How to make a paper hat
The classic folded hat that children have made for generations. Use a newspaper page for a hat you can wear, or A4 paper for a small one – and it is the first half of the paper boat.
- Easy
- Age 5+
- About 5 minutes
- 6 steps
- No scissors
Lesson at a glance
- You need
- A sheet of newspaper, or A4 or US Letter paper. No scissors or glue.
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- Level
- Easy · age 5+
- How to teach it
- Show the 3D folder on the board and pause after each step, or print the step sheet for each table. Both show the same folds.
Finished!
Step 1 of 6Start with the paper upright. Fold it in half from top to bottom.
Keys: left and right arrows go back and forward, Space plays or pauses, R plays the step again, B shows the back. On the 3D picture, the arrow keys turn it and + and − zoom.
How to fold a paper hat: step by step
You need: one large rectangle: a double page of newspaper makes a hat children can wear; A4 or US Letter makes a small one for a teddy.
Start with the paper upright. Fold it in half from top to bottom.
Fold it in half from left to right, then open it again to make a centre crease.
Fold the top left and top right corners down so they meet on the centre crease.
Fold the bottom strip of the front layer up over the triangles.
Turn the hat over.
Fold the other bottom strip up in the same way. Open the bottom and put on your hat!
Finished!
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What children learn
- Shapes: rectangle, triangle and the hat’s brim (a long rectangle).
- Halves: the first two folds make halves.
- Size: bigger paper makes a bigger hat – try different sizes.
- Following instructions: a short sequence that leads on to the paper boat.
Classroom tips for teachers
- Role play: hats for a pirate day, a parade, a royal banquet or a class play.
- Measuring: measure heads with a tape measure and work out what size paper fits each child.
- Decorate: paint or draw a pattern on the hat before the last fold.
- Next lesson: turn the hat into a paper boat.
- SEND tips: newspaper is big and easy to handle; work in pairs, one holding, one folding.
Curriculum links
- Maths (Year 1–2): name 2-D shapes; recognise halves; compare lengths with a tape measure.
- Design and technology (KS1): make a product for a purpose (a hat that fits) and test it.
- Drama / role play (EYFS and KS1): make costumes for a story.
- English (spoken language): follow and give step-by-step instructions.
Links to the National Curriculum in England and the EYFS framework. Check the wording against your own school’s plans. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Safety
No scissors or glue are needed. Newspaper ink can rub off, so wash hands after folding.
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Questions teachers ask
What size paper makes a hat I can wear?
A double page of a broadsheet newspaper, or a sheet about 60 × 40 cm, fits most children. A4 makes a hat for a toy.
How do I turn the hat into a boat?
Follow the paper boat steps: open the hat, squash it into a diamond, fold it up again and pull it open.