Author: Melissa Travis

Bulla Project

A Roman necklace used to bring protection and good luck until adulthood—can be worn during tests and quizzes!

MCMLXXX

Magistra Travis

Directions
Collect items for bulla.
Cut design of bulla from paper.
Fold felt over and cut a double image of bulla.
Decorate outside of bulla with child’s Name , adjectives describing them, and Symbol.
Insert string through loop made by felt and tie.
Insert symbolic items into bulla circle.
Glue edges of bulla with fabric glue to form a pouch and press firmly.
Allow to dry.
Adjectives
Pulcher, pulchra—beautiful
Audax—bold
Acer– fierce, sharp, smart
Fortis– brave
Benignus, benigna—kind
Altus, alta– tall
Parvus, parva– small
Quietus, quieta—quiet
See me for more adjectives!!

Materials Needed:
1 felt square of any color
Fabric glue
Scissors
18” string or woolen twine
Images of importance to child or family
Symbolic materials to include in bulla
*For more authentic version, cover felt with tin foil and use a toothpick to decorate the outside of the bulla!
Symbolic Items:
Religious symbol
Corn, wheat, rice— abundance
Penny—prosperity
Acorn or seed—growth
Flower or smiley face—happiness
Olive branch or peace symbol—peace
Book—knowledge
Heart—Love
Clover— good luck/ fortune
*Make it more fun by mixing ancient and modern symbols!
Please send images or small items in a Ziploc bag with your child’s name on it.

Images for Bulla
You may use any symbol of importance to your family or child’s name.
You may use symbols that represent Ancient Rome
You may allow your child to draw their own design.
Ancient Roman
Symbols
Column
Laurel wreath
Bundle of sticks or Fasces
Image of god/ goddess of birth month
Lares and Penates (Household Gods)
She-wolf
Eagles
Snakes
Roman Numerals (Birth Year)
Jewelry/ clothing
Coins
Please ask for more ideas!

Bulla Project

Part 1 - Choosing the Material for your Bulla
A. The Pendant—The pendant for this bulla can be made of two aluminum or plastic bottle caps. A good example of a cap to choose would be from a Snapple bottle, a milk jug, or something roughly the same size. Note: The caps need to be the same size because they will be placed together in the upcoming steps.
B. The cord— The cord should be a some sort of cotton twine or yarn. However, the Romans would have used a linen or wool cord, but that is a little too expensive for this project.
II. Part 2— Placing the Charms in the Bulla
The charms that are placed in the bulla should be anything that maybe brings you luck or something that you hold sentimental. Here are some suggestions:
Religious symbol
Corn, wheat, rice— abundance
Penny—prosperity
Acorn or seed—growth
Flower or smiley face—happiness
Olive branch or peace symbol—peace
Book—knowledge
Heart—Love
Clover— good luck/ fortune
*Make it more fun by mixing ancient and modern symbols!
III. Part 3—Attaching the cord to the Bulla
For this step, you will need either a superglue or strong adhesive to glue the cord to the bulla.
1. Cut the cord to about 18 in. or long enough to hang from your neck, but not too long to where it falls in the soup.
2. Place the bulla with the caps together in the middle of the cord.
3. Spread the adhesive around the crease of the caps.
4. Quickly line the cord around the caps on the crease like the illustration below.
5. After the glue dries and the cord is held firmly, knot the cord at the top of the bulla and tie the two ends together.
Paint bulla gold now or after adding surface designs.
IV. Part 4—Decorate the Bulla
On the front side:
Name in Latin
Symbol
Decorative edge
Smaller symbols if size permits
On the back side:
Characteristics describing you all around the edge
Other symbols to represent your life/family/ambitions/personality
Remember to keep everything on your bulla positive. All adjectives are masculine, so change to -a for feminine. If an adjective is marked with *, it can be m. or f
V. Part 5—Explanation
In short essay explaining why you chose the specific design on your bulla. List the items included in your bulla and what they represent. If you did research, cite the sources you used.
Describe in your own words what a bulla was, who wore one and why.
Find at least 3 sources to cite for full points.

English	Latin
Artistic	artifex*
Beautiful	Formosus
Charming	Venustus
Daring	Audax
Happy	Beatus
Imaginative	Ingeniosus
Kind	Benignus
Noble	Nobilis
Proud	Superbus
Shy	Timidus
Sleepy	Semisomnus
Talkative	Loquax
Unassuming	Modestus

Bulla Project

Name ______________________ Date ______________________
Level of Latin _______________ Period _____________________

CATEGORY	25 Points	20 Points	15 Points	10 Points	5 Points	0 Points
Design	Bulla is neat and clean. Lettering is easy to read. Bulla is attractive. Bulla expresses significance in the Roman world. Bulla contains at least 3 adjectives	Bulla is neat and clean. Lettering is easy to read. Bulla is attractive. Bulla expresses significance in the Roman world. Bulla contains at least 2 adjectives	Bulla is neat and clean. Lettering is easy to read. Bulla is attractive. Bulla contains at least one adjective.	Bulla is neat and clean and lettering is easy to read. No adjectives are present.	Bulla is neat and clean.	There is no apparent design to the bulla. Instructions were not followed.
Creativity	Bulla is the right size and color and is decorated on the outside. Bulla contains at least 4 good luck tokens.	Bulla is the right size and color and is decorated on the outside. Bulla contains at least 3 good luck tokens.	Bulla is the right size and color and is decorated on the outside. Bulla contains at least 2 good luck tokens.	Bulla is the right size and color and is decorated on the outside. Bulla contains at least 1 good luck token.	Bulla is the right size and color.	No creativity is expressed in the bulla.
Execution	Extreme effort in work is very obvious. Bulla is made of durable material. Cord is securely attached.	Great effort in work is very obvious. Bulla is made of durable material. Cord is securely attached.	Effort in work is very obvious. Bulla is made of durable material. Cord is securely attached.	Effort in work is obvious. Bulla is made of durable material. Cord is securely attached.	Effort in work is somewhat obvious. Bulla is made of durable material.	Effort in work is not obvious.
Explanation	At least a paragraph of explanation of the Bulla is presented with the project. At least three sources are cited.	At least a paragraph of explanation of the Bulla is presented with the project. At least two sources are cited.	At least a paragraph of explanation of the Bulla is presented with the project. At least one source is cited.	At least a paragraph of explanation of the Bulla is presented with the project. No sources are cited.	Brief explanation of Bulla is submitted with project.	There is no explanation of a Bulla present.

Total Score ______________________________________________________
Comments _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Name: Ms. Travis Student Name: ________________________________________