Day #2: Whether you make this for Thanksgiving dinner at home or for a school classroom party, every kids’ table needs a paper bag turkey. And this one has a surprise inside. Been wondering how to make it? We’re going to show you.

You will need: 3-4 bags of popcorn, a large brown grocery bag, 2 small brown lunch bags, a hot glue gun, scissors, white paper for the frills

Directions:

1. For the frill, take a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11″ white paper and cut it in half lengthwise. Fold the paper in half lengthwise and make small cuts with a pair of scissors on the folded half to create loops.

2. For the drumsticks, make one hand into a fist and stick it inside the lunch bag. With your other flat hand, press on the bag to mold and smash it down into a more rounded shape. Fill the bag 2/3 of the way with popcorn. Gather up the bottom of the bag and twist to keep it tight. Hot glue the beginning of the length of frill and wrap it around the bottom, twisted part of the lunch bag. Then hot glue the end of the white paper frill to keep it in place.

3. For the main bag, do the same thing as the drumstick to make the corners rounded. Fill the bag up full with popcorn. Fold the sides of the bag in and tuck the bottom edge under. Hot glue the edge shut. Hot glue the legs onto the sides of the “turkey.” It’s best to use a plain brown bag, but if you can only find one with writing on the outside, you can carefully turn the bag inside out and it will be just fine. Easy Peasy.

*If using buttered popcorn to fill the turkey, use parchment or wax paper to line the paper bag to avoid grease marks.

We used fresh parsley as a garnish on the platter, underneath the turkey.

Invite an adult guest of honor to “carve” the turkey with a real knife. Then everyone can enjoy some popcorn while they wait for the rest of the meal.

Photos by Nicole Gerulat. Tutorial by Sara Westbrook.

Day #4: Need some games to play on Thanksgiving Day (or at a school classroom party)? It can get pretty boring for the little ones while the adults are cleaning up dinner or watching football. Here are two games to entertain your kiddos.

Thanksgiving Boat Races

Just like Columbus and his crew crossed the ocean in search of the new world, so can your kids with these little boats made from milk cartons and powered by balloons.

You will need: one small milk carton or whipped cream carton to make 2 boats, exacto knife, hole punch or scissors, brown spray paint, one 12″ white balloon per child or boat, sticker letters, blue paper like wrapping paper or butcher paper, a marker for drawing a map

Directions: Take an empty milk carton and cut it in half lengthwise with an exacto knife. Make sure you cut it through the pinched together part at the top, not the other direction. Wash and dry each half really well. This will make two boats but you might want to make three boats like we did, to represent the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. In this case you’ll have to have more milk cartons–but you can make as many boats as you’d like. Using a hole punch or scissors, make a hole at the flat end of the boat (look at the picture for reference). Punch more holes around the first or use the scissors to enlarge the hole to the size of a dime. Spray paint each boat brown and let dry. Meanwhile, take your blue wrapping or butcher paper and draw a map of the new world with a black marker for the boats to sail to. Once your boats are dry you can add sticker letters to the sides to name your boats.

When the kids are ready for the boat race, set up your map on a table. Have the kids tuck their balloon through the hole in their boat and blow up the balloon. Starting on one side of the map, have them set down their boats. Everyone releases their balloons at the same time. You never know what each fantastic voyage will bring. Some boats sail straight ahead, some boats go in circles, and some fall off the side of the table (the world is flat after all, right?). They can race and race over and over again, as often as they want to keep blowing up their balloon. Bon voyage!

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Roll

This game is fast moving and so much fun. Kids can compete against each other around an impromptu obstacle course in the back yard or divide into teams and have a relay race.

You will need: 2 smallish 4-6″ in diameter pumpkins and 2 brooms

Directions: Push the broom like you’re sweeping to get your pumpkin to roll. Small pumpkins should roll really well on their side. Have fun racing your opponent to this finish line.

Photos by Sara Westbrook.

Here is a last minute idea for a Thanksgiving Day table centerpiece. Easier than carving a pumpkin, just add some flowers and you’ll have a festive flower arrangement in minutes.

1. Cut off the top of the pumpkin.
2. Scrape out the seeds and other gooey insides of the pumpkin.
3. Carefully put a glass container into the pumpkin and fill with water.
4. Arrange your flowers inside the glass container.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Photo by Sara Westbrook.

Push pops were all the rage this summer when there were lots of ice cream flavors and fresh berries around. But when the cooler weather hit, push pops were pushed to the back of the cupboards. So I thought I’d pull mine out again and create a fall push pops recipe–filled with pumpkin pie! Just make your favorite pumpkin pie filling in a crustless pie pan, cook up some pie crust separately, and get your hands on some yummy whipped cream. Carefully layer a little bit of crumbled crust and a few spoonfuls of cooked pumpkin pie filling into each pop. Keep pops refrigerated until ready to eat, then top with some whipped cream.

Still don’t have any? You can get push pops at Garnish and Sweet Lulu’s.

Photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat. 

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Crafts: If you’re spending Thanksgiving with family this year, why not include a few extra relatives at the table? Find and scan some old pictures of family members you would like to remember, or some you or your kids never knew (or throw in some pictures of grandma and grandpa when they were younger). At dinner time, share any stories you or other relatives might know about your ancestors.

Supplies: old metal candlesticks (check the thrift store), spray paint, corks, paperclips, and scanned copies of old pictures

Directions: Spray paint the candlesticks. You might need to prime the candlesticks, depending on your spray paint. Give them a second coat if needed. Allow the paint to dry for a few days. The size of corks you’ll need will depend on your candlesticks. Craft stores sell bags with different sizes. Push a cork into the top of each candlestick and insert a paperclip into the cork. Make a small slit in the cork if needed to fit the paperclip. Slide your pictures into the top of the paperclip and arrange the candlesticks on your table.

Photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat.