge to the end of string hanging down from the center of the cup.

Continue building fine motor skills by inviting students to tear their sections of recycled paper bag into small pieces. Demonstrate how to use these paper pieces, Mod Podge, and a paint brush to decoupage the entire cup. After the cup has dried, invite your students to add colorful feathers, wiggle eyes, and a felt beak and wattle as finishing touches.

To use as a noisemaker, dampen the sponge, pinch it around the string near the bottom of the up, and pull slightly. DISCLAIMER: While students will love this craft, parents may not. Send home a note that this is to be used at a special time and place (e.g. as the turkey is being put in the over, as it's being taken out of the oven, etc.) so your students don't become a nuisance!

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