How to Make a Cardboard Knight Helmet

Many helmets had movable parts, such as visors.

Medieval knights wore helmets to protect themselves against swords and knives in battle. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a knight's helmet served as protection and it looked good. Many helmets had fine metalwork made by master armorers and were worn at festivals and ceremonies. Make a cardboard knight helmet with a round cardboard box from a large oatmeal container to construct a rounded basinet type helmet used in the Middle Ages. The craft is simple but children would need some adult guidance.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 38 oz. oatmeal container or round laundry detergent box
• Sharp scissors or utility knife
• Black paint
• Paintbrush
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Feather

1. Turn your large 38 oz. oatmeal container or round laundry detergent box upside down, with opening touching the table. Cut out a 4-inch-wide half circle into the bottom side using sharp scissors or an utility knife. This where the helmet will rest on the shoulder.

2. Cut out another 4-inch-wide half circle into the opposite side of the container for the other shoulder. With a paintbrush, paint the exterior of the helmet with black paint to cover the writing on the cardboard. Allow it to dry completely.

3. Measure 5 inches down from the top and center of the helmet, with the shoulder cuts at the bottom sides. Draw a 4-by-6-inch horizontal rectangle on the helmet 5 inches from the top and in between the shoulder cuts for a visor with a pencil.

4. Cut out three sides of the rectangle you drew leaving the top 6-inch line alone with scissors. This allows you to open and close the visor. Cut out three to five slits in the visor for the knight to see out of.

5. Poke a small hole at the top of the knight helmet. Insert a feather as a decoration.

Tips & Warnings

• Open up a cereal box and wrap it around your head for another knight helmet. Staple it together and cut out an eye slit.

• Cover the oatmeal container with aluminum foil for a realistic looking shiny metal.

• Use caution with sharp tools.

References

• Activity Village: Knight's Helmet 1
• Youthwork Practice: Simple Craft Ideas for the Knight Theme
• Metropolitan Museum: Head's Up

Resources

• British Museum: Statue of a Knight