Home Hieroglyphics

Egyptian hieroglyphics are an ancient language. Design a cartouche with a message! Hang it on a doorknob to display.

• 1.

  Egyptian hieroglyphics are one of the first written languages known. Study Egyptian hieroglyphics from cartouches (oval figures on ancient monuments) in books listed here or others from your school or local library.

• 2.

  Think of a cartouche-shaped door-knob sign to design for yourself or as a gift. What word or words would be on the sign? The sign shown here says "keep out."

• 3.

  Translate your word(s) into hieroglyphics, using a key found in your hieroglyphics resources. Carefully copy the characters you wish to use with a Crayola® Colored Pencil. Remember, hieroglyphic characters are written vertically, from top to bottom.

• 4.

  Knead a ball of white Crayola Model Magic into an oval slab, similar to the cartouches on which hieroglyphics have been found.

• 5.

  Use the point of a light Crayola Colored Pencil to press the hieroglyphics that you translated into the cartouche. Press deeply, so your symbols indent well into the surface.

• 6.

  Create a curved loop for hanging on a door with Crayola Model Magic. Attach it to the back of the cartouche with Crayola School Glue. Dry.

• 7.

  Cover your art area with recycled newspaper. Paint just the indented characters with black Crayola Washable Tempera and a Crayola Paint Brush. Wipe away any black paint from the higher surface around the symbols with a damp paper towel.

• 8.

  Paint the higher, surrounding surface with a contrasting color, such as the color of the cartouches that you studied. Dry at least 24 hours before hanging.

Benefits

• Children research information about ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and the cartouches upon which they were written.
• Children translate selected words into hieroglyphic symbols.
• Children create a cartouche in the shape of a door-knob hanger to demonstrate their knowledge of hieroglyphics.

Adaptations

• Use Crayola Markers to write a hieroglyphic note to a friend.
• Research where and how cartouches have been found. Find out how their meanings were figured out.