Turkey Time: Easy Crafts, Life Lessons from Pumpkin Jack, and Learning Resources for Your Little Ones

Happy November, friend! As the leaves continue to fall and Thanksgiving approaches, I’m so excited to share some of our favorite turkey-themed activities, a sweet story about transformation and patience, and some helpful learning resources for your little ones.

There’s something magical about watching tiny hands create colorful turkeys, don’t you think? Here are some of my go-to turkey crafts that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers:

Handprint Turkey - A classic for a reason! Trace your child’s hand, let them color it brown for the body, and add colorful feathers extending from each finger. This one makes the best keepsake.

Paper Plate Turkey - Cut a paper plate in half, let your kiddo paint it brown, then glue on construction paper feathers, googly eyes, and an orange triangle beak. Simple, mess-friendly, and so cute!

Turkey Headband - Cut a strip of construction paper to fit around your child’s head, then let them decorate turkey feathers to attach to the front. They’ll love wearing their creation around the house.

Pinecone Turkey - Head outside for a nature walk to collect pinecones, then use them as the turkey body. Add felt or construction paper for feathers, a small pom-pom for the head, and you’ve got an adorable 3D turkey.

FREE Turkey Craft Template - I’ve created a simple turkey craft that your little one will love! [Download your free template here!]

A Lesson in Patience: Our Pumpkin Jack Journey

Speaking of fall, can we talk about the book Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell? If you haven’t read it with your little one yet, add it to your library list immediately. It’s a beautiful story about a boy named Tim who watches his jack-o’-lantern slowly decompose over the seasons, eventually growing into a pumpkin patch.

This book holds such a special place in my heart because it reminds me of when I was teaching a kindergarten pod in my basement during those interesting times we all remember. We carved our own jack-o’-lantern and placed him in a clear pretzel container so the kids could observe him closely. Week after week, month after month, we watched him transform. First he wrinkled. Then the mold appeared—equal parts fascinating and gross to five-year-olds! Eventually, we found seeds. And in the spring, we planted those very seeds and watched new life emerge.

“Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded.” - Jess Lair

This quote captures exactly what happened during our Pumpkin Jack experiment. I didn’t teach those kindergarteners about decomposition, life cycles, or patience through worksheets or lectures. Instead, we unfolded those concepts together by simply observing, wondering, and waiting. Some of the best learning happens when we slow down and let nature be the teacher.

That slightly spooky, definitely smelly pumpkin taught us that endings are really just beginnings in disguise. It taught us that waiting is hard but worthwhile. And it taught us that life has a beautiful way of recycling itself into something new.

Turkey Treats: Cinnamon Roll Edition

Okay, but can we talk about the most adorable (and delicious) turkey treats we made? Picture this: warm cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven, with strips of crispy bacon fanned out as turkey feathers, candy corn for the beak and wattle, and candy eyes to complete the look. The kids went absolutely wild for these! They loved helping arrange the bacon “feathers” before we baked them, and let’s be honest—anything that combines cinnamon rolls and bacon is a win in my book. They’re perfect for a Thanksgiving morning breakfast or a fun weekend activity that ends in a tasty treat. Fair warning: you might eat more bacon “feathers” during prep than actually make it onto the turkeys. No judgment here!

Learning at Home: Worksheets for Your Little Scholar

For those of you with children in half-day preschool programs or homeschooling full-time, I know how helpful it is to have structured learning activities ready to go. I’ve put together a collection of age-appropriate worksheets that cover:

- Letter recognition and tracing

- Number counting and identification

- Shape recognition

- Fine motor skill development (cutting, coloring, tracing)

- Pre-reading skills

- Seasonal and thematic activities

These worksheets are designed to take the pressure off planning while still providing meaningful learning opportunities. They’re perfect for that afternoon stretch when you need 20 minutes to prep dinner, or for rainy days when everyone’s bouncing off the walls.

The best part? They’re designed to be fun—because learning should never feel like a chore at this age. Each activity includes colorful images, simple instructions, and plenty of opportunities for your child to feel successful and proud of their work.

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What are your favorite November activities with your little ones? Have you read Pumpkin Jack? I’d love to hear about your own observations and experiments in the comments below!

Until next time,

xxx

Ashley

P.S. - Don’t forget to grab your free turkey craft template! And if you’re looking for more learning resources, check out my worksheet collection designed specifically for preschool and pre-K learners.