Turkey disguise as a cowboy: a hat, a bandana and a way out of town

The hat has a tall crown with a crease and a brim that curls up at the sides. A bandana ties around the neck with a knot at the front. A star badge sits on the chest, and a rope loops from one wing. The body has a simple vest line and two pockets. The hat and bandana create a silhouette that reads from across a room, while the star and rope add detail without cluttering the page.

You need a paper plate, brown paper, a bandana or a fabric square, a star sticker and a glue stick. Cut the center out of the paper plate, leaving a ring for the brim, and curl two opposite sides up. Cut a crown from brown paper and glue it to the ring. Fold the bandana into a triangle and tie it around the turkey's neck. Add a star sticker to the chest and a loop of yarn for the rope. For boots, cut two small brown paper shapes and glue them over the feet.

Cowgirl: add a ribbon bow, two paper braids and a smaller hat. Sheriff: add a vest, a larger badge and a paper mustache. Ranch hand: keep the hat, add a rope coil on the belt and a paper horse on a craft stick. The ranch-hand version is the most fun to write about because the turkey can ride off at the end.

Start with a goodbye: "I am leaving town." Then the disguise: "I am disguised as a cowboy. My hat has a crease, my bandana is red, and my badge is a star." Then the reason: "Cowboys ride away, and I plan to ride away on the dog." End with a trail detail: "If you see a dust cloud in the kitchen, do not follow it." The farewell structure gives the paragraph movement, and the dog is a joke the child can act out.