Make a contoured map of Egypt with several shades of clay. Start with a yellow base layer in the basic shape of a map of Egypt. Carve out the Nile Valley and fill it in with green clay. Roll long, thin pieces of clay and form the Nile River and the delta. Fill around the edges in blue for the Mediterranean and Red seas. Have the children make tiny clay pyramids, palm trees and the sphinx to go on the map as well as stars or small buildings to indicate the location of major cities such as the ancient city of Alexandria and the capital, Cairo.
Roll clay into a small tray and have the children draw Hieroglyphs on it with a stylus. Outline the evolution of the written language and the role of the ancient Egyptians. Talk about the life of an ancient scribe as the children get a taste of the tools a young student in ancient Egypt would have used. After the clay hardens, remove it from the tray for the children to keep.
Have the children recreate clay animals to represent the wildlife of Egypt or animals with a historical connection to Egypt. Discuss the symbolism and history of the cat and the cobra and their roles in Egyptian mythology. Talk about the crocodiles that have lived in the Nile for centuries. Create animals such as hippopotamuses, giraffes and ostriches that are portrayed on the ancient Egyptian friezes but that can no longer be found in Egypt. Talked about what happened to them. Point out importance of the camel and donkey in the everyday lives of ancient and modern Egyptians.
Cut out several square cardboard templates in a variety of sizes. Using the templates, have each child or group of children cut out matching sheets of clay about 1/2-inch thick. Stack the squares from largest to smallest to make a pyramid. Add more clay to the side to smooth it out, and draw on the bricks on with sculpting tools. Discuss the different theories on how the ancient Egyptians built the great pyramids.