We checked out every Egyptian craft book from our library for a homeschool unit (grade 5, and this was among the top 3 that we actually used. The projects in this book are not cute crafts like in many of the other books; they can be used to really help understand the history. Our favorite project in this book was the "wesekh collar." The book actually gives a lot of background information about jewelry and beads and shows examples other than the project, so you get a feel for the variety that existed. I love that the book makes an attempt to replicate actual objects while still using readily available materials. While the book suggested plastic beads and copper wire, we used stone beads and that led to a whole discussion about what types of metals, minerals and gems might have been available to the egyptians.

The book also has the best "papyrus paper" instructions for simulating papyrus. It is the only book that I found that used thin strips laid in an overlapping weave, which illustrates the process rather than the end result. (There are many videos on the web that show papyrus being made - pretty cool to watch before starting this project!)

Most of the projects in this book would be best suited to kids 9 and up. Younger kids would most likely need some assistance. My 7 year-old did many of the projects with us and did need help.

For anyone looking for additional resources that are more than toilet paper tube arm cuffs and construction paper collars, I suggest you also try:
Make History: Ancient Egypt : Re-Create Authentic Jewelry, Toys, and Other Crafts from Another Place and Time (Make History)

Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt: Projects and Activities That Bring the Past to Life (Spend The Day Series)

and if cooking is your thing
Cooking in Ancient Civilizations (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series) is awesome (but pricey), especially if you will also be studying other ancients like the Greeks and Romans. We held a "feast day" at the end of our unit and the kids loved the food! They are now asking for these recipes again!

This book fits in with the 6th grade Ohio Social Studies curriculum, and every school library needs it. Not only are there a lot of projects that are quite easy to do (no supplies that would be hard to get, no special expertise needed) there is a lot of well-researched information about each of the projects. Vocabulary in listed, as well as little known facts. Useful and fun to read as well!