Ancient Egypt: Make a Cartouche

After pausing our Egyptian Unit study for a few weeks to discuss the election process, we are back in the saddle again.

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We recently read the books Hieroglyphs from A to Z by Peter Der Manuelian and Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs by James Rumford. After learning what hieroglyphs were and how they were deciphered, we decided to try our hand at this ancient script. Using oven-bake craft clay we were able to create our very own Cartouche necklaces, oval-shaped ornaments worn by pharaohs depicting their name in hieroglyphs.

To make a Cartouche

You will need the following:

• wax paper
• oven-bake craft clay
• craft string/twine
• a pencil or clay awl
• a butter knife or toothpick

Cover your work surface with wax paper. Roll a one inch square of oven-bake craft clay into a snake shape.

Using your finger, flatten the "snake" and then flip the flattened oval over to the smooth side.

Use the tip of a pencil or a clay awl to make a hole at one end of the oval.

Refer to Hieroglyphs from A to Z or this downloadable PDF to learn the picture symbols of your name.

Using a toothpick or the tip of a butter knife, recreate the hieroglyphs of each letter of your name.

Follow the baking instructions indicated on the clay package.

Tie some craft twine through the hole to complete the necklace.

More Ancient Egypt Ideas to Explore

Mummified Apple Experiment

Taamia Falafal (Meatless Pitas)

Making Papyrus

Make a Cartouche

Map of Egypt