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Project challenge:

surprise hat

Suggested Ages: 3rd – 5th Grades

Transform an ordinary hat into a delightful surprise. Learn about levers and pulleys and construct your hat from just paper, tape and straws. BE COLLABORATIVE by getting feedback from a friend on how to make your hat even more fun.

Engaging Design-It-Yourself projects to inspire young innovators

This is no ordinary DIY project for kids: It’s a step toward becoming an innovator.

 

Every Galileo Design-It-Yourself Challenge teaches the same techniques and mindsets that professional designers an engineers, artists and chefs use in their work. With skills like these, we believe you can change the world.

Get Involved—For Grown Ups

Materials list:

Help your child find these materials or a close substitute: 

 

  • Hat with adjustment strap
  • String (yarn, fishing line, old shoelace will all work)
  • 3 straws
  • Several sheets of paper
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Coloring tools, like markers or crayons

 

Activity GUIDE:

Refer to these steps to keep young innovators on track as they create:

 

1. Adjust the hat so it fits snugly.

 

2. Create a tape hinge between one straw and the strap. (1:46)

 

3. Attach a second straw to the first. (2:30)

 

4. Add a triangle support with a third straw. (2:40)

 

5. Attach string and thread it through the strap. Test and redesign as necessary. (2:58)

 

6. Make the surprise element out of paper.

  • Support being collaborative—If kids are stuck, encourage them to talk to others to help spark ideas.
  • Ask: What kind of character, words, or symbols might you create?
  • Ask: What would be funny or unexpected?
  • Ask: How might you make your element stand out?

 

7. Get feedback and redesign.

  • Support being collaborative—If kids are reluctant to share their hat in progress emphasize that this is a great way to make their project even better.
  • Ask: What part of your hat do you think could be even better? What if you ask [name] what they think?
  • Ask: What new ideas does [name] have for your hat? How might you use some of what they suggested?

 

More Ideas:

Every project presents opportunities to add your own twists or extensions. Here are some ideas to get you started:

 

  • Innovate On!—Add a second surprise element onto the hat. It’s challenging, but even more surprising!
  • Take collaboration to the next level. Make a pair of hats with a friend that go together in some way. For example, both hats could be monster themed or say something that respond to each other!

 

Wrap Up Questions:

Lock in the learning by asking your child these questions about their project and how they practiced the featured Innovator’s Mindset element: 

 

  • What part of your hat or making your hat are you most proud of? Why?
  • How were you collaborative while making your hat? Did you talk to other people to get ideas? Did others help you make your hat better?

Share!

Great learning can come from sharing successes and failures—to solidify your own experience as an innovator and to inspire others.

 

SHARE WITH galileo

 

Share a photo or video of your creation with the Camp Galileo Anywhere Facebook Community.

 

Share with family and friends

 

Your innovation doesn’t stop with you. Inspire someone else by sharing your project challenge—maybe they’ll try it themselves or maybe your project will give them a new idea.

 

  • Who: someone in your house, a family member, a friend
  • How: in person, on the phone, online
  • When: anytime, starting now!