Are you on the hunt for engaging and creative Thanksgiving crafts for kids? Look no further than our delightful Turkey Pool Noodle Craft! Not only is this craft a fun-filled and easy Thanksgiving project for your kids, but it also serves as a charming piece of holiday decor.

With just a few simple materials and less than 30 minutes, your children can create their very own turkey masterpieces. And the best part? Once they’ve had their fill of crafting fun, these adorable turkeys double as festive decorations, perfect for sprucing up a bookcase or shelf. It’s the perfect way to make this Thanksgiving extra special for your family.

Two finished turkeys made out of orange pool noodles and different colors of craft feathers, one in the foreground and the other standing in the background.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Turkeys Made With Pool Noodles

Transform a pool noodle into a set cute turkeys just in time for Thanksgiving!

This is a great craft project to create with the kids. Younger kids can work on scissor skills, identifying colors, and fine motor skills. They will also need assistance with assembling their turkeys.

Older children may be able to complete their turkeys with minimal assistance. Kids of all ages should be supervised by an adult while crafting.

You may be wondering, do I have to use a hot glue gun for this project?

A hot glue gun is not required to make these turkeys. If you use a glue gun, it should be a low temp glue gun to prevent the pool noodles and craft foam from melting.

You may also use a tacky craft glue, but it will require additional drying time and the turkeys may not be as durable when finished.

Want more ideas like this? Check out these Halloween pool noodle crafts and even more easy turkey crafts.

Two orange pool noodle turkeys standing on a gray wood background.

Turkey Pool Noodle Craft Supplies:

Orange Pool Noodle
Googly Eyes
Craft Feathers in assorted colors
Brown, Yellow and Red Craft Foam
Serrated Kitchen Knife
Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or tacky craft glue)
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler

How to Make Pool Noodle Turkeys:

First, measure and cut the orange pool noodle into six-inch lengths with a serrated kitchen knife.

Knife cutting orange pool noodle into smaller pieces.

Complete this step ahead of time, especially if crafting with younger children. For older kids, make sure they have adult supervision during this step.

Next, use scissors to cut out triangle beaks from the yellow craft foam. Cut out “L” shaped squiggles from the red craft foam to make the turkey’s snood.

One orange pool noodle with turkey face standing up. Another piece of orange pool noodle laying on its side with yellow beak hot glued on.

Then glue the beak, snood, and googly eyes to the side of the pool noodle to create the turkey’s face. Set aside to dry if needed.

To make the turkey’s tail, cut a five-inch tall trapezoid from the brown craft foam.

Assorted colors of craft feathers being hot glued to a piece of brown craft foam.

Then glue feathers to the brown craft foam to create the Turkey’s tail. You can have younger kids pick out certain feather colors or create a pattern. Set the tail feathers piece aside to dry, if needed.

Lastly, attach the turkey’s tail feather piece to the back of the pool noodle (opposite side from the face) with a low temp glue gun. You can also glue one or two feathers inside the hole on top of the pool noodle.

Did you make this project with your kids or students? We’d love to see it! Take a picture of it, then visit our Facebook page and show us!

More Turkey Crafts:

Pool Noodle Turkeys

Yield: 1 set

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Make these pool noodle turkeys for an easy Thanksgiving craft project.

Instructions

Measure and cut the orange pool noodle into six-inch lengths with a serrated kitchen knife. Complete this step ahead of time, especially if crafting with younger children. For older kids, make sure they have adult supervision during this step.
Use scissors to cut out triangle beaks from the yellow craft foam. Cut out “L” shaped squiggles from the red craft foam to make the turkey’s snood.
Glue the beak, snood, and googly eyes to the side of the pool noodle to create the turkey’s face. Set aside to dry if needed.
Cut a five-inch tall trapezoid from the brown craft foam.
Glue feathers to the brown craft foam to create the Turkey’s tail. You can have younger kids pick out certain feather colors or create a pattern. Set the tail feathers piece aside to dry, if needed.
Attach the turkey’s tail feather piece to the back of the pool noodle (opposite side from the face) with a low temp glue gun.
You can also glue one or two feathers inside the hole on top of the pool noodle.

Notes

Drying times will vary depending on the amount and type of glue used.

Top of image features two completed turkeys made with orange pool noodles and craft feathers and the bottom of image also features two completed projects. Middle of image has black text Pool Noodle and white text with black stroke Turkey Craft.

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.

Lynda

Friday 22nd of September 2023

The Turkey Pool Noodles look sooooo cute! Anyway you can take a picture of the backside? I'm confused on where/how to attach the feathers. Thanks!

Hi Lynda, there is a picture that shows cutting a piece of brown craft foam to glue the feathers onto. Then you just attach that piece to the back of the pool noodle. Hope that helps!