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Activities for Children Pin The Feathers On The Turkey
The Grab Bag Gift Exchange Game
Paper Bag Puppets
Name Card Leaf Rubbings
Toss and Catch
Thanksgiving Placemats
Thanksgiving Roots
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Pin The Feathers On The Turkey!
Or Just Color Tom Turkey and His Feathers!
Of course, this game is a variation of an old
favorite involving another animal, but we think it's more appropriate for the holidays. (And, who wants to eat a donkey?)
To Play and/or Color:
First, print out the turkey  Game Set ( Turkey Pix and Feather ). If you like, it can be colored in before play begins. (You may want to print out one for each child at your party!)
Players write thier names on the feathers befor playing.
You Will Need:
Something to use as a blindfold. "Sleep masks" can be easy and comfortable, or you can use a
bandannas, long handkerchief, or a strip of soft cloth which can completely cover the player's eyes and be loosely tied on. You will also need some modeling clay or (preferred) some poster
mounting putty (this doesn't leave any marks on walls).
Decide who will go first. (One method is to put all the feathers into a hat or box and draw each one out, one at a time.)
Attach one turkey illustration to a door or wall with tape.
As each player's feather is drawn, attach a piece of putty or modeling clay (about the size of a
pea should do) to the "pin" area of the feather. Blindfold the player, and spin him or her around once. (Too much spinning will make them dizzy! Once around will do the job.)
Point the player in the direction of the turkey illustration. The player should move forward, holding his or her hand forward which is holding the feather. Other players can help the
blindfolded player know how close he or she is to the turkey (You don't want anyone to suddenly bump into anything).
Players should pin their feathers without feeling for the wall or paper with their other hand.
Closest to right wins the prize!
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The Grab Bag Gift Exchange Game*
This is really a very simple game, but the group dynamics can be very entertaining. It is a good game for "just" kids or "just" adults. It doesn't work as well to mix the two.
Have each guest bring a wrapped gift, of about a certain price range. Gifts which can be "shared" in some way are particularly appropriate for a party. (Inexpensive or "gag" gifts can be
fun -- you know your friends better than we do!) Put all the wrapped gifts in a big pile.
Put pieces of paper into a hat, with a different number on each piece. Use more numbers than
you have guests (about twice as many is a good idea). Each guest then draws a number from the hat and keeps the number secret.
Call out numbers, beginning with "1" until you find the guest with the lowest number. That guest chooses one package from the pile and unwraps the gift. Guests who unwrap gifts may not
"open" any factory packaging, or partake in any way of the gift until the game is over.
Call out more numbers. The next lowest numbered guest can choose either from the wrapped
gifts on the pile, or can "steal" an already unwrapped gift from someone else. Guests who lose their gifts this way draw another number from the hat. If the number they draw is "lower" than
the last number called out, they immediately get the same choice -- take from the pile or "steal" someone else's -- except that they may not "steal back" the gift which they just lost. If their new
number has not yet been called, then they wait their turn and proceed normally when their new time comes.
Continue until everyone has a gift, at which point, all gifts can be opened and enjoyed (and
maybe shared).
Variations
•For added interest the host may put one or more "extra" gifts into the pile. After every guest
has one gift, those remaining are opened and shared. •For an interesting study of perceptions, play the game as described, except NO gifts are unwrapped until all guest have a gift. In this
version, guests will make their choices based on package size, wrapping, "sounds" which come from the package (does it "rattle" or "gurgle"?) etc. The game is even more fun if everyone is
familiar with the "standard" way and told in advance about the variation -- some will try to set up surprises and deceptions!
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Paper Bag Puppets
This special activity lets children exercise their imaginations in many different ways. Plus, the
children's performances can provide some fun for an adult audience. It's a bonus that paper bag puppets are easy to make and fun to use.
What they'll need:
Small brown paper bags
Poster paints and brushes, crayons, or markers
Scissors
Pencil
White glue
Any of these: beads, feathers, buttons, fluffy white cotton, material scraps, colored paper
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Name Card Leaf Rubbings
Ask children to help you make the name cards and seating arrangements for dinner. Have the children cut each piece of typing paper in fourths then fold each of those in half. Tell them to
insert a leaf inside each and gently rub a crayon across the front. Provide them with a list of names to copy for place settings. And then, have the children place each name card at a table setting.
What they'll need:
Typing paper
Crayons
Scissors
Dry leaves
List of guests' names
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Toss and Catch
This is based on an old Indian game and each child can make his own. One of the older
children can be given the instructions and lead the rest of the children in fashioning their own toss and catch.
What they'll need:
2 pieces of cardboard, 5" each
A long pencil, unsharpened
Scissors
Tape
Glue
Markers
4 Pipe cleaners
2 pieces of yarn, each as long as your arm
What They'll do:
•Draw a big circle on each piece of cardboard. Make sure the circles are the same size. (You can give them a can or a glass to trace.) Cut each circle out. •Use the remaining cardboard to
cut two horns. •Take one of the circle and tape the pencil to it like a lollipop. •Tape the horns on the top of the circle like ears on a cat. •Glue the other circle of top with the pencil and horns
in the middle. •Color each side with a special design. •Poke a hole in the top between the two horns. •Take two pipe cleaners. Twist them together to make one long pipe cleaner. Bend this
into a ring. Twist the ends together so it makes a circle. •Take one piece of yarn and tie it to the pipe cleaner circle. •Tie the yarn and ring through the hole between the horns. •Hold the pencil
and jiggle until the ring lands on one of the horns. •Once they can catch one, attach the other yarn and ring and see who is the first to catch both.
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Thanksgiving Placemats
Ask the children to make a placemat for every guest. Have the children think about things they know about every person and make a placemat specifically with someone in mind. If you have
a newcomer, this gives children a chance to get to know them and makes that guest feel welcome in the process. They can use pictures from old magazines, drawings or both.
What they'll need:
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Crayons or markers
Old magazines
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Thanksgiving Roots
Children are often fascinated by growing things, and Thanksgiving is a nice time of year to grow something because of the change in seasons. Paperwhite narcissus is simple to grow indoors,
and if planted on Thanksgiving with a Christmas wish, will bloom by Christmas and remind children of what they wished for. You can supply the children with yarn or poster paints to
decorate their pots. One of the older children can help the younger children.
What they'll need:
4 paperwhite narcissus bulbs
6" ceramic pot (There should be no hole in the bottom because the bulbs will grow in a bed of pebbles and water.)
Pebbles - to fill each pot
Yarn and glue or poster paints (optional)
What they'll do:
Place a 2" layer of pebbles in the bottom of the pot. Put the bulbs on top of the pebbles, roots
down. Leave about 1" between the bulbs so they can grow. And more pebbles so that the bulbs are supported. Pour water into the pot until it reaches the tops of the bulbs. Be sure they
always have water and some sunlight so they grow.
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