17 Pilgrim & Native American–Inspired Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

These Thanksgiving activities for kids are just the right thing to do during the season and keep those excited fingers occupied. From simple Thanksgiving crafts for kids to more complex Thanksgiving activities for kids, you’ll find this range has something for every age and level of competence.

Pilgrim-Inspired Crafts

1. Paper Pilgrim Hats

A Thanksgiving pilgrim hat.

There’s nothing that screams “pilgrim” like those classic black hats with the gleaming buckles. This classic among Thanksgiving crafts for kids elementary uses basic supplies you probably already have lying around.

Children adore the theatrical touch these hats bring to any Thanksgiving production, and frankly, they look rather cute on toddlers as well.

Materials:

  • Black construction paper
  • Yellow construction paper or foil
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Stapler
  • Measuring tape or string

Instructions:

  1. Cut a strip of black paper about 24 inches long and 3 inches wide for the hatband
  2. Measure around your child’s head and adjust the strip accordingly
  3. Cut a large circle (about 8 inches) from black paper for the brim
  4. Cut a smaller circle (about 6 inches) from the center of the brim
  5. Staple the hatband into a circle that fits your child’s head
  6. Slide the hatband through the hole in the brim and glue in place
  7. Cut a small rectangle from yellow paper for the buckle and glue to the front

2. Pilgrim Bonnets

A Pilgrim bonnet, a Thanksgiving craft for kids.

While the boys have pilgrim hats, the girls can create these sweet bonnets that tie up around the chin. The preschool favorite Thanksgiving crafts among the kids help little ones imagine what life could have been like centuries ago, and the tying project is great for the fine motor skills.

Materials:

  • White construction paper or fabric
  • White ribbon or yarn
  • Scissors
  • Hole punch
  • Glue
  • Optional: lace trim

Instructions:

  1. Cut a large semi-circle from white paper (about 12 inches diameter)
  2. Fold the straight edge over about 2 inches to create a cuff
  3. Punch holes on both sides of the cuff, about 2 inches from each edge
  4. Thread ribbon through the holes, leaving long tails for ties
  5. If using lace, glue it along the curved edge for decoration
  6. Let dry completely before wearing

3. Pilgrim Puppets

A Pilgrim puppet made with a paper bag, construction paper and yarn.

Transform simple materials into pilgrim characters for storytelling time. These Thanksgiving activities for kids combine creativity with educational play, and honestly, kids get so invested in their puppet’s personality that you might find yourself with a whole Thanksgiving drama on your hands.

Materials:

  • Paper lunch bag
  • Black, white, orange, and pink construction paper
  • Yarn (orange or brown)
  • Markers or crayons
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Keep paper bag folded with flap as the puppet’s mouth.
  2. Cut a round face from pink or beige paper and glue on flap.
  3. Add eyes, cheeks, and mouth with paper or markers.
  4. Cut yarn into small pieces and glue as hair on sides.
  5. Make a black pilgrim hat with a yellow buckle and glue on top.
  6. Add white paper collar and black paper sleeves to bag.
  7. Let dry before using as a puppet.

4. Pilgrim Ship (Mayflower) Craft

A Pilgrim boat made with egg carton.

This is one of those Thanksgiving arts and crafts for kids that naturally leads to conversations about the journey across the ocean – it’s amazing how a simple craft can spark so much curiosity about history. Plus, egg carton crafts offer a great opportunity to teach children about recycling

Materials:

  • Empty egg cartons
  • Brown construction paper
  • White paper
  • Toothpicks
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Crayons or markers

Instructions:

  1. Cut egg cartons into strips of 2-3 cups to make individual boats
  2. Cut small triangular sails from white paper
  3. Let kids decorate the sails with markers or crayons
  4. Carefully poke a toothpick through each sail
  5. Press the toothpick into the bottom of an egg cup to create the mast
  6. Cut small flags from brown paper and attach to the top of the toothpick

5. Pilgrim Place Cards

A place card with a drawing of a Pilgrim.

Get the kids involved in Thanksgiving table prep with these personalized cards. These easy children’s arts and crafts make every family member a special guest at the table, and it’s also a sneaky way to practice writing.

Materials:

  • Cardstock or heavy paper
  • Black and white construction paper
  • Markers or crayons
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Ruler

Instructions:

  1. Cut cardstock into rectangles about 4×6 inches
  2. Fold each rectangle in half to create a tent-style place card
  3. Cut small pilgrim hat shapes from black paper
  4. Cut tiny yellow rectangles for buckles
  5. Glue hats and buckles onto the front of each card
  6. Write guest names on the cards with markers
  7. Add small decorative details if desired

6. Pilgrim Collage Art

Pilgrim collage art made by kids.

Gather magazines, fabric scraps, and construction paper to create pilgrim-themed collages. This free-form approach to Thanksgiving activities for kids lets them express their creativity – there’s no wrong way to make a collage, which takes all the pressure off.

Materials:

  • Large sheets of paper or poster board
  • Old magazines
  • Fabric scraps (especially black, white, brown)
  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Crayons or markers

Instructions:

  1. Start with a large sheet of paper as your base
  2. Look through magazines for pictures that remind you of pilgrim times
  3. Cut out interesting shapes and colors from fabric scraps
  4. Arrange everything on your paper before gluing
  5. Glue down larger pieces first, then add smaller details
  6. Fill in gaps with drawn details using crayons or markers
  7. Let dry completely before displaying

7. Pilgrim Hat Card

A Pilgrim hat card for Thanksgiving.

Materials

  • Brown cardstock or construction paper (for card base)
  • Black construction paper (for hat)
  • Red construction paper (for hat band)
  • Yellow/orange construction paper (for buckle)
  • Fall scrapbook paper scraps (optional for leaves)
  • Paint set (optional for hat decoration)

Instructions

  1. Fold brown cardstock into a card.
  2. Cut a pilgrim hat shape from black paper.
  3. Glue a red paper strip across the hat.
  4. Cut a yellow buckle and glue it in the center.
  5. Add paint strokes to the hat if desired.
  6. Glue the hat onto the top of the card.
  7. Write “Happy Thanksgiving” with a marker.
  8. Cut and glue colorful paper leaves around the text.

This is a sample of several creative Thanksgiving card ideas kids can use to share gratitude.

8. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Holder

a Pilgrim hat crayon holder.

Turn a small container into a functional pilgrim hat that holds crayons or pencils. These Thanksgiving activities for kids combine practical use with festive decoration – kids love having their own special container for art supplies.

Materials:

  • Black paper cup
  • Black construction paper
  • Yellow construction paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Add a yellow paper buckle to the front.
  2. Turn the paper cup upside down.
  3. Cut a black circle larger than the cup’s opening for the brim.
  4. Glue the brim to the cup.
  5. Add a yellow paper buckle to the front.

9. Pilgrim Hat Cookies (Craft + Snack)

Pilgrim hats made with chocolate cookies and marshmallows.

Who tells us crafts need to be yucky-tasting? Using simple ingredients, kids can create edible pilgrim hats. Warning: more ingredients might go into mouths than onto cookies, but that’s half the fun.

Materials:

  • Chocolate-covered cookies (like Fudge Stripes)
  • Marshmallows
  • Yellow construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Small dab of frosting or melted chocolate

Instructions:

  1. Cut tiny squares from yellow paper for buckles
  2. Place a marshmallow on top of each cookie
  3. Use a tiny dab of frosting to attach the paper buckle to the marshmallow
  4. Let set until frosting hardens

10. Toilet Paper Roll Pilgrims

A little Pilgrim craft made with a toilet paper roll.

Materials:

  • Empty toilet paper rolls
  • Black construction paper
  • White construction paper
  • Flesh-colored construction paper (or just use white and let kids color it)
  • Cotton balls
  • Small yellow paper squares
  • Glue sticks
  • Crayons or markers
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Cover the toilet paper roll with black paper for the pilgrim’s body
  2. Cut a circle from flesh-colored paper for the head and glue to the top
  3. Draw on a simple face with markers
  4. Cut a pilgrim hat from black paper – make it tall and skinny
  5. Glue cotton balls around the hat brim and add a yellow square buckle
  6. Glue the hat to the head
  7. Add small white collar and cuffs from paper strips

11. Pilgrim Hat Rock

A rock painted with the colors of a Pilgrims hat.

Materials:

  • Flat oval rock
  • Black, white, and yellow acrylic paint
  • Fine paintbrush

Instructions:

  1. Paint the rock black.
  2. Paint a white horizontal band across the middle.
  3. Add a yellow square buckle in the center.

For a simple yet striking Thanksgiving painted rocks design, try the pilgrim hat. It’s a great choice if you are looking for easy crafts for kids in classrooms.

Native American-Inspired Crafts

12. Paper Teepees

A teepee made with construction paper.

Using construction paper cones colored up with crayons and markers, kids can create red teepees. These Thanksgiving crafts for kids elementary projects are perfect for discussing all types of houses, and also for small world play.

Materials:

  • Large sheets of brown or tan construction paper
  • Markers, crayons, or paint
  • Scissors
  • Stapler or tape
  • Wooden skewers or straws (optional)
  • Small rocks or playdough for base

Instructions:

  1. Cut a large semi-circle from construction paper
  2. Decorate with Native American-inspired geometric patterns
  3. Let any paint dry completely
  4. Roll into a cone shape, overlapping edges
  5. Staple or tape the seam securely
  6. If desired, poke small holes at the top and insert skewers as poles
  7. Use small rocks or playdough to help the teepee stand upright

13. Feather Headbands

These crafts for kids are endlessly modifiable – some kids prefer natural colors and others prefer rainbow feathers, and both are good.

A headband with painted feathers.

Materials:

  • Construction paper (various colors)
  • Scissors
  • Stapler
  • Markers or crayons
  • Glue stick
  • Measuring tape

Instructions:

  1. Cut a strip of construction paper long enough to go around your child’s head
  2. Cut feather shapes from various colored papers
  3. Draw lines on feathers with markers to create realistic details
  4. Arrange feathers along the inside of the headband
  5. Glue feathers in place, overlapping slightly
  6. Fit headband around child’s head and staple ends together
  7. Adjust fit as needed and trim any excess paper

14. Beaded Necklaces

This classic oldie but goodie among basic children’s arts and crafts develops fine motor skills along the way to creating something kids actually will wear. Hint: tape one end of the string to prevent bead disasters.

A colorful necklace.

Materials:

  • Large beads (wood, plastic, or painted pasta)
  • Strong string or yarn
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Optional: paint for decorating pasta

Instructions:

  1. If using pasta, paint it in bright colors and let dry completely
  2. Cut string about 30 inches long
  3. Tape one end to your work surface securely
  4. Let your child string beads in whatever pattern they like
  5. When necklace is desired length, remove tape
  6. Tie ends together in a secure knot
  7. Trim excess string and test that knot holds

15. Corn Husk Dolls

If you can get your hands on corn husks, these traditional-style dolls are fascinating for kids to make. These crafts connect children to historical toy-making methods – there’s something almost meditative about working with natural materials.

A corn husk doll.

Materials:

  • Dried corn husks (or coffee filters as substitute)
  • String or yarn
  • Scissors
  • Small bowl of warm water
  • Markers (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Soak corn husks in warm water for 10 minutes to soften
  2. Take 4-5 husks and fold them in half
  3. Tie string about 1 inch from the fold to create a head
  4. Separate husks below the head into two groups for arms
  5. Tie each arm group near the ends with string
  6. Tie around the “waist” to create a body
  7. For skirt: leave husks loose, for legs: separate and tie each leg
  8. Trim ends evenly and let dry

16. Handprint Feathers

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Transform traced handprints into colorful feathers with markers and paint.

  • White or colored pape
  • Pencil
  • Markers, crayons, or paint
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick (optional)
  • Construction paper for backing

Instructions:

  1. Trace your child’s hand on paper with pencil
  2. Cut out the handprint shape
  3. Use markers to draw lines from the “wrist” toward each finger
  4. Color each “finger feather” in different colors or patterns
  5. Add dots, stripes, or other decorative elements
  6. If desired, glue onto colorful background paper
  7. Write child’s name and date on the back

17. Dreamcatcher-Inspired Craft

A colorful dreamcatcher.

Using paper plates and yarn, kids can create their own version of dreamcatchers. These diy crafts for kids easy projects result in pretty room decorations that kids are proud to hang up, while keeping the focus on craft rather than appropriation.

Materials:

  • Paper plates
  • Scissors
  • Yarn (various colors)
  • Large plastic needle or hole punch
  • Beads
  • Feathers (real or paper)
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. Cut out the center of a paper plate, leaving about 2-inch rim
  2. Punch holes around the rim, about 1 inch apart
  3. Tie yarn to one hole and begin weaving through holes
  4. Create a web pattern by crisscrossing the yarn
  5. Add beads by threading onto yarn as you weave
  6. Tie off yarn securely when web is complete
  7. Glue feathers to the bottom of the hoop

Making It All Work

These Thanksgiving activities for kids work for mixed age groups – older kids can help younger ones, and everyone can participate at their own level. Set up stations around your space, have plenty of wet wipes on hand, and remember that the joy is in the process, not perfection.

The kids will probably come up with their own creative variations that are even better than what you originally planned.

Happy crafting, and happy Thanksgiving!

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