Egyptian Sun-Dried Brick
Why did Egyptians live in sun-dried brick homes? Step back in time to make this replica of a dwelling that was energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
1. For thousands of years, homes in Egypt were built with sun-dried bricks. Mud taken from the bottom of the Nile River and grain husks were mixed and shaped. Bricks were dried in the sun until they became rock hard. Learn about these energy-efficient buildings and then create a replica (without the mud!).
2. Measure, mark, and cut four pieces of cardboard for the sides of your house using a ruler, Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils, and Crayola Scissors. Cut another larger piece of cardboard for a base and outdoor area.
3. Flatten brown Crayola Model Magic to form the brick sides. If you have white Model Magic, create brown rubbing in dye from a Crayola Washable Marker. Knead and add more marker color until you get the shade you want.
4. Attach Model Magic slabs to the cardboard with Crayola School Glue. With a craft stick, etch horizontal and vertical lines in the Model Magic to resemble bricks. Add windows and doors by etching them or pressing on other Model Magic colors. Damp Model Magic sticks to itself.
5. Use more Model Magic, and glue if needed, to attach the four sides of the house to each other. Glue the house to the large piece of cardboard. To create a roof, glue together craft sticks (you can color them with marker if you wish). Air-dry the roof and then place it on top of your house. Create other items for the house including the people!
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—
- Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
- Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
- Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
- The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
- Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
- Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
- Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
Wood—By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points
- Create a chart depicting different types of traditional houses around the world. Show how the construction depends on location, climate, and natural resources. How is this changing today? Why?
- Find out what materials were used in the construction of your home. Which are natural? Which are manufactured?
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