Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and contemporary art inspire students to create their own visual language through personal symbols.

Jessica “Jess” Beach

Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs to record everything from notable events to everyday life. Students begin by digging in sand to discover images of artifacts with this beautiful writing. I selected six school-appropriate ancient Egyptian knowledge cards for each table to discover. Then they explore a virtual 3D tour of a tomb covered in hieroglyphs. What could be more exciting to an artist than an entire language built on pictures?

Students explore Ryan McGinnessʼs bold, icon-based work. In Art History is Not Linear, he uses symbols to interpret 200 pieces of artwork from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ collection. His panels help students see that visual language remains relevant today.

Students then learn about the role of the Rosetta Stone in deciphering hieroglyphs and take on the challenge to invent their own code-breaking grid. Rather than translating existing hieroglyphs, they create a personalized system of symbols that represents their identity.

Students begin by brainstorming a list of people, interests, and experiences they care about. Then our scribes assign a pictorial symbol to each word. A sun could symbolize their love of being outside, while a paint palette might express their favorite class in school (wink). Animals, food, sports, movies… the list grows as students reflect on the things they like and what makes them who they are. Some choices are simple, such as a favorite color, while others may go deeper emotionally, such as the loss of a loved one or pet. If you let students express however they need to, this could lead to the most genuine work they create.

Students fill in a blank alphabet grid and decide what images they will use. It is important to emphasize that the alphabet does not need to directly match the letter it represents (unless you want your code to be easy to break). Some students may choose an apple for the “A” block, while others may move beyond alphabetical thinking and focus on creating significant symbols tied to their favorite things in life. Through this process, students strengthen their editing skills while also building a catalog of meaningful marks. The completed sheet becomes an artistic autobiography, with each collection of symbols representing one student’s unique story.

After each personal alphabet is complete, the lights grow dim in the art room. Each student receives one oil pastel and one flashlight. Working beneath their tables like scribes, they leave secret messages. Yes—they write directly on the tables. (Donʼt worry, oil pastels are easy to clean up.) This moment adds excitement and immersion while physically relating to the work of ancient Egyptian scribes. Students often write simple but meaningful phrases like “Art is fire,” then challenge a classmate to decode the message using their grid.

The project can end here, as the process itself has immense value, but it can also expand in many directions. Students could create self-portraits with hieroglyphic backgrounds or build three-dimensional “archaeological rooms” filled with clay artifacts carved with their symbols for future civilizations to discover. You could also do this as a beginning-of-the-year lesson and have a resource for students to pull ideas from year-round.

The Rosetta Remix allows anyone to find joy in writing, and itʼs nice not to hear groaning for once when you say, “Now write more!” Students begin to see language in a whole new light. Rather than simply mimicking ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, they discover why hieroglyphs exist in the first place. By creating symbols rooted in their own lives and experiences, they tell stories in a deeply personal way.

This remains one of my favorite lessons. It connects beautifully to history while empowering each child to make art that matters to them. It also reminds us that visual art has endured for thousands of years because it tells our stories. Now, go use it to tell yours!

Jessica “Jess” Beach has been an elementary art educator for eighteen years and serves as president of the Warrenton Arts Commission. She was named VAEA Elementary Art Teacher of the Year in 2013 and a VAEA Distinguished Fellow in 2023. Follow her at @ArtfulMsBeach. jessicabeach4@gmail.com

Rosetta Remix: Creating Your Own Hieroglyphic Language