Every year around Thanksgiving, the poor turkey needs to hide so he does not end up as dinner. That is where the turkey disguise project comes in! Kids turn the turkey into something else entirely (a cow, a robot, a strawberry, a pile of leaves) and the funnier the disguise, the better!
I loved how different every single page turned out, even though they all started with the exact same turkey. Some kids colored, some glued on real leaves, and one went all out with beads and glitter. It was nice to see the kids personalities through their turkey art!
Below you will find the free printable, how to do the project step by step, a bunch of real examples from my kids and their friends, and 70+ turkey disguise ideas for when your kid says “I don’t know what to be!”
Turkey Disguise Project at a Glance
- What it is: a free printable turkey that kids color and decorate so he looks like something else, then they finish the sentence “I’m a ___”
- Ages: little ones can just color, older kids can add 3D pieces, glue and cut-outs
- Time: 15 minutes for a quick colored turkey, an hour or more if you go all out
- Cost: free printable, plus whatever craft supplies are already in your house
- Great for: the kids’ table, rainy days before Thanksgiving, classroom parties and homeschool
Table of Contents
What Is a Turkey Disguise Project?
A turkey disguise project is a fun Thanksgiving craft where kids “disguise” a turkey so he can hide from dinner. The disguise could be anything – a person, a thing (one of my kids chose a cardboard box disguise!) an animal, etc…
If you’re kiddo is less artsy, and they are stumped for what to disguise the turkey as, try prompting with “How would a turkey hide in Minecraft?” “How would a turkey hide in your room?” and other things that you know they are familiar with.
How to Disguise a Turkey (Step by Step)
- Print the page – Regular paper works fine, but cardstock holds up better if you plan on gluing things on.
- Pick a disguise – Let your kid choose anything: an animal, a food, a character or something silly. (Stuck? Scroll down to the big idea list!)
- Color/complete the turkey – Self explanatory, but don’t rush this part!
- Finish the sentence – Write what the turkey is on the line at the bottom: “I’m a ____.”
- Show it off – Hang it on the fridge or the wall, or bring it to dinner and see if anyone can guess what the turkey is before reading the bottom.
What You Need
The basic version only takes the printable and some crayons or markers. If you want to get fancy, here are the extras that made the best-looking pages:
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
- Glue (a glue stick for paper, craft glue for heavier things)
- Scissors
- Extra paper, scrapbook paper or construction paper for cut-out faces and clothes
- Real fall leaves from your yard
- Googly eyes, beads, gems and glitter for the fancy ones
- Tape, for attaching a cut-out face
70+ Turkey Disguise Ideas for Kids
Here is the big list for when your kid draws a blank. Let them pick, or have them close their eyes and point at one. I put them in groups so it is easy to find the kind of idea your kid likes.
Food Disguises
Food ones are easy because kids already know exactly what color they are and see them often!
- Pizza slice
- Taco
- Hot dog
- Pancake stack
- Cupcake
- Ice cream cone
- Broccoli
- Watermelon slice
- Pineapple
- Banana
- Corn on the cob
- French fries
- Donut
- Cheeseburger
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Popcorn bucket
- Sushi roll
- Pumpkin pie
Animal Disguises
Animals are great for kids who love patterns, like spots, stripes and fur. Cut out ears or a tail from construction paper and glue them on.
- Pig
- Sheep
- Flamingo
- Peacock
- Penguin
- Owl
- Unicorn
- Dragon
- Dinosaur
- Shark
- Octopus
- Ladybug
- Bumblebee
- Zebra
- Giraffe
- Tiger
- Panda
- Frog
- Llama
- Skunk
Costume and Character Disguises
Let the turkey wear a costume! Draw a hat, a cape or a mask, or cut out a paper outfit and glue it on.
- Astronaut
- Pirate
- Ninja
- Superhero
- Mermaid
- Princess
- Wizard
- Vampire
- Ghost
- Scarecrow
- Clown
- Firefighter
- Cowboy
- Knight
- Fairy
- Video game character
Silly Object and Nature Disguises
These are the funny ones. A turkey that thinks he is a rock or a campfire is hard to beat. Since we are a camping family, the tent, campfire and sleeping bag are for the camping kids.
- Snowman
- Christmas tree
- Cactus
- Rock
- Haystack
- Rainbow
- Disco ball
- Spaceship
- Race car
- Wrapped present
- Cloud
- Mailbox
- Tent
- Campfire
- Sleeping bag
- Pinecone
- Bush
- Mummy
That is 72 ideas. And that is before you count the ones my kids made: a cow, butter, a strawberry, a zucchini, a robot, a zombie, the Enderdragon, a paper bag and a leaf pile!
Tips to Make the Turkey Disguise Project Easier (or Harder)
For Little Kids
Keep it simple. Pick one color or one pattern (spots, stripes, all green) and write the name on the line for them if needed. Stickers are great for adding details, and a quick colored turkey is just as cute as a fancy one.
For Older Kids
Challenge them to make the disguise 3D. Glue on paper clothes, cut-out faces, fabric, real leaves or any other material from around the house. You can also ask them to write a few sentences about their disguise, like why it is a good place to hide.
For Classrooms and Parties
Print one page per child and put out a big pile of supplies. When everyone is done, hang the pages on a wall and let kids guess what each turkey is before reading the line at the bottom. You can also vote for the funniest or sneakiest disguise.
Keep Glue From Wrecking the Page
If your kid is going all out, print on cardstock and use craft glue, not a glue stick. Let it dry flat for a few hours before hanging it. Heavy things like beads and gems need real glue or they will fall off.
More Free Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
This page is part of my big free Thanksgiving printable pack. If you liked this one, there is a lot more in there:
Free Thanksgiving printables for kids: scavenger hunt, turkey crafts, coloring pages and more
Turkey Disguise Project FAQ
What is a turkey disguise project?
It is a Thanksgiving craft where kids disguise a turkey so he looks like something else and can hide from dinner. Kids color and decorate the turkey as an animal, food, character or object, then name what it is.
What are good ideas for a turkey disguise?
Easy favorites are a cow, a strawberry, a robot, a pizza slice, a pirate or a unicorn. For something unusual, try a leaf pile, a paper bag, a campfire or a rock. There are 70+ ideas listed above.
Is the “I’m Not a Turkey!” printable free?
Yes! It is a free PDF and you do not need to give your email. I linked it at the top of the article, but just incase you missed it, here is the link to download the PDF!
What ages is the turkey disguise project for?
Pretty much all ages. Little kids can color the turkey and scribble on a name, and older kids can build a 3D disguise with glue, paper and other craft supplies.
Can I use this for a classroom?
Yes, it works well for a classroom or a homeschool group. Print one per child, put out a pile of craft supplies and then have everyone guess each other’s disguises. This printable is for personal and classroom use, please do not resell it.
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