Disguising Your Turkey for a Creative Family Project

One of my favorite classroom projects year after year is our November Turkey in Disguise Project. Each year, I’m amazed by the creativity of families as they work together on this fun assignment. I introduce the project with a letter from Mr. Turkey pleading for help!

Then, I send home a letter to families, so they know exactly what to expect. I like to be clear about project expectations, the deadline, and all the little details. I also send home a blank turkey template on white card stock so families can get started with their Turkey in Disguise project right away!

I let parents and students know right away that their Turkey in Disguise is a family project. I don’t want to see mom or dad’s work alone. Families need to work with their children…and include siblings in the process! The more the merrier.

I also encourage families to be as creative as possible. I suggest that they scour Pinterest for ideas, but I also encourage them to get ideas from the world around them….popular TV shows, children’s toys, etc.

One year, when Duck Dynasty was so popular, one of my students disguised his turkey as Uncle Si and it was one of the funniest and most unique Turkey in Disguise projects I’ve ever seen! It also happened to win an award when the children voted using their secret ballots!

The turkey in disguise project is a fun family craft activity that happens every November leading up to Thanksgiving. This beloved tradition involves disguising a turkey to look like something else in order to avoid becoming someone’s holiday meal! With a bit of creativity, teamwork, and the right materials, you can create a turkey disguise that will impress everyone.

Why Do a Turkey Disguise Project?

There are several great reasons to take on this project with your kids or students

  • It encourages creativity and imagination as you brainstorm ideas for disguises. Kids love making the turkey look like a superhero movie character animal, or anything else they can dream up!

  • It’s a great family bonding activity. Children can work with parents, siblings, grandparents etc. to design the perfect disguise.

  • It integrates art, humor problem solving and fun into learning about Thanksgiving traditions and the history of why turkeys are eaten on this holiday.

  • Kids take pride in their turkey creations and love showing them off at school or Thanksgiving gatherings. It becomes a beloved annual tradition.

  • Voting on superlatives for the best disguises teaches lessons on character and sportsmanship.

Planning Your Turkey Disguise

The key to a great turkey disguise is taking time to brainstorm and plan it out. Here are some tips:

  • Look through turkey disguise photos online or in classroom samples for inspiration. Talk about pop culture references the kids are into as well.

  • Provide a turkey template, white cardstock, construction paper, feathers, googly eyes, glue, tape, markers and other craft materials so families can get creative.

  • Give at least 2-3 weeks to complete the project so there’s no last minute rushing.

  • Set clear expectations like making it a family project, using lots of creativity, and having fun!

  • Read turkey-themed children’s books like “Turkey Trouble” by Wendi Silvano to get kids excited about disguising turkeys.

Creative Turkey Disguise Ideas

Once you have materials and a plan, it’s time to start decorating your turkey! Some popular disguise ideas include:

  • Superheroes: Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and more
  • Movie/TV characters: Olaf, Elsa, Darth Vader, Scooby Doo
  • Animals: Skunk, owl, reindeer, dinosaur, shark
  • Holiday figures: Santa Claus, leprechaun, snowman, Easter Bunny
  • Sports: Football player, soccer player, cheerleader
  • Occupations: Doctor, firefighter, construction worker

And anything else your family can imagine! Abstract ideas like a snow globe, emoji, or Lego structure also make fun disguises. Take inspiration from the Pinterest turkey board which has pirates, aliens, trains and more unique concepts.

Voting on the Best Disguises

Once all the turkeys are turned in, the fun isn’t over! Have students vote on superlatives for categories like:

  • Best Overall Disguise
  • Most Creative
  • Funniest
  • Most Unique
  • Best Collaboration

Make it anonymous by having kids submit secret ballots. Tally up the votes and award certificates, ribbons, or small prizes to the winners. Make sure to emphasize good sportsmanship!

Displaying Turkey Disguises

These turkeys are too amazing to keep hidden away! Ideas for showing them off include:

  • A classroom turkey parade where kids describe their disguises
  • A hallway or classroom bulletin board display
  • Photos emailed to families or posted online
  • Entries in the school Thanksgiving parade or festival
  • Turkey disguises become table centerpieces at Thanksgiving meals

However you share them, these clever turkeys will put smiles on faces and get everyone excited for Thanksgiving! With some creativity and teamwork, your family’s turkey disguise project will be unforgettable.

a turkey in disguise

Great Books to Kick off Your Project

When introducing the project, I also like to read some fabulous turkey books. There are many wonderful Thanksgiving books that fit the theme of a turkey trying to avoid being eaten. These books really help children empathize with the turkey, and then they are all the more eager to disguise him well!

Here are some of my favorite Turkey themed books. I’ve included Amazon shopping links for your convenience.

The Most Memorable Turkey in Disguise Project

Of course, my very favorite was this turkey that was supposed to be ME! If only I were that young and pretty! See the little number in the bottom left corner? I number each project, and then students get to vote on several categories like Most Creative, Most Unique, and Best Disguise using a secret ballot.

Students love voting, and they really surprise and impress me by cheering for their friends and not getting hard feelings. We also take the time to discuss how honorable it is NOT to vote for yourself. The voting process is a great character lesson for the children!

Finally, we award blue ribbons to the winners. All children get to take home a certificate for saving a turkey’s life! They also get to take home a bag of Turkey Toes (candy corn!).

On this particular year, Uncle Si won Best Disguise, The Girl Scout won Most Unique, and the Easter Bunny won Most Creative.

Disguise a Turkey!

FAQ

What is the meaning of turkey in disguise?

“The idea behind the project is that the turkey needs to hide so that it doesn’t get eaten for Thanksgiving dinner, so the kids get to create a disguise to help the turkey blend in — hiding in a Starbucks cup, a bucket of popcorn, or inside a gumball machine.

How to disguise a turkey like Santa?

We colored the head of the turkey with a skin tone color and we decided to mask the tail of the turkey to look like piles of snow by drawing blue lines. What is this? Print the sheet with Santa accessories and have the kids color them in. Cut out the turkey outline and the accessories.

How to disguise a turkey as an iron man?

Disguise a turkey. Iron man. I used a shoe box with a small light inside and cut holes in the eyes and chest so they light up!

How do you disguise a turkey writing prompt?

Give them the writing prompt: “Thanksgiving is on the way, and the turkeys do not want to turn into a main course! In your opinion, what disguise should a turkey wear in order to escape turning into food on Thanksgiving?”

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