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Disguise a Turkey as a Pumpkin

To disguise a turkey as a pumpkin, colour or cover the round body in orange with curved ribs, add a green stem and leaf on the head, and tuck the tail feathers behind a curly vine. Because the turkey's body is already round, this is one of the fastest disguises there is: about 20 minutes with paper and crayons, and it suits a November classroom display.

Time20 minutes
Best forPre-K to 2nd grade
CostFree
DifficultyEasy
Coloring page of a cartoon turkey disguised as a pumpkin
Download the Pumpkin pack (PDF)Picture only (PNG)

The PDF has three pages: this picture to colour, the cut-out pieces, and a blank turkey to build on.

What you need

  • Printed turkey outline
  • Orange paper, crayon or paint
  • Brown marker
  • Green paper for the stem and leaf
  • A green pipe cleaner or paper strip for the vine
  • Black paper if you want a jack-o'-lantern face
  • Glue stick

No printer ink to spare? Print only page 3 (the blank turkey) and draw the costume by hand using the picture as a guide.

How to disguise a turkey as a pumpkin, step by step

  1. Colour the whole body orange, or glue an orange paper circle over it.
  2. Draw four or five curved lines from top to bottom with brown marker to make the pumpkin's ribs.
  3. Cut a short green stem and one leaf. Glue the stem on top of the head like a hat.
  4. Curl the pipe cleaner around a pencil and tape it beside the stem as the vine.
  5. Decide on the face: leave the turkey's own eyes, or glue black triangle eyes and a zigzag mouth on top.
  6. Colour the tail feathers green as pumpkin leaves, or orange and yellow as smaller pumpkins in a patch.
  7. Write the line: "My turkey is disguised as a pumpkin because pumpkins get to be the pie, and nobody checks the pie."

Printable pumpkin cut-out pieces

Printable cut-out costume pieces for a pumpkin turkey disguise

Print the cut-out sheet at 100% on plain paper or cardstock, colour the pieces first, then cut them out and glue them onto the turkey. The pieces are not scaled to one particular outline, so hold each one against your turkey first and trim it, or use it as a pattern to trace at the size you need.

Cut-out sheet (PNG)Blank turkey outlines

The cut-out sheet was drawn with an AI image tool and checked by hand. Shapes are simple on purpose so small scissors can follow them.

Tips that save time

  • Sponge-painting the orange gives a nice texture and is quick for small hands.
  • Tissue-paper squares scrunched and glued on look great but need white glue.
  • Skip the jack-o'-lantern face if the class has already put Halloween away.

Lines for the writing part

Most classes ask for a sentence or a short paragraph in the turkey's voice. Three starters your child can change:

  • “I am a pumpkin. Please put me on the porch.”
  • “Pumpkins go in pie, and I am not ripe yet.”
  • “Nothing to see here. Just a very round vegetable.”

There are printable writing pages for three grade bands in the project guide.

More disguise ideas

PrincessAdd a crown, a long gown that covers the body and legs, and make the feathers the puffed s…UnicornAdd a rolled-paper horn and make each tail feather a different pastel colour for the mane …AstronautCover the head with a clear or white helmet circle, wrap the body in foil and add star sti…FirefighterAdd a red helmet with a badge, a yellow-striped coat and a paper hose; colour the feathers…Christmas elfAdd a pointed green hat with a bell, pointed ears, a red collar with zigzag edges and curl…ReindeerAdd brown paper antlers (traced hands work), a red pom-pom nose and a collar of bells.…

See all 81 disguise a turkey ideas, or type your own into the turkey disguise generator.

Last updated 2026-11-14.