How to Make an Indian Headband for Thanksgiving

At Thanksgiving, children learn about the pilgrims and the Indians, or Native Americans. The Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to survive by growing your own food. The pilgrims were thankful and threw a big feast that the Native Americans attended. A great way to remember the story is to create a craft. One such craft is an Indian headband. You can create this craft with items you purchase at a craft store for very little money.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Different-colored feathers
• Yellow construction paper
• Scissors
• String or yarn
• Beads
• Glue or tape
• Marker
• Hole puncher

1. Take your yellow construction paper and cut out a long strip. Make sure the strip is 2 inches wide. Measure your head so you know where to tape the strips together by placing the strip on your forehead and circling it around to the same spot. Tape it where the strip meets the beginning on your forehead. That way you have a circle that fits your head exactly. You can also use a measuring tape.

2. Tape or glue feathers to the back of the headband.

3. Punch a hole in each side of the headband for stringing the yarn of beads.

4. Cut two medium-sized pieces of string and tie a knot at the bottom of each of them. You can use yarn also. Thread some beads on each of the strands of string. When you have as many beads as you want, thread the top piece of the string through the holes you made. Tie them in place.

5. Use the Indian Symbol Dictionary to get some Indian symbol ideas for drawing on the front of your headband. There is a link to the dictionary in Resources below for your convenience. Draw the symbols on the front of the headband, and you are finished.

6. Put the headband on and strut around the room as if you were a Native American.

Tips & Warnings

• Native Americans used paint, so you can have students paint on the symbols rather than draw them in with markers.

Resources

• Indian Symbol Dictionary