Build a Pyramid for School

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Do you have an assignment to make a model of an Egyptian pyramid? It's a fun school project that can be approached in a variety of ways. Read on to learn how to make a realistic-looking pyramid out of cardboard, sugar cubes, or clay.

Steps

Using Cardboard

  1. Gather your supplies. Thanks to a coating of sand covered with glue, this cardboard pyramid looks like a realistic flat-sided pyramid, but it's lightweight and doesn't take very long to put together. You probably have most of the supplies on hand already. Gather the following materials to make your cardboard pyramid:
    • A large flattened cardboard box or piece of cardboard
    • A ruler
    • A pencil
    • Scissors
    • Hot glue gun and sticks
    • White school glue
    • Paint brush
    • Sand
  2. Cut out cardboard shapes. Use your ruler and pencil to draw an 8-inch (20.3 cm) square on your cardboard. Now draw four equilateral triangles with 8-inch (20.3 cm) bases. Use the scissors to cut out the shapes, so you have a square base and four triangular sides.
    • If you want to make a a larger pyramid, you can make a 9 or 10-inch (22.9 or 25.4 cm) square and triangles with matching bases. Just make sure the bases of the triangles is the same as a side of the square.
    • You can use a craft knife instead of a scissors if the cardboard is stiff and difficult to cut.
  3. Glue the triangles to the square. Heat up your glue gun and put a line of glue along the bottom of a triangle. Line it up with one edge of the square and press it lightly. Do the same with the other three triangles, gluing their bases to the square.
  4. Glue the triangles together. Lean the triangles in so that their points meet and create a pyramid shape. Seal the edges together with a line of hot glue.
  5. Let the glue dry completely.
  6. Paint the pyramid with white school glue. Pour some into a dish and use the paintbrush to paint the entire cardboard pyramid with an even coating of glue. Don't forget to cover the edges, too, so you'll be able to hide the cracks with sand.
  7. Sprinkle on the sand. Before the glue dries, cover the pyramid with sand.Try to sprinkle on an even amount so that the entire pyramid is evenly coated in a layer of sand.
  8. Let the pyramid dry.

Using Clay

  1. Gather your supplies. Making a clay pyramid allows you to get creative by making realistic indents and grooves in the pyramid walls to resemble an ancient Egyptian pyramid. You'll need the following supplies for this method:
    • A large ball of modeling clay (air dry)
    • Rolling pin
    • Knife
    • A piece of cardboard
    • A ruler
    • A pencil
    • Scissors
    • Paint and paintbrush
  2. Make the cardboard base. Use the ruler and pencil to draw a square on your piece of cardboard. A 6-inch by 6-inch (15.2 by 15.2 cm) base is fine for a smaller pyramid, or you could make a larger base if you have plenty of clay. Cut out the square when you're finished.
  3. Roll the clay. Place the clay on a dry, clean surface and use the rolling pin to roll it out to 1/2 - 3/4 inch (1.3 - 1.9 cm).
  4. Measure out the clay pyramid sides. Use your ruler and pencil to mark out four equilateral triangles with bases the same size as one side of the square. If you have a 6-inch (15.2) square, each triangle should have a 6-inch (15.2 cm) base.
  5. Cut out the triangles. Use a knife to cut out the triangle shapes you marked.
  6. Bevel the edges. Press your ruler against the sides of the triangles to slant them slightly downward. This will make it easier to press them together so the pyramid won't fall apart.
  7. Form the shape of a pyramid. Position two triangles so that their edges line up with the edges of the cardboard square. Press the sides of the triangle together. Place a third triangle along another side of the square and press it against the adjacent triangle. Add the last triangle and press it together with the triangles on either side.
  8. Create ridges in the pyramid. Use the knife to make markings that look like stone shapes in the sides of the pyramid.
  9. Let the pyramid dry. Leave it alone for several hours or overnight to give the pyramid time to dry and harden.
  10. Paint the pyramid. Pour the paint into a dish and use the paintbrush to spread an even coating on the pyramid. Use brown or sand-colored paint for best effect. You could also use a coating of glue sprinkled with sand if you'd prefer.
  11. Let the pyramid dry.

Using Sugar Cubes

  1. Gather your supplies. This simple pyramid looks like a step-sided pyramid, with individual "stones" visible instead of flat sides. It requires just a few household supplies:
    • A box of sugar cubes
    • A piece of cardboard
    • A ruler
    • A pencil
    • Scissors
    • White school glue
    • Paintbrush
    • Sand
  2. Cut a cardboard square. Use your ruler and pencil to draw a square on your cardboard. This will be the base of the pyramid, so make it as small or large as you'd like. An 8-inch by 8-inch (20.3 cm by 20.3 cm) base is a good size for this project. Cut out the square when you're finished.
  3. Make a sugar cube square. Paint a layer of glue around the edge of the cardboard square. Position sugar cubes over the glue so that you have a sugar cube square around the edge of the cardboard.
    • You can use white icing in place of glue if you don't have glue on hand. Make icing by adding 2 tablespoons (30 g) water to 3 cups (384 g) of confectioners' sugar; stir until smooth.
    • Hot glue may also be used in place of regular school glue.
  4. Add the second step to the pyramid. Paint a layer of glue on the inner half of the first square of sugar cubes. Position a second row of sugar cubes on top of the first row of cubes, set slightly back toward the inside of the cardboard square. The second row of cubes will require fewer cubes than the first row.
  5. Add the remaining steps. With each new step, paint a layer of glue on the inner half of the sugar cube square and create a new, smaller square by layering more sugar cubes on top. Keep adding steps in this manner until the sides of the pyramid have come to a point.
  6. Let the glue completely dry.
  7. Paint the pyramid with glue. Use a paintbrush to paint the entire pyramid with a thin layer of glue. Be careful not to damage the pyramid as you go.
  8. Sprinkle it with sand. Try to create an even coating of sand over the entire pyramid.
  9. Let the pyramid dry.

Tips

  • Working with glue is messy so lay newspapers down before you start.
  • Decorate the area around the base of the pyramid with sand, a faux Nile River, and other Egyptian elements.

Related Articles

  • Build a Pyramid with Sugar Cubes

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