Paper workshop
Make an astronaut disguise for a printable turkey template
Give a paper turkey an astronaut helmet, suit and a fan of solar panels. The trick is to cover the familiar outline while keeping the pieces large enough to cut. The printable sheet below supplies a base bird and three costume parts.
Print the page and check the pieces
Print one copy on ordinary paper. The left side holds the bird and the right side holds the helmet, suit and control panel. Cut the costume parts apart first so you can hold them over the base before adding colour.
Test the helmet window
Place the round helmet over the head and draw a window just large enough to reveal the face. Colour the window a pale blue and draw the face inside it, or have an adult help cut an opening if you want the original face to show through.
Turn feathers into equipment
Draw a small rectangular grid on each visible tail feather. A darker border makes the feathers resemble folded solar panels. Leave a gap between adjacent grid lines so a child can colour the shapes with a broad crayon.
Fit the suit over the belly
Place the suit below the helmet and slide it until the two parts overlap slightly. If feathers disappear behind the suit, move it down a little. Pencil two registration dots on the base to remember the final position.
Glue from back to front
Colour the tail first, glue the suit over the body, and put the helmet on top. Add the smallest control panel last. A thin layer of glue keeps the paper flat and prevents a wet helmet from sliding off its marks.
Give the character a mission
Write a one-sentence caption beneath the finished bird, such as “Commander Pip is looking for the moon garden.” Set the drawing on a plain sheet and photograph it straight on. That makes the tiny costume details easier to see in a class gallery.
Continue with a class display
Lay out a display sign for the finished class of space travellers.