Thankful dinosaurs: classic Thanksgiving craft with a simple prehistoric twist

Dinosaur lovers can be thankful.

With the rapid pace of dinosaur discoveries, there is always something new to learn and keep your little dinosaur fan engaged. The dinosaur that died the day the asteroid hit… the dinosaur who caught a cold… what a dinosaur cloaca (butthole) looked like… just a few recent finds.

Thankful dinosaurs are a simple Thanksgiving dinosaur craft. Our prehistoric twist on the common Thanksgiving turkey craft is a great way to show the many things your little dinosaur fan is thankful for, including dinosaurs.

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A note about Thanksgiving

We’re not American (or Canadian), so we don’t traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s not a holiday and we don’t spend hours cooking and visiting with family.

However, we do understand the concept of giving thanks. This year, perhaps more than most, it’s a year to give thanks and create a new tradition for our LDA. As with any of our crafts, they work better with a prehistoric twist.

This is what we came up with.

Feathered dinosaurs

Some dinosaurs had feathers. Fossils of Archaeopteryx and other small theropod dinosaurs were found with fossilised feathers.

In 2012, researchers discovered the Yutrannus Huali in China. The 1.5-tonne, 9-metre-long beautiful feathered tyrant is the largest dinosaur discovered with evidence of feathers.

However, a more recent discovery suggests that more dinosaurs had some form of feathers, even the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Researchers discovered the Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus in Russia in 2014 – with evidence of feathers. It is an ‘ornithischian’ or beaked dinosaur, a group quite distinct from the theropods known to have had feathers (from which birds descended).

This discovery suggests that all dinosaurs might have had feathers, just like mammals all have some type of hair.

Feathered thankful dinosaurs

This dinosaur is inspired by the typical thankful turkey paper crafts.

Basically, if we could add feathers to a turkey or an image of a turkey, why couldn’t we add them to a dinosaur? After all, it seems that most dinosaurs once had feathers.

And why does it have to be a picture? Why can’t it be a toy?

At least that was the concept.

What we came up with is a toy dinosaur wearing a ‘skirt’ of thankful feathers. It’s just as cute and easy as the thankful paper turkey, but it’s a little more fun – and more suited to a little dinosaur lover.

Our supplies

Before we get to our Thanksgiving dinosaur craft idea, there are a few supplies that you will need.

• Some coloured card stock, in bright colours. Traditionally, for these types of crafts, you would use autumnal colours and the colours of turkey feathers. For some reason, almost all of our cardstock was missing – I’m not sure what craft project is responsible for it – so our feathers look rather beachy.
• Sharp scissors, preferably detail craft scissors, which are great for cutting paper.
• Black text marker (relatively fine-tipped).
• A toy dinosaur – whatever is your favourite. We used our T-Rex, though the Brachiosaurus also looked quite thankful to be included.
• A piece of string, long enough to go around the dinosaur’s waist and tie in a bow.
• Sticky tape, for ease and to avoid mess (stock up for your Christmas wrapping now, too).

Suitable for small children – with some assistance

Basically, I did the cutting and writing. Our LDA could have written on each of the feathers but she still has difficulty fitting her writing in a small space.

Our LDA chose the dinosaur, came up with the things that she is thankful for and assembled the feathered waistband.

And, of course, she is thankful for dinosaurs. And the new things she has learned.

Show thanks with our Thanksgiving dinosaur craft

Are you looking for an easy craft to make with your little dinosaur fan this Thanksgiving? Show them the meaning of gratitude with these thankful dinosaurs! Our simple prehistoric twist on the classic Thanksgiving turkey craft makes this the perfect craft to make this Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? What do you think the dinosaurs would be thankful for?

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