How to Disguise a Turkey as a Unicorn (Free Printable)

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To disguise a turkey as a unicorn, give it a horn, a flowing mane, and rainbow tail feathers. This free turkey unicorn printable includes all three: a turkey body, tail feathers, a unicorn horn, and a colorful mane swish, in both color and black-and-white versions.

Your child can color, cut, and glue to turn a turkey into a magical unicorn that trots right past the Thanksgiving table.

See all of our Turkey Disguise ideas in our Turkey in Disguise Project Ideas roundup or browse all 65+ Thanksgiving Crafts and Printables for Kids.

How to Disguise a Turkey as a Unicorn (Free Printable)

Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions, rainbow feather patterns, easy ways to make the horn and mane 3D, a rainbow science mini-lesson, and writing prompts for this unicorn turkey disguise project.

A unicorn is one of the most popular turkey disguise ideas kids can try each year. It’s colorful, sparkly, and there’s no wrong way to decorate one, which makes this a fun school project for a wide range of ages.

What’s in the Free Unicorn Turkey Printable

• A turkey body
• Tail feathers
• A unicorn horn
• A colorful mane swish
• A color version, ready to cut and glue
• A black and white option children can decorate with their own color choices

Use the color version when the turkey project is due tomorrow, and you need it done fast. Choose the black-and-white option when the teacher wants to see your child’s own coloring or when your child wants to disguise your turkey with a custom rainbow design.

Supplies for the Unicorn Turkey

• Unicorn turkey PDF (free download at the bottom of this post)
• White cardstock
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Safety scissors
• Glue stick or tape

Optional extras if your teacher allows 3D pieces:

• Glitter paper or metallic paper for the horn
• Curling ribbon or yarn for the mane
• Mini pom-poms
• Tissue paper in rainbow colors
• Googly eyes
• Star or heart stickers
• Glitter glue
• Tacky glue for anything heavier than paper

How to Disguise a Turkey as a Unicorn: Step by Step

1. Download and print the PDF at 100% or “actual size” so the pieces fit together. Use cardstock if the disguise turkey will hang on a bulletin board.
2. Choose your version. Use the color pages for a quick disguise craft, or the black-and-white pages to color.
3. Color the turkey body. White, lavender, or light pink gives the unicorn turkey a classic magical look, but any color works.
4. Color the tail feathers in rainbow shades. See the patterns below for more turkey unicorn ideas.
5. Color the horn and mane. Try gold, silver, or rainbow stripes on the horn, and bright pastels on the mane.
6. Cut along the dotted lines. Younger kids may need help with the horn point and the mane curves.
7. Glue the tail feathers to the back of the turkey body.
8. Glue the mane to the side of the head, then attach the horn on the face to complete the unicorn disguise.
9. Add sparkle last with glitter glue, stickers, or googly eyes.
10. Let the craft project dry flat for an hour, or overnight if you used tacky glue.

Rainbow Tail Feather Ideas

The tail feathers are where kids can really get creative. These colorful patterns offer several project ideas and creative ways to disguise the bird:

• Classic rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple in order
• Pastel rainbow: light pink, peach, pale yellow, mint, baby blue, and lavender
• Ombre: five shades of one color, from light to dark
• Two-color pattern: alternating pink and purple, or turquoise and gold
• Galaxy: dark blue and purple feathers with white star dots
• Candy colors: hot pink, bright turquoise, and lime green

Kids can also add a tiny heart or star at the tip of every feather with a marker for another simple creative disguise option.

Make the Horn and Mane 3D

A few easy upgrades help this project featuring a unicorn stand out on a bulletin board full of flat turkeys:

Horn:

• Glitter horn: trace the printed horn onto glitter paper or gold foil paper and glue it over the original.
• Striped horn: draw diagonal lines across the horn and color every other stripe gold.
• Twisted horn: twist a gold or white pipe cleaner into a spiral and glue it over the printed horn.
• Cone horn: roll a small triangle of gold paper into a cone and glue just the edge in place so it pokes out.

Mane:

• Curling ribbon: an adult curls ribbon with scissors, and kids glue the bouncy curls along the mane.
• Yarn: cut 10 to 15 short pieces of rainbow yarn and glue them in a row.
• Tissue paper: crumple small squares of pastel tissue paper and glue them along the mane.
• Pom-poms: glue a row of mini pom-poms in rainbow order.
• Paper flowers: cut three small flowers from colored paper and glue them at the base of the horn like a flower crown.

If your teacher wants the disguise-a-turkey project kept flat, use glitter glue on the horn and tissue paper on the mane. Both add texture without sticking out.

Rainbow Science Mini Lesson

The rainbow tail is a perfect excuse for a quick science lesson. Before coloring this craft project featuring a unicorn, talk about rainbow order:

• Rainbows always show colors in the same order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
• Some kids remember it with the name “Roy G. Biv.”
• Have your child color the tail feathers in rainbow order.
• For an extra hands-on activity, hold a glass of water in a sunny window and look for a small rainbow on the floor or wall.

It turns a simple turkey-in-disguise project into a science and art lesson in one, perfect for homeschool or a classroom Thanksgiving unit.

Unicorn Turkey for Preschool and Kindergarten

• Choose the pre-colored option so younger children can concentrate on cutting out and assembling the pieces.
• Pre-cut the horn and mane.
• Pick one sparkle upgrade, like stickers or glitter glue, instead of several.
• Choose a glue stick for easier, less-messy assembly.
• Split this little school project into two short sessions: color one day, cut and glue the next.

These simple adjustments make the activity perfect for kids who are still developing their cutting and gluing skills.

Unicorn Turkey Writing Prompts

• “I turned my turkey into a unicorn because ___.”
• “I’m not a turkey. I’m a magical unicorn, and my special power is ___.”
• “Something sparkly appeared in the field, but it definitely didn’t look like a turkey!”
• “If my unicorn 🦄 turkey could grant one wish, it would wish for ___.”
• Older kids: write a short story about how the turkey found a magic horn and changed just in time for Thanksgiving.

These prompts are easy ideas for kids who need a writing component with their disguise the turkey project.

Tips for the Best Unicorn Turkey

• Use sturdy cardstock to help the finished turkey stay firm after adding glue and decorations.
• Add glitter last, over a tray or paper plate.
• Keep extras light so the turkey stays on the bulletin board.
• Write your child’s name on the back before you start gluing.
• Carry it to school in a file folder so the horn and mane don’t get crushed.
• Skip food items like candy or cereal. They crumble, attract bugs, and classmates may have food allergies.

For more fun, creative ways to decorate, let children adapt the accessories to fit your turkey template or use the same techniques for other disguise project ideas.

Display Ideas

• Pin your fun turkey disguise on a classroom or homeschool bulletin board with a rainbow border.
• Tape it to the fridge for Thanksgiving week.
• Use it as a place card at the kids’ table on Thanksgiving Day.
• Save it in a folder with the date on the back. Flipping through a few years of turkeys is a sweet tradition.

This turkey disguise project for Thanksgiving can also become part of your family’s annual Thanksgiving fun.

Download the Free Unicorn Turkey Printable

The PDF includes both a pre-colored design and an option for children to decorate themselves. For a sturdy finished design, use cardstock and keep the printer setting at full size.

Whether your child chose a unicorn for a classroom assignment or simply wants a colorful turkey disguise idea, this free template makes the activity easy to prepare.

More Turkey in Disguise Printables

Looking for a different turkey-in-disguise printable? See every idea in our Turkey in Disguise Project Ideas roundup, or try one of these:

• Disguise a Turkey as a Mermaid: another sparkly, magical favorite
• Disguise a Turkey as a Ballerina
• Disguise a Turkey as a Detective
• Pirate Turkey in Disguise
• Disguise a Turkey as a Ninja
• Disguise a Turkey as a Robot
• Blank Disguise a Turkey Printable: a plain turkey template for any disguise
• Turkey in Disguise Coloring Pages

For more turkey fun, try the Rocking Turkey Fingerprint Craft or browse all 65+ Thanksgiving Crafts and Printables for Kids.

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