Explain to the children what you are going to do. Tell them you are going to make a Pharaoh's headpiece. At this point, explain that an Egyptian headpiece was worn by the leaders of Egypt to show others what God they worshiped.
Show the children a selection of Pharaoh deities to help them understand the session's aim. Use Egyptian history books to show them the type of symbols, birds, gods or images that were portrayed on the headpieces. Also, point out what the headpiece could look like to give them an idea of what they will make.
Tell the children what equipment and materials you have to create the headpiece. Briefly outline that they will each make a cardboard band to wrap around their head and then affix a particular symbol on the front of it. Suggest examples to inspire them, such as making a large palm leaf to represent long life, which was worn by the God Heh, or a water lily, symbolic of fertility and sexuality.
Instruct the children to sit in a group. Tell them to cut a length of cardboard 1.5 inches wide and long enough to wrap around their head. Teach them how to do this by also showing them. Do it at the same time so you can all work together.
Demonstrate how to stick the headband into place. Cut a piece of sticky tape and place it at the point where the length of cardboard overlaps to fit onto your head. Then, tell the children to do this as well. Get them to put the band around their head to make sure it fits.
Invite the children to look through the Egyptian books and pictures. Tell them to find an image that they would like to make and stick onto the front of their headpiece. Explain that they will cut out the shape of the object they choose, so they should pick something simple but interesting to look at.
Make the headpiece symbol with the children. Instruct the children to draw the outline of the shape they have chosen onto a piece of cardboard. Encourage them to make large shapes, as often the Pharaohs wore elaborate and unusual symbols on their headpieces.
Decorate the shape using fabric, feathers, buttons or colored pencils. Use a variety of materials. Pharaohs used gold, gems and other valuable items to decorate their headpiece, so foil or glitter add a sparkle, too.
Leave the glue to dry, and take a break from making the headpiece. When you return, get the children to cut the symbol from the cardboard. Then, provide glue to stick the symbol onto the front of the headpiece. Once again, leave the glue to dry.
Finish the project by inviting the children to wear the headdress. Sit in a circle and ask each child to explain what their headdress is and what it represents.