How to Make a Paper Bus Driver Hat

Familiarizing young children or students with the function of civil service jobs begins with hands-on activities. Allowing children to make paper bus driver hats, for example, is ideal for role playing. Set up a classroom play where children act out the character of a bus driver while wearing the hat. Use the craft to encourage discussion about the purpose and function a bus driver serves. Repeat this exercise with other civil service costumes to act out police officers, road workers, postal employees and other professionals.

Measure the circumference of your -- or your child's -- head. Cut a 1-inch-tall strip of cardboard to the length of the measurement. For example, the circumference is 14 inches. Cut the strip into 1-by-14-inch dimensions.

Pull the short ends of the cardboard strip together to create a 14-inch circle. Bond the short ends together with white glue.

Cut out two 3 1/2-by-7-inch paper plate semi-circles. Bond one semi circle atop the other with white glue. The brim is now complete. Bond the flat edge of the brim around the short underside of the cardboard ring.

Cut out and bond a 1 1/2-by-16-inch high-density urethane foam circle to the top of the cardboard ring. The body of the hat is now complete.

Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup flour in a pot to make a paper mache mix. Boil the mix for three minutes. Allow the mix to cool for five minutes. Pour the mix into a small bowl.

Submerge a 1-by-4-inch newspaper strip into the mix. Press the strip into the body of the hat. Continue until the entire hat is covered in one layer of newspaper.

Submerge a 1-by-4-inch paper towel strip into the mix. Press the strip into the body of the hat. Continue until the entire hat is covered in one layer of paper towel. Allow four hours for the hat to dry.

Coat the hat with acrylic paint. Shade the foam top with blue paint. Shade the ring and brim with black paint. Allow two hours for the hat to dry before handling or wearing.