Kids holiday project: Thanksgiving pine-cone turkey

We were looking for a Thanksgiving-themed decorating activity for the grandkids last year when I remembered an old favorite from primary school — pine-cone turkeys. They’re quick and easy to do, plus you get the hand silhouettes as keepsakes.

What you need …

Big pine cones

Colored construction paper

Pipecleaners

Glue

Pen or pencil

Scissors

Crayons or colored pencils

Adhesive eyes (optional)

Toothpicks

Scotch tape

What you do …

Have the child place his or her hand on a piece of the construction paper (color doesn’t matter) with fingers spread. Trace the outline of the hand. (The adults also can place their hands on construction paper and trace them.)

Have the child again trace his or her hand, with fingers and thumb straight out and closed together. Do this twice for each turkey.

Draw a turkey face and neck on construction paper.

Cut out the hand and turkey head shapes.

If the child wants, he or she can decorate the feathers with the crayons or colored pencils.

Attach the cutout of the open hand to the large end of the pine cone with glue. This will create the tail feathers. (You can make this more special by having a cutout of everyone’s hand who’s involved in the project and stacking them. Remember to put the bigger hands to the back.)

Draw eyes or use small stick-on eyes that can be purchased at an arts and crafts store.

Cut out a small teardrop from red construction paper to create the snood and glue it on.

Attach the head and neck to the small end of the pine cone. Glue it to secure it. You also may need to tape a toothpick to the back to keep it from flopping over if the paper isn’t stiff enough.

Attach a closed-hand shape to each side of the pine cone about a third to halfway back from the small end. These will be the wings.

Attach the pipecleaner beneath the front of the pine cone to keep it stable. The wire can be shaped to resemble turkey feet, and it will give the turkey stability. (Toothpicks also can be used — and fairly easily hidden if used at the back — to improve stability if the turkey tends to tip over.)