Lesson Plan - The Secrets of the Nile

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will read about the recent discovery of the Ahramat branch of the Nile in Egypt and how it affects researchers’ prior understanding of how the Pyramids of Giza were constructed.

Curriculum Connections

• Ancient Egypt 

• Pyramids of Giza 

• Nile River 

• Deserts 

• Archaeology 

• Satellite Technology 

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Identify key details about the role of the Nile in ancient Egyptian culture 

• Explore how modern technology enables researchers to revise their understanding of the past 

• Analyze physical maps 

English Language Arts:

• Paraphrase information 

• Identify author’s purpose 

• Analyze key details 

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.3, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.5, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.3, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.5, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9, W.6-8.4 

Essential Questions

  • How did people in ancient times rely on and use natural resources?
  • How does modern technology impact research about the past?
  • Why do people investigate ancient cultures?

1. Preparing to Read

Build Background Knowledge

Before reading the article, pose this question: What are the benefits of living near a big river? Students can think, pair, and share their ideas with the class.

Preview Vocabulary

Use the skill builder Words to Know to preteach the domain-specific terms civilization, climate change, fertile, inhospitable, and sediment. Have students refer to the skill builder as they read.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they are unsure of.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• Paraphrase what Nick Marriner means when he says the discovery “completes an important part of the past landscape puzzle.” (Paraphrasing)
Nick Marriner means that the discovery answers a question that researchers have long wondered about. It helps researchers better understand what the landscape near the pyramids in Egypt was like during ancient times and how the landscape influenced where the pyramids were built.

• Give at least two reasons why researchers want to continue studying the region around the Ahramat branch. (Key Details)
Researchers want to continue to study the region because they suspect the Ahramat branch may have stretched farther south and that the Nile may have had other ancient branches. They also suspect that the region may hold clues about how ancient Egyptians adapted to their changing environment.

3. Skill Building

Analyze a Physical Map

Find the “Your Turn” activity at the end of the article. As a class, read the description about physical maps. Then analyze the map and the inset map. Have students work independently or in pairs to answer the questions. For more map-reading practice, share the skill builder Physical Map.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.

Differentiate and Customize

For Researchers: Prompt students to create a KWL chart about the Nile, recording what they know (K) and wonder (W). Direct students to research the Nile at Kids.Britannica.com. Then have them record five facts they learned (L).

For Climate Change Activists: Invite students to read “A Desert Goes Green” at JS ONLINE. Ask: What is the Great Green Wall? How are humans working to combat climate change? Then have students draw connections between the articles.

Printable Lesson Plan

Interactive Slide Deck

Text-to-Speech