by Gail Kavanagh

Created on: July 17, 2009   Last Updated: March 30, 2012

Ancient Egypt fascinated kids, and one way to encourage their interest is to let them make their own Egyptian artifacts. These crafts are easy and will encourage kids to learn about their origins and have fun as well!

The ankh is an ancient symbol, even older than the Egyptian civilization. Here is how to make a beautiful ankh from cardboard or clay, and wear it proudly. Encourage your kids to do a Google search on the ankh and its meaning while they are creating their own versions.

To make a cardboard ankh, you will need a pattern of this interesting shape, which you can print out from the Internet. Draw or trace the shape onto sturdy cardboard. The ankh can be any size, but a good size for small fingers to handle will be about the size of a playing card. Cut out the ankh and carefully cut out the top loop with a craft knife. You can use this loop to hang the ankh on a cord.

Now comes the real fun. Let loose with the glitter and gold and decorate the ankh shape. One good plan is to paint it gold and, while the paint is still wet, sprinkle golden glitter over it. Let the whole thing dry, then put on two coats of sealer to keep the glitter in place. Alternatively, you cab paint the ankh and place self sticking gems all over it.

Now the little artist can loop a cord or leather strip through the loop at the top and wear it as a pendant, fasten it to a handbag or hang it on the wall.

A model Egyptian pyramid in a spyhole box is a fascinating project, and for little hands, much easier to build than the real thing! You needs lots of little cubes - sugar cubes, dice and small cubic building blocks will all do the job. First get a large shoebox and paint the inside of the box and the lid sky blue. Put a layer of sand on the bottom of the box, and cut a round hole about 1-1 1/2 inches in diameter in the lid at one end.Make another hole in the front of the shoebox, furthest from the hole at the other end, large enough to peek through.

Now gather your pyramid making blocks and lay out the foundation.

Keep the pyramid on the small side - six by six is a good foundation, but make sure it absolutely solid and square. Glue it to a cardboard base trimmed to fit. Now layer the pyramid with the remaining blocks, gluing each in place but keeping each layer half a block from the edge of the layer below, until you need just one block to top it off with.

Paint the pyramid white, if it isn't white already, and place it at one end of the shoebox, under the cut out hole in the lid. Add plastic camels and palm trees buried in drifts of more sand. Now take a piece of yellow cellophane or plastic and glue it under the lid, over the hole. Place the lid firmly on the shoebox.

Now all you have to do is place the shoebox under a light source, such as a table lamp and peer through the hole in the front. The effect is truly magical, like having your own little piece of Egypt in a box!

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