5.1 Uses of the Nile River

pp. 101 -104

Essential Question: How does geography

influence the way people live?

Standards 6.15 and 6.19

3 days

Part 1

Success Criteria

• I can describe geographic features

of Upper Egypt that protected and

isolated Egypt.

• I can describe geographic features

of Lower Egypt that protected and

isolated Egypt.

• I can explain how the farming cycle

led to the invention of the calendar.

Vocabulary

• Isolate

• Predictable

• Silt

• Drought

• Harvest

Napata

Meroe

Sahara Desert

Farming cycle is seasonal and based on the Nile River flooding cycle. This cycle

created the first calendar. The Egyptians could predict seasons and use them to

their advantage.

Summer and Fall Winter Spring

“The Inundation” of the

heavy rains.

Nile floods its banks late

in the summer.

The river leaves rich,

black silt after flooding.

Farmers were paid to

work for the pharaoh on

building projects until the

water receded.

The “Emergence” of the

land from the water

covering was from

October to February.

During this time,

Egyptians planted crops

in the rich soil and

captured as much water

as possible in irrigation

ditches.

The “drought” or dry

season is the time of

little rain and the Nile

was at its lowest levels.

Crops were harvested

during this time

• Egyptian Seasons: Farming Cycle Homework

• Due date – Tuesday, Sept. 27

Success Criteria

• I can read the River People Myths.

• I can identify two ways the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

influenced the way that the Mesopotamians lived.

• I can identify two ways the Nile River influenced

Egyptians lived.

• I can write from the perspective of a Mesopotamian or

Egyptian about how I view the gods and the laws of my

land.

Vocabulary:

Inundation Sacred

River People Myths 1st – With your shoulder

partner, chunk and read

aloud by headings.

2nd - Stop after each

heading and summarize

aloud.

A. Mesopotamia: Flood

Myth

B. Egypt: Inundation

Myths

C. Egypt: Creation Myth

D. Codes of Law

E. Egypt: Tale of the

Eloquent Peasant

3rd – Answer #1-6 and

Journal.

Part B

How did geography influence

the way the Egyptians lived?

Success Criteria

True or False:

a. ________Farmers grew crop surpluses, or extra

amounts, that could be stored for future needs or

traded with other kingdoms.

b. ________Irrigation systems allowed farmers to

bring water from the Nile to their fields, increasing

the amount of land that could be used for farming.

c. ________ Egyptians planted and harvested crops

with tools like metal sickles, stone axes, and

shovels.

d. ________Nile River flooding brought rich

nutrients from the river to nearby farmland, making

the land more fertile.

e. ________Farmers rested during the Nile floods.

f. _________Farmers used donkeys to move goods

and oxen to help plow the land.

Vocabulary

• Irrigate

• Innovative

• Shadoof

• Sickles

• Geometry

People of the Nile

Egyptian people also ate fish from the river, but the

Pharaoh never ate fish because it was considered

“unclean” from the Nile waters.

1. The Nile Perch lays

eggs all year, but

mostly during the

rainy season of

summer, especially

June.

2. One fish can lay up

to 16 million eggs

per cycle.

3. They can grow up

to 400 pounds

People of the Nile

Crocodiles thrived in swampy areas like the Delta.

1. These reptile breed in

July.

2. Females build nests in

holes near the river,

but far enough away

that her eggs are safe.

3. She lays 50-60 eggs in

the Fall.

4. In November,

hatchlings emerge.

5. The mother often

carries her babies in

her mouth for their first

swim.

People of the Nile

Nile River Hippos spend most of their lives in the

water.

1. Most female river hippos

get pregnant at the end of

the rainy season in the

Summer.

2. Most births occur in late

Winter or early Spring.

3. Baby hippos are born and

nurse under water.

4. The Greeks called them

“River Horses.”

5. They can be very

dangerous; they kill about

3,000 people / year

Most Egyptians were farmers. They lived in mud-brick one

story houses on small rented plots of land – pharaohs

owned the land

Irrigation Systems helped Egyptians farm during

the dry season

Irrigation Systems

canal basin

Shadoof

Research• Draw and label farming tools and innovative

(new) ideas the Egyptians used in farming.

Turn and Talk• How did geography influence the way the

Egyptians farmed?

True or False:a. ________Farmers grew crop surpluses, or extra amounts, that could be stored for future

needs or traded with other kingdoms.

b. ________Irrigation systems allowed farmers to bring water from the Nile to their fields,

increasing the amount of land that could be used for farming.

c. ________ Egyptians planted and harvested crops with tools like metal sickles, stone

axes, and shovels.

d. ________Nile River flooding brought rich nutrients from the river to nearby farmland,

making the land more fertile.

e. ________Farmers rested during the Nile floods.

f. _________Farmers used donkeys to move goods and oxen to help plow the land.