Disguise a Turkey: Printable Turkey Disguise Template for Kids

I ordered Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano, illustrated by Lee Harper, to go along with this disguise a turkey activity. The story’s turkey keeps trying disguises to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner, and it gives children a fun problem to solve with their own ideas.

For my printable, I wanted a large turkey with an open belly and broad feathers that children could decorate. I printed the packet so I could see the actual page, and included a separate family letter with a blank return-date line for teachers sending the project home.

The turkey disguise ideas below are starting points to try, from crayons-only designs to costumes made with craft supplies. They are suggestions rather than disguises I have made and tested. Let your child choose what their turkey will become!

What Is the Turkey in Disguise Project?

The turkey in disguise project challenges children to turn a turkey into something else so it can hide from Thanksgiving dinner. A costume might be another animal, a person, a food, or something completely unexpected.

Teachers can send the template home as a family project, or children can decorate it at home without a classroom assignment. Turkey Trouble makes a companion read-aloud, but you can use the printable on its own.

What’s in the Turkey Disguise Template

• A large turkey outline. Includes a name line and the sentence “My turkey is disguised as” for children to complete.
• A take-home family letter. Explains the project, encourages children to lead the designing, and includes a blank return-date line.

The blank turkey in disguise coloring page can be colored directly or used as the base for a paper-and-glue costume. Print the turkey page by itself, or include the family letter when sending the project home.

Supplies for Your Turkey Disguise Project

Choose supplies based on the disguise your child wants to try. The ideas below do not require you to gather every material.

• Printed turkey template
• Paper or cardstock
• Crayons or markers
• Optional craft materials from the idea tables, such as colored paper, yarn, tissue paper, or cotton balls
• Scissors and glue, if needed for the chosen disguise

Safety note: Always supervise children during crafts and activities, especially when using scissors. Small parts can be a choking hazard, so keep them away from little ones.

How to Use This Turkey in Disguise Printable

Step 1: Print the pages you need. Print the turkey template. Include the family letter if you are sending the project home, and fill in the return date.

Step 2: Choose a disguise. Ask your child what the turkey could pretend to be. Browse the ideas below if they would like a starting point.

Step 3: Decorate the turkey. Color directly on the template or add craft materials to create the chosen disguise. Children can decorate the page or cut out the turkey, with adult help as needed.

Step 4: Explain the disguise. Add the child’s name and complete the sentence beneath the turkey. Let your child share what their turkey is pretending to be.

Turkey Disguise Ideas

Here are ideas to try, grouped by the supplies and decorating involved. These are suggested designs, not tested craft results. Your child can change the colors, materials, or costume details to suit their own idea.

🖍️ Crayons and Markers Only

🦃 Disguise	✂️ Ideas to Use
🎃 Pumpkin	Color the turkey orange and draw a green stem on its head.
🐧 Penguin	Color a black body, white belly, and orange beak and feet.
🍕 Pizza Slice	Draw a triangle slice over the body and add pepperoni dots.
🐞 Ladybug	Draw a red body with black spots and antennae.
🌈 Rainbow	Color each tail feather a different rainbow color.
🦁 Lion	Draw a brown or orange mane around the face and add whiskers.

✂️ Simple Craft Supplies

🦃 Disguise	✂️ Ideas to Use
⛄ Snowman	Try cotton balls, a paper scarf, and an orange paper carrot nose.
👨‍🌾 Farmer	Try yellow yarn for straw, a bandana, and overalls drawn on.
👩‍🍳 Chef	Make a white paper chef hat and apron, plus a paper spoon.
🧑‍🚒 Firefighter	Add a red paper helmet, a yellow coat, and a paper hose.
🐑 Sheep	Try covering the body with cotton balls.
🎅 Santa	Try a red paper suit, cotton ball beard, and hat trim. This turkey is skipping ahead to Christmas!

🌟 Extra Creative

🦃 Disguise	✂️ Ideas to Use
🚀 Astronaut	Try a foil helmet, paper flag, and star stickers.
🦸 Superhero	Make a felt or paper cape, a mask, and a homemade logo with the child’s initial.
🧜 Mermaid	Try a tail of sequins or paper scales, plus yarn hair.
⚽ Sports Star	Make a paper jersey with a favorite number and add a mini ball.
👑 Princess or Prince	Try a paper crown, gem sticker, and fabric-scrap cape.
🦄 Unicorn	Try a paper horn, yarn mane, and glitter.

Easy Turkey Disguise Project Ideas for School

For a coloring-only activity, start with the pumpkin, penguin, pizza slice, ladybug, rainbow, or lion ideas above. Children can draw the costume onto the template with crayons or markers.

For a take-home project, the family letter explains that there is no need to buy special materials. Ask children to choose a disguise based on what they already have, and leave the design decisions with them.

Melissa’s Tips for a Turkey in Disguise Project

• Give children room for their own ideas. Offer the examples as starting points and let them change the design.
• Print only what you need. Families can use the turkey page on its own; teachers can include the take-home letter.
• Fill in the return date. The family letter leaves this blank for your classroom schedule.
• Let children explain the costume. Use the writing line beneath the turkey to identify the disguise.

Turkey Disguise Template FAQs

What is a turkey in disguise?

It is a turkey decorated to look like something else. Children choose a costume to help their turkey hide from Thanksgiving dinner.

What are easy turkey disguise ideas?

Try a pumpkin, penguin, ladybug, rainbow, or lion using crayons or markers. For a craft-supply version, the tables include suggestions such as a paper chef hat or a cotton-ball snowman.

Can this be a take-home family project?

Yes. The packet includes a family letter explaining the activity and a blank line for the return date. Fill that in before sending the pages home.

Do we need to buy special supplies?

No. Children can color the page or choose materials already available at home. Select a disguise that suits those supplies.

Does the packet include printable costumes?

The current packet includes the blank turkey and family letter. It does not include cut-out costume pieces; children draw or make their own disguises.

More Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

• Make a turkey handprint keepsake.
• Browse Thanksgiving crafts for kids.
• Find more Thanksgiving printables.

If you make this craft, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a star rating and comment below to let me know how it turned out. I love hearing from you, and your ratings help other readers find and enjoy the craft, too!