How to Make a Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft for Thanksgiving (Free Template)
When it comes to Thanksgiving activities, there’s nothing quite like combining history, creativity, and hands-on fun. This Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft does exactly that! It’s the perfect blend of an educational project and a fun craft for kids, helping them learn about the Mayflower voyage while making something they can proudly display.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or craft-loving grandparent, this Thanksgiving craft is a hit for preschoolers, kindergartners, and even older kids who love projects that tell a story.
Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft
The Mayflower was the famous ship that carried the Pilgrims to America for the First Thanksgiving, and creating your paper plate Mayflower is an excellent way to bring that piece of history to life.
Not only is this an easy craft for kids, but it’s also perfect for pretend play. Your kids can set sail on their own imaginary Mayflower voyage, complete with sails, flags, and the spirit of adventure.
Why You’ll Love This Mayflower Paper Plate Craft
This isn’t just any Thanksgiving craft—it’s a Mayflower craft that works as a ship craft and a storytelling tool. Kids will enjoy making a paper plate Mayflower, and you’ll love that it sneaks in a little history lesson.
Additionally, it’s low-cost, easy to set up, and you likely already have most of the necessary supplies at home.
It’s also an activity that can be adapted for various ages. Preschoolers can focus on basic cutting and gluing, while older children can help with more detailed templates and decorating.
With its bright colors, shapes, and patterns, this craft serves as both an adorable Thanksgiving decoration and a fun activity.
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Supplies Needed To Make This Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft:
Before we get into the step-by-step directions, let’s gather everything you’ll need to make a paper plate Mayflower. Here’s your supply checklist:
- Paper plate
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Marker (black)
- Popsicle stick or craft stick
- Printable Mayflower template (Get this free resource at the bottom of this post)
- White paper for sails
- Optional: paint if you’d like to decorate your boat hull or sails
Step-by-Step Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft Tutorial
Ready to set sail on this creative Mayflower Thanksgiving adventure? Here’s how to make your Mayflower craft.
Step 1: Cut the Paper Plate
First, have the child cut the section of the paper plate in half. Then, cut a small curve into the top center. This will be the space for your mast and sails later. If you’re working with younger kids, you can do the cutting for them and let them handle the decorating.
Step 2: Create the Wooden Plank Look
To make your ship look like the original wooden Mayflower, cut rectangle or oblong shapes from brown and dark brown paper. These will act as your “planks.” This part is significant for preschoolers and kindergarten kids practicing their cutting skills.
Step 3: Glue the Planks
Using your glue, attach the brown and dark brown paper pieces one at a time to cover the paper plate. You can alternate colors to create a realistic trim effect. This step turns your plain paper plate boat into something that looks ready for an ocean voyage.
Step 4: Add the Border Template
Cut a border piece from light brown paper (or paint one) and glue it to the curved top section. Outline it with a black marker for extra definition.
Step 5: Prepare the Ship Details
Now it’s time to work on the fun details. Using white paper and black marker, create the template pieces: sails, windows, and flags.
The sails should be square or slightly curved; the flags can be small triangles. You can use red construction paper for the flags to give your ship craft a pop of color.
Step 6: Assemble the Mast and Sails
Take your popsicle stick (or craft stick) and glue the sails vertically. For the flags, attach them to the top of the stick. This is your mast, and once it’s ready, you can glue the popsicle stick to the center of your Mayflower ship.
Step 7: Add the Cabin
Cut out a simple cabin shape from white paper. Use black paper or paint for the roof and outline. Add windows and pretend doors with a black marker. Attach the cabin to the left side of your craft.
Step 8: Final Touches
For the finishing touch, cut three small circles from white paper and three smaller circles from black paper. Glue the black circles on top of the white ones, then attach them to the bottom of your ship to represent portholes. And there you have it—your own simple Mayflower!
Learning Opportunities with This Craft
The beauty of this craft is that it’s more than just an activity. It’s a conversation starter. While making it, you can talk about:
- Who the Pilgrims were and why they set sail on the Mayflower voyage
- What life might have been like on a famous ship during the First Thanksgiving
- How the Mayflower differs from a pirate ship or a modern boat
This educational element makes it ideal for Thanksgiving activities at home or in the classroom.
Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts
- If working with a preschooler, pre-cut the shapes so they can focus on gluing and decorating.
- For extra color, let kids paint the paper plate before adding the planks.
- Encourage kids to use their pretend play skills after making the craft—maybe they’re captains steering toward the First Thanksgiving!
- If you want to reuse this craft for kids as a classroom prop, laminate the pieces before attaching them to the plate.
Thanksgiving Printable Crafts For Kids
From a parent’s perspective, it’s rare to find easy crafts for kids that are equally fun and educational. This one hits all the marks—it’s hands-on, affordable, historically themed, and adaptable for different age groups.
Whether you’re making a paper plate Mayflower as part of a Thanksgiving paper plate series or want a ship project for kids’ activities, this one will be a crowd favorite.
Plus, because it uses simple construction paper, glue, and a popsicle, it’s perfect for last-minute crafting without a trip to the store.
Printable Mayflower Craft For Fall
Download a printable Mayflower craft template by entering your email address below. The template will be sent directly to your inbox. Just print it on cardstock or white paper, cut the pieces, and follow the directions in this tutorial.
This is a great way to ensure all the pieces fit perfectly, especially helpful for younger kids or classroom settings.
More Paper Plate Crafts:
Check out more creative and easy paper plate crafts to make with kids:
- Paper Plate Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Craft – A fun fall-themed Mickey Mouse pumpkin made from a paper plate.
- Carrot Paper Plate Craft – A bright and cheerful carrot design that’s perfect for spring or Easter.
- Crab Paper Plate Craft – A playful ocean-inspired crab made with a paper plate.
- He is Risen Easter Paper Craft – A meaningful Easter craft celebrating the resurrection story.
This craft is more than just a Thanksgiving Mayflower paper project—it’s a creative journey. It’s an opportunity for kids to pretend they’re on a Mayflower voyage, learn about the Pilgrims, and enjoy a hands-on project that they’ll be proud to display.
Whether you use it as part of your Thanksgiving activities, in a classroom history lesson, or just as a fun afternoon activity, this Mayflower craft will be a memorable addition to your holiday traditions.
So grab your paper plate, glue the boat together, and set sail into history with your very own Mayflower ship!
Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft
Set sail on a fun Thanksgiving adventure with this Mayflower Ship Paper Plate Craft! Using a paper plate, a few basic supplies, and our free printable template, kids can create their version of the historic Mayflower. This hands-on craft is perfect for classrooms, homeschool lessons, or Thanksgiving week activities, as it combines history and creativity in a straightforward project.
Materials
- Paper plate
- Construction papers
- Scissor
- Glue
- Marker
- Popsicle stick
- Free Mayflower Ship Template
Instructions
- Prep the Paper Plate
Begin by cutting a paper plate in half. On one half, carefully cut a curved section from the top center to give the appearance of the ship's deck. - Create the Ship’s Wooden Planks
Using brown and dark brown construction paper, cut out oblong (oval or plank-like) shapes. These will mimic wooden boards on the ship. Glue them onto the paper plate, covering the entire curved surface, one by one to create a layered, wood-like effect. - Add the Ship’s Border
Cut out the ship’s border template (the piece that lines the curved cut-out section). Outline it with a black marker for emphasis, then glue it onto the paper plate along the edge of the curve. - Cut and Assemble the Details
Cut out the remaining ship detail templates—such as the sails, masts, and flag—from the printable. Assemble the pieces by layering and gluing them together as shown in the example or instruction photo. - Attach the Assembled Templates
Once all parts are assembled, begin attaching them to the ship (paper plate) one by one. Make sure the sails and mast are positioned upright behind the plate. - Add Decorative Finishing Touches
Cut out small circles from white and black paper to create portholes or windows. Glue the black circles onto the white ones, then attach them along the ship’s side for added detail.
