Looking for a creative Claw Machine Turkey Disguise for your child’s Thanksgiving school project? This adorable printable turns an ordinary turkey into a colorful claw machine filled with stuffed animals!
With a pastel pink-and-blue arcade machine, cute animal cutouts, and two ways to complete the activity, this Disguise a Turkey Project is a fun Thanksgiving craft for kids at home, in the classroom, or during homeschool lessons.
Children can use the ready-made claw machine for a quick and easy project or create their own by choosing, coloring, cutting, and pasting their favorite stuffed animals.

Claw Machine Turkey Disguise
Buy now: Etsy | Teachers Pay Teachers
Why You’ll Love This Claw Machine Turkey Disguise
This printable Thanksgiving activity combines creativity with hands-on crafting.
Here’s what makes it fun:
- Two Ways to Create: Choose a ready-made disguise or build your own claw machine.
- Stuffed Animal Choices: Kids can choose their favorite animals to fill the machine.
- Color and Black-and-White Options: Use the colored animals or color the black-and-white versions.
- Easy Cut-and-Paste Craft: Great for practicing cutting, gluing, and fine motor skills.
- Perfect for School Projects: A creative option for the classic Turkey in Disguise assignment.
- Five Printable Pages: Everything needed to complete the activity is included in one PDF.
Whether your child loves stuffed animals, arcade games, or imaginative crafts, this turkey disguise offers a fun way to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Claw Machine Turkey Disguise
Buy now: Etsy | Teachers Pay Teachers
What’s Included in the Claw Machine Turkey Disguise Printable?
This 5-page Claw Machine Turkey Disguise PDF includes everything needed to create a turkey hiding inside an arcade claw machine.
Page 1: Blank Turkey Template
Start with a blank turkey template that’s ready to be disguised. Children can use this turkey as the base for either claw machine activity.
Page 2: Ready-Made Claw Machine Disguise
This page includes a colorful pink-and-blue claw machine with stuffed animals already arranged inside.
Simply cut out the machine, carefully remove the white space inside, and glue it over the turkey template.
This version is especially helpful for younger children or families looking for a quick Thanksgiving craft.
Page 3: Empty Claw Machine Template
Want to create your own design?
Use the empty claw machine template to build a customized turkey disguise. Kids can choose which stuffed animals they want to include and arrange them however they like.
Page 4: Stuffed Animal Cutouts
Choose from several adorable stuffed animals, including:
- Unicorn
- Tiger
- Elephant
- Giraffe
- Puppy
- Bunny
- Penguin
- Dinosaur (x2)
- Pig
Each animal comes in both colored and black-and-white versions.
Children can use the colorful animals for a quick project or color their own stuffed animals before cutting and pasting them inside the machine.
Page 5: Finished Claw Machine Turkey Example
The completed example shows what the finished turkey disguise can look like.
Use this page for inspiration while assembling your Thanksgiving project.
How to Make a Claw Machine Turkey Disguise
There are two fun ways to complete this printable craft!
Option 1: Easy Claw Machine Turkey Craft
This option is perfect for younger children who want a simpler cut-and-paste activity.
- Print the blank turkey template and ready-made claw machine.
- Cut out the claw machine around the outside edges.
- Carefully remove the white space inside the machine.
- Glue the claw machine over the turkey so its face shows through the opening.
Your turkey is now disguised as an arcade claw machine filled with stuffed animals!
Option 2: Build Your Own Claw Machine Turkey
Let kids get creative with their favorite stuffed animals!
- Print the blank turkey, empty claw machine, and animal cutout pages.
- Cut out the claw machine and carefully remove the white space inside.
- Glue the machine over your turkey template.
- Choose your favorite stuffed animals.
- Color the black-and-white animals if desired.
- Cut out the animals and glue them inside the claw machine.
Kids can mix and match their animals to create a unique turkey disguise!
Adult supervision: Younger children may need help cutting out the white space inside the claw machine.
Supplies Needed
You only need a few basic supplies for this Thanksgiving cut-and-paste craft:
- Claw Machine Turkey Disguise printable PDF
- White printer paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue stick or tape
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils (optional)
Tip: Cardstock can help make the finished turkey disguise sturdier, especially if you plan to display it on a classroom bulletin board.
A Fun Thanksgiving School Project for Kids
The classic Disguise a Turkey Project challenges children to help a turkey hide so it won’t be recognized at Thanksgiving.
This claw machine idea gives the traditional activity a playful twist!
Instead of dressing the turkey as a person or animal, children disguise it as an arcade machine full of stuffed animal prizes.
This activity works well for:
- Elementary school Thanksgiving projects
- Kindergarten classroom crafts
- Preschool activities with adult assistance
- November homeschool activities
- Thanksgiving craft stations
- Fine motor skills practice
- Classroom bulletin board displays
- Family craft time
Teachers can offer the ready-made version to children who need a simpler activity and the build-your-own version to students who want more creative choices.
Tips for Making Your Turkey Disguise
Here are a few simple ways to make the project easier and more fun.
Choose Your Favorite Animals
Kids don’t have to use every stuffed animal! Encourage them to choose their favorites and arrange them inside the machine.
Try the Coloring Option
The black-and-white stuffed animals let children create their own colorful prizes using crayons, markers, or colored pencils.
Make It a Classroom Activity
Print multiple copies and let students create their own claw machine turkey disguises. Every finished project can look a little different!
Display the Finished Turkeys
Once completed, hang the disguises on a bulletin board or display them around your classroom for a fun Thanksgiving decoration.
More Disguise a Turkey Ideas
Looking for even more creative ways to disguise a turkey this Thanksgiving?
Explore my collection of 125+ Printable Disguise a Turkey Ideas featuring animals, occupations, sports, vehicles, holiday characters, and other fun themes.
From firefighter and police officer turkeys to racecar drivers, astronauts, and more, there are plenty of printable Thanksgiving projects for kids to enjoy.
Download Your Claw Machine Turkey Disguise Printable
Ready to help your turkey hide inside a claw machine filled with stuffed animals?
This 5-page Claw Machine Turkey Disguise printable includes a blank turkey template, ready-made claw machine, customizable machine, stuffed animal designs in color and black and white, and a completed example.
Choose the easy version or let kids design their own claw machine for a fun and creative Thanksgiving activity.
Download the Claw Machine Turkey Disguise printable on Etsy or Teachers Pay Teachers and get started today!
Claw Machine Turkey Disguise
Buy now: Etsy | Teachers Pay Teachers

