Ancient Egyptians walked to the Nile to fetch water in clay jars. Today, you just turn a faucet and clean water pours out! But guess what — that water still comes from rivers, lakes, and underground, just like in ancient times. People still need rivers.
Big cities today often sit next to rivers, just like Egyptian towns sat beside the Nile. Rivers still carry boats full of goods. Farmers still water their crops with river water. Some things never change!
The Nile still flows through Egypt today. In 1970, Egypt finished building the Aswan High Dam, which holds back the flood waters. Now the river does not flood every year like it did long ago — people control the water instead.
1. How did ancient Egyptians get their water?
2. How do you get water at your house?
3. What does the Aswan High Dam do?
Write THEN if it describes ancient Egypt, or NOW if it describes today. Careful — one might be BOTH!
| Statement | THEN, NOW, or BOTH? |
|---|---|
| Carrying water from the river in clay jars | |
| Getting water from a faucet | |
| The Nile floods every single year | |
| A dam controls the Nile's water | |
| People need rivers for water and food |
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
Your mission: Count the ways your family uses water in one day.
Write each way you use water in the table below.
| How we used water today | Did Egyptians do this too? (YES/NO) |
|---|---|
1. What is one way your life with water is EASIER than an Egyptian kid's life?
2. Why do you think people still build cities near rivers today?