Turkey Drawing Step-by-Step for Primary Classroom Students

A turkey drawing lesson for teachers with step-by-step directions. This directed drawing makes a great art lesson for Thanksgiving.

Today, I am sharing step-by-step instructions on teaching a turkey directed drawing as a Thanksgiving art idea. In Canada, we celebrate in October and we finished these cute turkeys last month. I just had to share with you all so that you can give them a try.

Those who know me and read my blog, know I LOVE DIRECTED DRAWING! I love the results you get and all my students feel successful when they see how to draw step-by-step. Below are the directions I gave my students and I just love how they turned out!!

Turkey Directed Drawing Step-by-Step Guide

For this art activity, I used my large chart stand, but you could use your projector or other technology to project the image large enough for all to see. You can grab the FREE instructions at the end of this post.

1. Each person is given a large piece of white art paper and asked to turn it portrait style. They can use a pencil and eraser (sparingly) to draw each step as I demo each step.
2. Start with the head shape. I explain it should look like an upside-down V shape.
3. Add a curved line across the upper part of the head.
4. Add 2 circles close together for the eyes. I let them choose the direction the irises are pointing.
5. Add the turkey waddle to the side of the head. I explain that it’s a squiggle line down and back up.
6. Add a big circle for the body under the head.

7. Draw on 2 legs under the circle. They can go in whichever direction they choose.

8. Add 2 wings on the side of the body, like 3 fingers on a hand.

9. Draw the back feathers starting on top of the head, like upside-down U’s, and work their way around each side. Make sure to connect them with the body, not just the head!

Voila! They will LOVE their adorable and silly-looking turkey drawings!

Turkey Drawing Final Touches

With a Sharpie marker or skinny black felt, I have them carefully trace over all the pencil lines. I have also seen people trace using crayons with good results. They should erase the pencil lines with a good (white) eraser.

After, it’s time to paint with watercolors.

• Body: brown
• Waddle: red
• The rest was up to them.
• Then, I encouraged them to create colourful back feathers. I also have them to use a background colour they hadn’t used yet to create contrast.

This is one of my favourites (It looks like an evil, ninja turkey)!

To display our adorable turkeys, I create a bulletin board called “Turkey Time” with the watercolour turkeys and some Thanksgiving writing.

FREE Printable Turkey Drawing Directions

Grab the FREE printable instructions to teach kids how to draw their own turkeys for Thanksgiving and fall.

Click the image below to grab a copy!

This Turkey Drawing is included in Directed Drawing Mats

Add directed drawings to your weekly lesson plans to help children follow directions and build drawing skills. There are 5 different directed drawings included each month of Drawing Mats!

Like this turkey drawing, and want more directed drawing resources?

The ultimate guide to teaching directed drawing in the classroom. Directed drawing art activities help kids produce masterpieces and build confidence.

This guide provides a listing of directed drawing resources, suggested materials, and FREE step by step tutorials. Click HERE to check it out!

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