Paper Hat Folding

What you need

• a big sheet of plain paper, about the size of a newspaper page
• masking tape
• crayons or stickers

How to do it

1. Fold the sheet in half from top to bottom together, pressing the fold flat with your hands.
2. Fold the two top corners down to meet in the middle, so it makes a point like a roof.
3. Fold the bottom strip up on both sides and tape the corners, and you have a hat.
4. Decorate it, put it on, and decide who's wearing it: a pirate, a captain, a king or a queen.

Why it matters

Each fold needs edges lined up and pressed flat, careful work that ends with something they can wear straight away.

What they're learning

Lining up edges

Corner to corner before pressing.

Pressing a crease

Running a thumb along the fold.

Following steps

Fold, fold, fold, tape.

What to look for

Notice them running a finger along a fold to make it sharp.

A tip

Plain paper or wrapping paper works best; a sheet that's too small makes a teddy-sized hat, which is fine too.

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