animal crafts

DIY Turkey Bowling Game

November 25, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Looking for a fun, low-prep activity for kids to do during a Thanksgiving get-together or an active play time? This simple and fun DIY turkey bowling game will get everyone moving. The crafted turkey-themed bowling pins blend recycling, creativity, and energetic play – a fantastic combination. Download the free printable in the post to make creating the festive bowling pins a breeze.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few simple supplies are needed for this Thanksgiving-themed bowling game. Gather the following to make the pins and play the game:

large, clear juice or water bottles
craft foam sheets
markers
scissors
white glue or glue gun
small rubber or plastic balls

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Making the Turkey Bowling Pins

Children will enjoy helping create the colorful bowling pins for the DIY turkey bowling game, as they are simple to make.

To start off, select clean bottles to use for the body of the turkey pins. Large, clear bottles with solid bases work well. I feature juice bottles that hold approximately 1 ½ litres (6 cups) of liquid.

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Next, cut a round face and three or more tail feathers from craft foam colors of your choice. Feel free to use this printable as a pattern for the foam pieces.

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Bottle Turkey Pattern PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

Then draw a turkey face on the round foam cutouts. Include eyes, a beak, and a teardrop-shaped snood.

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To finish off, use white glue or a glue gun to adhere the round face to the lower front of the bottle, and the tail feathers to the lower back.

The pins are now ready to be set up in a “bowling alley” in your home, yard, or classroom. Children can work as a team or individually to knock the pins down with small rubber or plastic balls.

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Benefits of the DIY Turkey Bowling Game

This handcrafted turkey bowling game offers the following benefits:

hand-eye coordination exercise
practice in turn-taking and working as a team
opportunity to participate in an active, fun activity

Questions about this mini bowling game? Leave a comment below.

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More Thanksgiving Activities

Shop these Thanksgiving printable games in my Etsy shop “Skills N Smiles“:

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Paper Plate Turkey Craft

Turkey Sensory Tubes

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

Coffee Playdough Turkey

Turkey Playdough Tray

[Read more…]

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

March 14, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Today while completing a St. Patrick’s Day wreath craft a child held the circular frame to his face and said “lion mask.” Right then and there the idea for this adorable shamrock paper plate lion was formed. After all, shamrocks are perfect lion mane material!

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

There are just a few supplies to gather for this roarsome craft:

white paper plate
wiggly eyes
black felt pen
white glue
glue paddle
large sticker shamrocks

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Making The Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Steps to create a roarsome shamrock paper plate lion perfect for St. Patrick's Day. The craft can also be turned into a mask.

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First, draw a lion’s mouth on a paper plate with a black felt pen.

Next, add a small shamrock sticker nose.

Then glue on two wiggly eyes.

Afterward, draw on whiskers.

Lastly, add a mane using shamrock stickers.

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Note: Paper cut shamrocks can be used if it is difficult to find the sticker variety. And yellow and orange shamrocks would make good substitutes for green ones.

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Lion Craft Variation

Instead of using wiggly eyes, cut out oval eyes to turn this craft into a St. Patrick’s Day lion puppet. Add a chopstick or drinking straw handle for the finishing touch.

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10 Lion Facts

After the craft is completed, share a few lion facts with participants:

Lions live together in groups called prides.
Most lions live in grasslands and savannahs in Africa.
These powerful animals can run fast, jump far, and see very well.
Only male lions have manes, which grow darker with age.
Female lions do most of the hunting. They work as a team to catch their prey.
Lions hunt large animals such as zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and buffaloes. They will also eat smaller prey like mice, birds, hares, lizards and tortoises.
The loud roar of a lion can be heard miles away.
Lion cubs are tiny and weigh about 3 pounds.
Lions are a symbol of strength, courage, fierceness, and power.

For more interesting lion facts, view the blogpost Lion Facts by factanimal.com.

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A roarsome shamrock paper plate lion to create for St. Patrick's Day. The craft can also be turned into a mask.

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If you are on the prowl for a simple, unique St. Patrick’s Day craft for your early learners to make, this shamrock paper plate lion is the one for you. Why not give it a try?

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Bat Necklace

October 24, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This simple bat necklace craft is sure to excite little learners. The preparation time is minimal, and just a few, easy-to-find supplies are needed. A free template printable is included below.

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Bat Necklace Supplies To Collect

Supplies needed to create a bat necklace children will love to make.

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Collect the following supplies for the bat necklaces:

bat stickers, rubber bat figurines, or cardstock bats
orange, black, and clear pony beads
tiny sticker googly eyes
stretchy plastic or thin lacing string

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Making The Bat Necklace

Cut bats from orange cardstock. Feel free to download this template.

Bat template to use in making a bat necklace all children will love.

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Bat Template PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Tip: Bat stickers or rubber figurines would work well too, and save on preparation time. If you plan on using sticker bats, it is important to leave the paper backing on.

Punch a hole in the sides of each bat. Then cut lacing string into 12 – inch lengths. Two will be needed for each necklace. Securely tie one end of the strings to each side of the bats.

Set out containers of black, clear, and orange pony beads. About forty beads per child will be more than enough.

Tip: Using orange beads of different types (opaque, transparent, and pearl) adds more choice. And then certain beads may become “treasures” to search out for some little learners.

Invite children to string the beads on each side of the necklace.

Adding about 15 – 17 beads per side works well. In doing this craft, I found that many little learners naturally stop stringing beads at around 15.

Ask children to count beads on the side with the most, and add the same number to the other side. Tie off the necklaces, and help your little charges add tiny sticker googly eyes.

Easy to make bat necklace that little learners will love.

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Snap a few pictures of children wearing their new bling.

Children will love to craft and wear this easy-to-make bat necklace.

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