Bubble Guppies Marching Band Hat

Get your band leader ready (just like Nonny in the Ducks in a Row! episode) with just a paper plate, a few felt sheets, and our easy instructions! Then gather up the family and march away with some imaginative play!

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Materials

• Marching Band Hat template
• Fine-tip marker
• 2 red stiff-felt 12 x18 sheets (or construction paper)
• 1 red, black, and white felt sheets (or construction paper)
• Safety scissors
• Paper plate (dessert-size plate)
• Black paint, crayon, or marker
• Stapler, fabric glue or sticky tape
• 2 pom-poms (optional)
• Whistle (optional)

Directions

1. Step 1

   Print out the Marching Band Hat template and cut out the pieces. Using a fine-tip marker, trace the templates onto the felt sheets then cut them out.

2. Step 2

   Flip the paper plate over (serving side facing down), fold the plate in half and cut a 1-inch slit on each side along the fold. Then help your child paint or color half of the plate black.

3. Step 3

   Measure your child's head to determine how much stiff red felt you will need to create the hat. You may need to attach the two red stiff-felt sheets together. Cut off the material you will not need, then secure the stiff felt into a cylinder shape using fabric glue or sticky tape.<br><br> Cover the opening at the top of the cylinder with a red felt sheet and use glue or sticky tape to affix the felt sheet inside the cylinder (see photo for reference).

4. Step 4

   To create the marching band hat, insert the folded portion of the paper plate into the cylinder you created in Step 3 and staple it to the red stiff felt.<br><br> The tips of the staples should be on the outside of the hat to prevent harming your child. Cover the staples by creating a hatband out of black felt. The band should be about 3 inches high and should wrap completely around the bottom of the hat.

5. Step 5

   Using the photo as a guide, attach the felt templates onto the red felt and the pom-poms onto the white hatband.<br><br> Now the marching band hat is complete. Hand your child a whistle and gather up the band!<br><br> If you're looking for an easy-to-make instrument, try our <a href="/crafts/bubble-guppies-fish-shaker.jhtml"><u>Little Fish Shaker</u></a>.

6. Here's an Easy Alternative:

   Don't have stiff felt sheets? Use construction paper! Follow all the steps listed above except for Step 3. Instead, affix red construction paper around an oatmeal container with glue or tape. Make it a completely felt-free project by creating the hat's accents using construction paper.