LO

GIC

A

L/MATHEM

AT

ICA

L

John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2003

W O R K S H E E T

6 4

Hieroglyphicword game

he ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbols were used to communicate a very old and complex language. Learn about these symbols in a word game for two players.

You will use single-sound hieroglyphs to make words which, when translated into English, are associated with ancient Egypt. The single-sound hieroglyphs correspond to letters of our alphabet as shown below.

Before you start, copy and colour the playing board on page 3 of this worksheet. Paste it onto stiff cardboard. Then copy and colour the block of hieroglyphic symbols below eight times. Paste each sheet onto cardboard. When dry, cut out the required number of symbols relating to letters of our alphabet. Also, read the rules on page 2 of this worksheet.

T

Atlas of Discovery

, pp. 44–45, 148;cardboard for game board and symbols;

coloured pencils or pens;glue; scissors

a b c, k d e,y

f g h i j

l m n o p

q r s t u

w x z th sh

Symbols for single sounds

v

John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2003

W O R K S H E E T

6 4

•

p a g e 2

THE RULES

1. Cut out the number of symbols stated corresponding to each of the following letters:8 × a; 4 × b; 6 × c/k; 4 × d; 8 × e/y; 4 × f; 4 × g; 4 × h; 7 × i; 3 × j; 4 × 1; 5 × m;5 × n; 8 × o; 5 × p; 3 × q; 4 × r; 5 × s; 5 × t; 7 × u, 2 × v; 4 × w; 2 × x; 2 × z; 3 × th; 3 × sh. The game begins with all these symbols lying face down beside the board.Mix them up first!

2. Cut out at least 10 of eachof the amulets on the right.You may need more.

3. Scoring:• 1 amulet for each new word• 2 amulets if a word covers the ankh symbol• 3 amulets if a word covers the scarab symbol• 2 amulets for these words: Egypt, pharaoh, papyrus, scribe, mummy, sphinx

4. Each player begins by selecting seven symbols. A coin is flipped to see who goes first. Players record their own scores.

5. The first player tries to make a word from their letters. Their word must cover the central pyramid icon and scores two points.

6. After making a word, the player picks up replacement symbols, plus one extra.

7. To make a new word, a player must use at least one symbol already on the board. Symbols cannot be left lying beside ones already there, unless these also make new words. It is possible to make more than one word in a turn once the game is under way. For example, the English words ‘Nile’ and ‘temple’ could be constructed by adding an ‘e’ onto the end of the existing word ‘nil’.

8. A player may choose to pass and not make a word, or to forfeit a turn and replace all their symbols. Words cannot be repeated in a game.

9. The game finishes when neither player can make a word. The winner is the one with the most amulets.

t e,y m p l e,y

l

i

n

LO

GIC

A

L/MATHEM

AT

ICA

L

John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2003

W O R K S H E E T

6 4

•

p a g e 3

LO

GIC

A

L/MATHEM

AT

ICA

L