How to Make a Paper St. Patrick's Hat

Leprechaun hats are traditional St. Patrick's Day crafts.

Saint Patrick's Day can conjure up memories of wearing green to avoid being pinched as a child. Many school children participate in St. Patrick's Day celebrations, which can include dressing like a leprechaun. In fact, a unique activity for St. Patrick's Day is creating a leprechaun hat to complement the green clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring Tape
• Pencil Compass
• Green Poster Board
• Green Construction Paper
• Yellow Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Glitter
• Pom-Poms
• Foam Cutouts

Instructions

1. Measure the child's head with a measuring tape. Make sure to measure the head's circumference just above the ears, where the hat would fit.

2. Pull the pencil compass's legs apart until the compass's ruler portion equals the radius of the child's head. Place the compass' stationary leg in the middle of the green poster board and slowly turn its pencil leg to create a circle.

3. Measure a length of 6 inches outward from the circle's edge with the measuring tape. Draw a larger circle around the original circle, making sure that the space remains 6 inches between circle edges.

4. Cut out the center circle with scissors. Set this piece aside. Cut the excess green poster board away from the second, larger circle and discard. The remaining piece will be the hat's brim.

5. Roll the green construction paper until it equals the size of the open brim hole, or the diameter of the child's head. Secure this rolled paper with tape.

6. Attach the rolled construction paper to the hat brim with tape.

7. Trim the top of the rolled construction paper with scissors until the hat stands at the desired height. Tape the circular piece from Step 4 onto the trimmed hat top.

8. Cut a strip of paper from the yellow construction paper. Wrap the yellow strip around the hat, where the brim meets the rolled green construction paper, and secure it with tape.

9. Decorate the hat with shamrocks cut from construction paper. Add St. Patrick's Day stickers to the hat, or even glitter. Provide different decorations, such as foam cutouts and pom-poms, for children to uniquely accessorize their creation.

References

• Activity TV: St. Patrick's Day: Leprechaun Hat