Lesson 2 - Farming
WALT: understand that most Ancient Egyptians were farmers and explain the vital importance of the Nile for farmers.
At the end of the lesson, you will:
- Understand the role of the Nile in Egyptian civilization.
- Know the agricultural calendar and activities of Ancient Egyptian farmers.
- Be familiar with the technology used by Ancient Egyptians to manage the Nile's waters, such as nilometers.
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Slide 1: Slide
This lesson contains 13 slides, with interactive quiz, text slides and 1 video.
Items in this lesson
WALT: understand that most Ancient Egyptians were farmers and explain the vital importance of the Nile for farmers.
At the end of the lesson, you will:
- Understand the role of the Nile in Egyptian civilization.
- Know the agricultural calendar and activities of Ancient Egyptian farmers.
- Be familiar with the technology used by Ancient Egyptians to manage the Nile's waters, such as nilometers.
Slide 1 - Slide
What can you remember from the previous lesson?
Slide 2 - Mind map
The significance of the Nile River
Most Ancient Egyptian men were farmers residing in villages along the Nile, which was crucial for their civilization. They used channels to irrigate their fields and relied on annual floods to enrich the soil.
Slide 3 - Slide
Agriculture and seasonal cycles
The farming year was divided into three seasons: the akhet from June to September, the peret (growing season) from Oct to Feb, & the shemu (harvesting season) from March to May.
Slide 4 - Slide
Agriculture and seasonal cycles
During the akhet, when fields were flooded, farmers repaired tools, tended to animals, worked on construction projects, or served in the army.
Slide 5 - Slide
Agriculture and seasonal cycles
The second season of the year was Peret, the season of emergence. After the floodwaters of the Nile receded, the floodplains were damp and nutrient-rich, making it the perfect time to plant crops. Peret was the time of year during which farmers planted crops and crops began to grow.
Slide 6 - Slide
Agriculture and seasonal cycles
Shemu was known as The Harvesting Season.The fully grown crops had to be cut down (harvested) and removed before the Nile flooded again. It was also the time to repair the canals ready for the next flood.
Slide 7 - Slide
Slide 8 - Video
Activity One
Fill in the Ancient Egyptian Calendar with pictures that match the seasons of the farming year.
Slide 9 - Slide
Ancient Egyptian technologies
Nilometers were used to measure the Nile's water levels, varying from simple columns to sophisticated systems in temples.
Slide 10 - Slide
Ancient Egyptian technologies
Farmers used a mechanism called a shaduf to help them lift quantities of water from the river onto their fields.A shaduf is a large pole balanced on a crossbeam, with a rope and bucket on one end and a heavy counterweight at the other. By pulling the rope it lowered the bucket into the canal. The farmer then raised the bucket of water using the weight.
Slide 11 - Slide
Ancient Egyptian technologies
He then swung the pole around and emptied the bucket onto the field. This mechanism meant that he could move larger/heavier quantities of water at any one time. It used gravity (a force acting on the heavy weight) and counterbalance (like a seesaw).
Slide 12 - Slide
Activity Two
Work in small groups to construct a shaduf. You can use:
Remember: The bucket needs to be able to move up & down & to be swiveled sideways for emptying.
- Wood or Lego (or another construction kit) to make the wooden frame
- Clay, Blutack or Plasticine to make the counterweight.
- Plastic egg box for the bucket
- String for the rope.
