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You can make an Indian headdress with children. They can wear the headdress for plays, and programs for different holidays. They can pretend to be Native Americans and sit around in a circle for a pow wow. The materials are inexpensive and the project is relatively easy even for children in first grade. Because cutting is required, kindergarten children or younger will need help.
Materials list:
Heavy construction paper or drawing paper at least 12" long (Optional white or beige felt if you want a fabric headband)
regular paper scissors
optional: crimping or scallop edge scissors (available in the memory album section of most craft shops)
clear tape
crayons or magic markers
a pen or pencil for drawing the design.
package of feathers (optional, you can make your own or use real feathers)
I used a yard stick but you can also use a straight ruler. Cut out two strips for the headband 1 1/2" wide. I found that taping this together and then cutting it at the 23" mark was perfect for my head size and will fit most adults. You will need less for children. It is best to measure the strips first on each person's head before attaching it with tape and cutting off the extra.
The feathers are also made of the construction paper or drawing paper.You can also make them the same way but out of felt. With the ruler measure 6" long and 2 1/2" wide. Make as many "feathers" as you want but four to six is a good number. Cut these out and at the top cut in a slant on each side forming a point. Now here is where the optional scissors come in. If you use scallop or other design scissors you can make your feathers look more real. While price differs across the country these scissors with different edges are made of heavy duty plastic and cost under $3.00 each. They are a good investment for many craft projects. You can also use pinking shears.
Color the feathers and the headband. Enhance the headband by making designs such as stars, moon, and sun which are symbols many Native Americans used as decorations. Or you can glue on the real feathers.
Once the head dresses are made, designed and colored what next? Have the group sit around in a circle with their legs crossed. Go around the circle giving each person a chance to tell a story or a joke. If someone can't think of a story or joke, they sit in the middle until someone else misses. If they can then think of a story or joke, they can return to the circle and the other person goes in the center. If they can't, then the first person is out and leaves the circle, and the second person sits in the center until someone else misses. This is a fun game with many laughs. You can play until you tire of it, or until only two people are left. They each tell a story or joke and the others decide who is the winner.
Here is an Old Native American story I heard at a Pow Wow. Once the squirrel had a big voice. He thought he was pretty special with his big voice. He liked to boss all the other small animals and tell them what to do. One summer he had the birds collect acorns for him to store for the winter. The birds got together and said they didn't like bringing squirrel acorns. They had enough to do to bring worms to their baby birds. Besides, they said squirrel was lazy. Blue Jay and the other birds thought of a way to teach squirrel a lesson. Blue Jay challenged squirrel, "Let us have a contest and the winner will pick their own prize."
Squirrel agreed. He felt he would win because he was smart and fast. He was so sure of himself he did not even ask what the contest was. "If I win I want Blue Jay to bring me one hundred acorns and one hundred nuts for my winter supply of food."
Blue Jay sang out, "If I win I want a voice."
Squirrel wondered what Blue Jay meant but since he was so sure he would win any contest he did not ask.
"The contest," announced Blue Jay "is to see who can go highest in the sky."
Squirrel still was not worried. When Black Bird counted down to three, squirrel ran to the highest tree in the forest and climbed up the tree, onto a branch, and then swung to another branch. He went from branch to branch all the while sure he would win the contest. When he was at the very top of the tree he looked down for Blue Jay.
"I'm up here," Blue Jay said, flying over the tree. "And now I claim my prize. I take your voice." With that squirrel lost his big voice. Mother Sun felt sorry for squirrel so she left a little sound. That fall squirrel spent every day collecting his own acorns and nuts. He stored them in his nest in the tree. He no longer could boss around the other animals. When he opened his mouth to tell them what to do only a click click sound came out. And that is how squirrel lost his big voice.
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