If you are teaching elementary school-aged children about the Norman invasion of England, you may have difficulty keeping the students' attention if you only lecture them from a book. Give the students a related project to do to keep them involved. For example, kids can create a helmet to resemble one that would have been worn by the Normans. All the materials needed can be purchased at any arts and crafts supply store.

Inflate a large, round balloon so that it is slightly larger than you head. Knot the end.

Pour 2 cups of paper mache pulp, 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of cornstarch into a saucepan. Add 3 cups of water and heat the mixture over medium-high heat. When the mixture begins to boil, turn the heat down to low to allow it to simmer for five minutes. Remove the paper mache mixture from the heat and let it cool for 30 minutes.

  • If you are teaching elementary school-aged children about the Norman invasion of England, you may have difficulty keeping the students' attention if you only lecture them from a book.
  • Add 3 cups of water and heat the mixture over medium-high heat.

Tear newspaper into strips that each measure roughly 2 inches wide, 6 inches long. Dip each newspaper strip into the paper mache mixture, and drape the strips over the balloon. Cover the balloon with six layers. Allow the balloon to dry for six hours.

  • Tear newspaper into strips that each measure roughly 2 inches wide, 6 inches long.
  • Dip each newspaper strip into the paper mache mixture, and drape the strips over the balloon.

Insert a straight pin into the paper mache-covered balloon, which will pop the balloon inside.

Cut the bottom half of the balloon off, and discard the cut off section. This will leave the top half, which will become the Norman helmet.

Paint the Norman helmet using metallic silver acrylic paint. Let the paint dry for 30 minutes.

Lay a sheet of aluminium foil onto a flat surface, and cut out three rectangles that each measure 2 inches wide, 24 inches long.

Apply Tacky Glue along the length of one of the aluminium strips, and wrap it around the bottom edge of the paper mache helmet. Allow the Tacky Glue to dry for 30 minutes.

  • Paint the Norman helmet using metallic silver acrylic paint.
  • Allow the Tacky Glue to dry for 30 minutes.

Apply Tacky Glue along the length of a second aluminium strip, and drape it across the top of the Norman helmet from front to back. Allow the Tacky Glue to dry for 30 minutes.

  • Paint the Norman helmet using metallic silver acrylic paint.
  • Allow the Tacky Glue to dry for 30 minutes.

Apply Tacky Glue to the remaining aluminium strip, and drape it across the top of the Norman helmet from side to side. This will create a shiny cross over the helmet, just like an actual Norman helmet. Allow the Tacky Glue to dry for 30 minutes before wearing the helmet.