Activities: Scroll Writing
Turn your kid into an old-world scribe by creating a scroll.
Submitted by
Kayla Chong
Kayla Chong
Have your kid try his hand at creating his own ancient scroll and write a story or secret message on it. It'll be the greatest archaeological find since the Dead Sea Scrolls (at least in your house!).
- Scribe:Your child
- Parchment:Otherwise known as wrapping paper
- Quill:A ballpoint pen will do nicely.
- Wooden Rollers:The chopsticks left over from last night's Chinese take out will work. Just remember to have you kid wash off the Lo Mein.
- Tape
- Scissors
- Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (optional):Remember, kids and hot glue don't mix, so make sure you do the gluing!
Set your little scribe up at a table with his supplies.
Help him cut a 6-inch-wide strip of parchment (wrapping paper.)
Have him decide what he would like his scroll to say. He can write a story about your family's holiday traditions, make a wish for the future, disclose a secret or simply jot down a holiday greeting.
Help your child hot glue or tape a chopstick to the top and bottom of the parchment. (Only grown-ups should hot glue!)
Help him write his message in the middle of the parchment. If he can't write yet, but insists on wielding the pen, have him draw a picture. (That's how the cave men wrote, after all!) Make sure to leave about 2 inches of blank wrapping paper on each side to attach the wooden rollers to.
When the scroll is finished, invite your child to reveal the text if he so desires, by unfurling the scroll and reading aloud the secrets held within.
He can hide his scroll in a "cave" (a closet, shoebox) and invite his siblings or friends to go on an archaeological dig to unearth the precious parchment. It may not be the greatest archaeological find ever made, but this activity will keep him occupied for 15 minutes—which is a pretty great find in itself!
- Need a little writing practice before they scribble on their scroll? Nick Jr. has Writing-Practice Paper from Blue and Dora.
- Thanks to Traci Page Johnson and Nick. Jr. Magazine.
Submit!
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