Sawdust Clay for use in making pyramids
2/3 parts fine sawdust (any kind except redwood)
1/3 parts flour
water
large bowl or bucket
wooden spoon
Use a large bowl or bucket to mix the clay. Mix 2/3 parts of saw dust and 1/3 part of flour together. Pour in water and mix until it reaches a stiff but "squishy" consistency. Add more flour if it is too crumbly. The clay needs some kneading before the gluten in the flour becomes elastic, holding the sawdust together. Work it in your hands or on a table top covered with newspapers. Play with the clay a little until it becomes easy to shape.
This clay has a thick heavy texture. Clay air-dries very hard. It should be placed directly in the sun, if possible. When dry, you can sand it if you like to smooth it. Use tempera or acrylic paints to decorate the finished objects. To give your pieces a glossy coating, spray with acrylic clear finish or paint with acrylic floor wax.
From Kids Create: pg. 42
Sand Modeling (can also be used fro pyramids)
1 cup sand
1/2 cornstarch
1 t. alum
3/4 cup hot water
food coloring (optional)
Bowl
pan
airtight container
Mix sand, cornstarch, and alum in bowl. Add hot water, stirring vigorously. Add food coloring if desired. Cook over medium heat until thick in pan. Cool. Model or mold into objects. Dry in sunshine for several days. Store left over dough in airtight container.
Makes 2 cups. Grainy and stonelike. Does not need shellac or varnish for protection.
From Mud Works: pg. 24.
8 short pieces of wood each about the same size (for 2 small frames)
wire screening (for one frame)
heavy duty stapler
newspaper (lots of it)
dishpan (medium to large size)
warm water, lots of it
paper towels
iron
Make 2 small frames (each the same size). Staple wire screen to one frame called the mold. Tear up old newspaper. About one sheet of newspaper per dishpan of warm wather. Soak and beat the newspaper. Hold the mold, screen side up, and place the empty frame (the one without the screen) on top of the mold. The empty frame is called the deckle. It allows the water to drain slowly and forms the edges of the "wet-leaf" (the actual paper that you are making). Dip both frames into the dishpan of slurry (pulp mixed with wather). Raise frames up slowly, and drain. Remove the deckle. Turn the mold over so that the screen side is now toward the ground onto a paper towel blotter, and sponge the screen dry. Remove the mold. Put another blotter on top of the "wet-leaf" and iron dry. Remove blotters.
From Making Things: pg. 15
old metal mesh lawn chair
lots of newspapers
wallpaper paste
two large bowls
wire whisk
acrylic jewels
cardboard
masking tape
craft knife
hot-glue gun
acrylic paints
Outside Project. Very Messy. Tear newspapers into strips about 2 inches wide. In one bowl, put about 2 cups of warm water. Slowly sprinkle in wall paper paste, stirring with wire whisk. You want the paste somewhat thick. Dip each strip of newspaper into the paste. Run the strip between your forefinger and middle finger as you lift it out of the bowl to remove excess paste. Lay the strip over the chair. Start anywhere. Slowly design your chair how you want it to look. It helps to draw it out first. Paint and decorate it. Spray the chair with acrylic spray.
From Michaels Crafts: pg.74
stryofoam
spray adhesive
tracing paper
straight pins
clear acrylic spray finish
large knife
Activa scenic sand (or regular sand will do)
pencil
newspaper
Cut edges from a block of styrofoam. Cut into desired shape. Round off the top outer edges with the knife. Rotate the styrofoam through your hands to remove loose particles. Press and shape the surface. Spray top and sides of styrofoam generously with spray adhesive. Place the styrofoam on opened up newspaper. Sprinkle with lots of sand, covering all sprayed surfaces. Pick up styrofoam and tap against the paper to remove excess sand. Spray stone generously with acrylic spray and let dry for a few minutes. Trace design on paper. Center pattern on stone and hold it with a couple of straight pins. Puncture paper and stone with a sharp pencil, making a line of dots around the design. Remove the paper. Use the pencil to break the dots apart and make the design deeper.
In order to make hieroglyphics: Make three stones about 6 inches by 5 inches. Make hieroglyphic designs on paper and continue with directions.
From Michaels: pg. 81-82
Jewelery (can be made in many different ways)
Salt clay recipes can be used, as well as paper, or tin foil, and buttons, and beads. It depends on the instructions you follow. Look through the different craft books in the bibliography to design the jewelery. Allow children to pick their own ways of creating jewelery.
These articles of clothing can be made out of old sheets, curtains, material, or dresses and shirts. Have the children each bring in material that is white or off white, and these can be sown in the shape of tunics and such by looking at pictures from the information books about Egyptian clothing.
Musical instruments can be made out of wood, cardboard, paper, or other materials. Looking at the musical instruments that the Egyptians played, one of these ways can be chosen, all depending on the amount of durability you expect from it.
Couscous can be made by following the directions on the back of a box bought in the supermarket. The same thing with Falafel.
Look in the recipe books listed under bibliography for Egyptian treats. Also check out Tiger Nut Sweets.
Cardboard: Two pieces of 6 1/2"x9 1/4", one piece 1/2"x 9 1/4"
Fabric: 11"x15 1/2" (preferably white or cream color)
scissors
thread
special gift wrap paper for the inside cover
white glue
paper
needle
ruler
Lay fabric on table, wrong side up. Position larger cardboard pieces on the fabric, one on each side of the small piece. The small piece will be the spine. Leave 1/8" space between the spine and the other pieces of card board to make it easy to turn the pages. Spread glue on the back of the cardboard and re-position it on the fabric. Press into place firmly. Let dry. Turn edges of fabric up over card board. Fold corners in to miter them (neatly at angle). Glue down. Let dry. Using paper, fold in half. Stitch together with a needle and thread down the creased middle (called saddle stitching). Place paper packet on the cover spine. Cut the two inside fly leaf papers to 8"x11" each. Place fly leaf sheets over book, and cover and glue to the first page of the book. Repeat at the last page and back inside cover. This will hold the book together.
From Kids Create: pg. 13
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