Not everyone knew in Egyptian times how to write in hieroglyphics. Very few Egyptians were sent to school to learn how to read and write. The Egyptians had very many hieroglyphs which were combined to make words. They generally wote them in black and red ink on papyrus.
After discussing and studying the art of Egyptian writing, introduce one of these activities to your children:
Apply for the position of Scribe by filling out the application, and remember that good penmanship is important!
Carve Egyptian tablets!
Another possibility is to ask your children to carve their names on clay tablets which you may prepare in advance with Paris plaster. Just follow the instructions on the packet to prepare the mixture, and pour it into a flat flexible plastic container. The layer of plaster has to be not more than two cm high .Once the plaster is dry ( it takes about 12 hs ) you can take it out of the container ( carefully! as it is fragile) and break it into smaller pieces about the size of your hand. You need one for each child. [ Don’t thow away the smaller pieces that you will get trying to break the big piece of plaster. The children will be surprised when you use them as chalk]
Once each child has a tablet, they first transfer their hieroglyph onto the tablet, using carbon paper or similar. Then, they may use a paper clip or tooth pick to carve it. A broken biro works well too.
Next, if they wish ,they paint the whole tablet with yellow or golden tempera or acrylic paint to immitate gold, and finally they may trace their hieroglyph with a black permanent marker.
They can also just paint it with a coat of dark coffee to give it an ancient, dusty look, as the one below.
Give it a try! I am sure you will enjoy it and end up happily exhausted!
No comments:
Post a Comment