Assigned Teachers: Piyumika, Suren

Today we are going to create a hat inspired by different cultures and personal ideas for a fashion show

Materials Needed

• newspaper

• Crayons, colored pencils, markers, watercolor, etc., acrylic paint

• Leaves (any type), buttons, fabrics, thread, yarn, any deco materials, etc.

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Objective: Introduce the concept of hat-making and cultural inspiration.

• Discussion Points:

• Briefly explain how hats are part of various cultures around the world (e.g., sombreros from Mexico, berets from France, turbans from India, etc.).

• Discuss how fashion shows often feature unique and creative designs.

• Explain that each child will design a hat inspired by either a culture they admire or their own vision of a "perfect" fashion hat.

• Icebreaker:
  Ask the kids to share one type of hat they know about or have seen. Encourage them to think of how hats can be fun and fashionable.

2. Visualization and Observation (10 minutes)

• Objective: Inspire creativity by showcasing various cultural hats and guiding kids to imagine their own. * see images below

• Activities:

• Show images of traditional hats from different cultures, (see video no 1  below)

• Explain the features, patterns, and materials used in these hats.(see video no. 2 below for making hats)

• Encourage the kids to observe shapes, colors, and textures.

• Creative Thinking Exercise:

• Ask the kids to close their eyes and imagine the perfect hat they'd like to wear in a fashion show. They can think about how the hat would make them feel and what colors and shapes it would have.

3. Making and Problem-Solving (40 minutes)

• Objective: Create the hats while encouraging creativity and problem-solving.

• Step-by-Step Process:

• Provide each child with a newspaper, tape, glue, and decorating materials (markers, paint, stickers, deco materials, fabrics, buttons, leaves, anything decorative…).

• Guide them in folding the newspaper into a basic hat structure, they desire

• Once the basic hat is made, encourage them to use their imaginations to add unique features (brims, tussles, peaks, decorations) inspired by either a culture or their own creativity.

• Problem-Solving Encouragement:

• As they work, ask questions like "How can you make your hat stand out?" or "What can you add to make your design more interesting?"

• Walk around and offer assistance with any challenges, such as stabilizing their hat or applying decorations.

4. Community Building (10 minutes)

• Objective: Foster teamwork and a sense of community.

• Activity:

• Organize a "helping hand" moment where kids can give each other feedback or help with tricky parts of their hats.

• Encourage the kids to walk around and admire each other’s work, promoting a sense of appreciation for the diversity of designs.

• Discussion:
  Briefly discuss how the different designs reflect unique ideas and how sharing those ideas helps build a creative community.

5. Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Objective: Wrap up the class with a show-off of the designs and a reflection on the process.

• Fashion Show Activity:

• Let each child participate in a mini "fashion show" where they walk around the room showing off their hat and select the winner!

• Have each child share what inspired their hat and explain their creative process.

• Reflection:

• Ask reflective questions like:

• What was your favorite part of making your hat?

• Did you face any challenges while designing, and how did you solve them?

• How do you feel about your finished product?

Notes for the Volunteers

• Definition: A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status.

• hats for police and military e.g have the following purpose: The right hat conveys dignity, seriousness, and command. “With the professionalization of officers, the discipline and training associated with the military/police brought with it the tradition of wearing formal hats.”