Thanksgiving & Christmas Crafts 2023

During my years teaching at a day care/preschool and teaching elementary Sunday school classes, I found that boys liked to create craft projects just as much as the girls. In the fall, many parts of the country have beautiful fall evenings with cooler temperatures. Some parts of the country experience rainy or snowy nights. ome groups may want to have specific crafts, games, or snacks with a Thanksgiving or Christmas themes. Below are several craft ideas for your Ranger Kids and Discovery Rangers groups.

THANKSGIVING CRAFTS

RANGER KIDS

I tried to select craft projects that K–2^nd graders could complete with little individual supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the younger boys in the class.

Coffee Filter Turkey

For a simple craft, this may seem to have lots of supplies—wooden clothespins, white coffee filters, googly eyes, washable markers, small spray bottle with water, glue, brown acrylic paint, craft foam, paintbrushes, scissors, and pencils. If you have more helpers and plenty of time or want to do this craft over two weeks, you can let the kids paint the clothespins and color and spray the coffee filters. Those will both need to dry before the turkeys can be assembled. If you don’t have two weeks, then I suggest painting the clothespins before class so that they are dry. Then, start class with the coloring and spraying the coffee filters. Later, the boys can assemble their turkeys. By the end of class, the coffee filters should be dry enough to use.

https://www.darcyandbrian.com/coffee-filter-turkeys-thanksgiving-craft-for-kids/

Fork or Sponge Painted Turkey

Both ideas use similar supplies. You just need to decide which technique you want to use. You’ll need paper plates, scissors, paint (red, yellow, and orange), construction paper, googly eyes, and either sponges or forks. Don’t forget to have paint shirts or plastic trash bags for boys to wear so they don’t get paint on themselves or each other. There are a few ways to save time. You can precut the head, beak, and gobbler for the turkeys.

Sponge: https://www.theresourcefulmama.com/sponged-painted-thanksgiving-turkey-craft/

Fork: https://www.iheartartsncrafts.com/fork-painted-turkey-craft-kids/

Leaf Turkey

This craft was too cute for me not to include. You don’t need many supplies—cardstock, scissors, glue, colors, and fall leaves. Depending on your location and what’s available, you could use real leaves. However, the fake leaves for a dollar store will work great to keep their color and not crumble.

https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/turkey-leaf-craft/

Template: https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Leaf-Turkey-Crafting-Template.pdf

DISCOVERY RANGERS

I tried to select craft projects that 3^rd–5^th graders could complete with little supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the boys who may need extra help.

3D Paper Turkey

This craft can take as little or as much time as you choose. You’ll need construction paper (brown, red, orange, and yellow), glue, googly eyes, staplers, scissors, and clothespins. If you don’t have much time, I recommend that you cut the long strips of paper before class. Using hot glue stead of white glue will save time as well. However, you will want to have a leader use the glue gun so that the boys don’t get burned. The best thing about this project is that every turkey is meant to be unique.

https://twitchetts.com/2016/10/construction-paper-turkey-craft.html/

Paper Fan Turkey

Although there are not many supplies for this craft, each turkey will reflect the imagine of its creator. You’ll need construction or scrapbook paper in fall colors. They can be solid colors or printed. You’ll also need scissors and packaging tape. You can either make your own turkey body or use a template from one of the other crafts. If the boys can fold a fan, they can make this craft.

https://www.agirlandagluegun.com/kid-craft-monday-turkey/

Fall Leaf Bowl

I included this craft because the boys could make it and use it as a candy dish for Thanksgiving. It will take a couple of weeks to complete. You’ll need mod podge, foam brushes, fake fall leaves, balloons, and bowls. I would also suggest you have small paper bowls for the mod podge. You will also need space to store the balloons between weeks. You may want to try to get some parents to come in and help with the craft.

https://www.tosimplyinspire.com/diy-fall-leaf-bowl.html

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

In this section, I decided to put things that you could use at the beginning of class, for snacks, or for a Thanksgiving party during your weekly meeting.

Gratitude Cards (Thankfulness Cards)

I know the website uses these cards as tags for gifts to teachers, friends, etc. However, I thought this would be a great way to help the boys focus on things they can be thankful during this season.

https://frugalfun4boys.com/printable-gratitude-cards/

Templates: https://frugalfun4boys.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Thank-You-Cards.pdf

Coloring Pages and Games

Below are several coloring pages and games for Thanksgiving.

Give Thanks 1: https://crazylittleprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Thanksgivingcoloringpage.pdf

Give Thanks 2: https://crazylittleprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Givethankscoloringpage.pdf

Happy Thanksgiving: https://crazylittleprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Turkeycoloringpage.pdf

Thanksgiving Bingo: https://crazylittleprojects.com/thanksgiving-bingo-game

Thanksgiving Snacks

Below are Thanksgiving snack ideas.

Thanksgiving Turkey Snack Bags: https://www.thatswhatchesaid.net/thanksgiving-turkey-snack-bags/

Thanksgiving Rick Krispie Treats: https://www.happinessishomemade.net/thanksgiving-rice-krispie-treats/

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

RANGER KIDS

I tried to select craft projects that K–2^nd graders could complete with little individual supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the younger boys in the class.

Paper Plate Christmas Tree #1

For a craft that looks so simple in the photo, there are a surprising number of supplies needed: paper plates, green acrylic paint or green markers/crayons, paintbrushes, scissors, hole punches, ribbons, tape, staplers, brown cardstock, glitter star foam stickers, glue, and embellishments like sequins or small poms. Depending on the time you have for crafts, it would be quicker and less messy to have the boys color the paper plates with markers or crayons. You may want to have a pencil or black marker available to make the lines of the plates so that the boys cut them in the correct proportion. The ribbon and embellishment the boys choose will make each tree unique to its creator.

https://iheartcraftythings.com/paper-plate-laced-christmas-tree-craft.html

Paper Plate Christmas Tree #2

Again, this paper plate tree requires many supplies: paper plates, green acrylic paint or green markers/crayons, paintbrushes, scissors, yarn, various colors of construction paper, glue sticks, hole punches, and staplers. Depending on the time you have for crafts, it would be quicker and less messy to have the boys color the paper plates with markers or crayons. The number of spirals the boys cuts will determine the height of their trees. The boys can make ornaments and stars from the construction paper and attach them with yarn to decorate their trees.

https://www.redtedart.com/paper-plate-christmas-tree-whirligig/

DISCOVERY RANGERS

I tried to select craft projects that 3^rd–5^th graders could complete with little supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the boys who may need extra help.

Holiday Door Hanger

This craft may require a little bit of patience from the boys. I know that’s tough with the holidays coming, but this could be a great gift for a parent or grandparent. You’ll need wide-mouth mason jar rings, extra-large jingle bells, satin ribbon, and double-sided tape. The boys will spend the most time wrapping the ribbon around the jar ring. If you find that double-sided tape doesn’t work, you may consider hot glue.

https://www.bowdabra.com/blog/2021/10/29/how-to-make-the-perfect-holiday-door-hanger-under-5/

Beaded Candy Cane

This craft is so easy the boys may want to may several to hang on their trees. You’ll need green pipe cleaners, red and white pony beads, and wire cutters or old scissors. The boys need to make sure to turn the end of the pipe cleaner around the first and last beaded so that none of the beads fall off.

https://fountainavenuekitchen.com/holiday-crafts/

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

In this section, I decided to put things that you could use at the beginning of class, for snacks, or for a Christmas party during your weekly meeting.

Coloring Pages and Games

Below are several coloring pages and games for Christmas.

Merry Christmas: https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/christmas-sign-coloring-page/

Snowman: https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/happy-little-snowman-coloring-page/

Gifts: https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/christmas-packages-coloring-page/

Christmas Bingo (10 different cards): https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/printable-christmas-bingo-games-1356265

Christmas Snacks

Reindeer Chow: https://lifemadesimplebakes.com/reindeer-chow-6/

Banana Snowmen: https://onehandedcooks.com.au/recipe/christmas-banana-snowmen/

Advent Calendar

You can make the Santa as shown, or you can change it up and make a snowman. The basic supplies of white construction paper or cardstock, black markers, scissors, and cotton balls are all you need. I recommend sending the extra cotton balls home in a small zipper baggie. Whether you make a Santa or a snowman, you may need other colors of paper. Either of these will be quite easy for Ranger Kids and Discovery Rangers to make.

Scroll to #6: https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g5030/christmas-crafts-for-kids/

Pasta Christmas Tree

There are several supplies for these trees, and it will take a couple of weeks to make them unless you paint the paster ahead. You’ll need uncooked fusilli and macaroni noodles, tacky glue, acrylic paint, cardboard, twine, scissors, and glitter star foam stickers. The easiest way to paint the pasta is to put several pieces in a plastic zip baggie with a little bit of paint and shake it until it is covered. This would be great fun for the kids. However, you would have to plan to paint the pasta one week and assemble the craft the next. You would also need tray to dry the pasta on. Once the pasta is painted and dry, let the boys use their imaginations to create their trees.

https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/christmas-tree-pasta-macaroni-craft/?

Cupcake Liner Christmas Tree

You’ll need white cardstock, scissors, glue, Christmas cupcake liners (solids and prints), and glitter star foam stickers. From just a few supplies, the boys can make these colorful Christmas trees. Each one will be unique.