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Oral Reading Record: Egyptian Pyramids (408 words)
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Egyptian Pyramids
Ancient Egypt was a very innovative society. The
Egyptians made many contributions to the science and
technology of the modern world. These innovations
changed the way agriculture, communication, and
architecture were practised. They also helped to shape the
Egyptians’ spiritual beliefs.
About 7000 years ago, people started farming in Egypt.
They farmed in the valley around the Nile River. The
surrounding area was mostly desert, but the Nile Valley
was fertile. Every summer the Nile flooded, leaving
behind a layer of rich soil that allowed farmers to grow
crops such as figs, dates, and wheat. The people of Egypt
grew wealthy as they traded these items with other
nations.
The Egyptians developed a kind of picture writing called
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hieroglyphics to record both the goods they traded and
Egyptian history. They wrote on material made from the
papyrus reed, which grew along the banks of the Nile. Our
word paper comes from papyrus.
The ancient Egyptians were skilled builders who
constructed the giant pyramids at Giza. These were tombs
for their pharaohs. The pyramids are still some of the
largest structures on Earth. It’s amazing that the Egyptians
were able to build them without modern machinery.
Archeologists, people who study old civilizations, think
the Egyptians used a system of pulleys, ramps, and levers
to move and position the large blocks of stone they used
in their constructions. Even with these tools, the builders
would have needed thousands of workers to complete the
pyramids.
Each pyramid had a burial room where the pharaoh’s
body would be laid. In the room, the Egyptians placed
food and other everyday objects. Items such as boats that
were too large to fit into the pyramid were represented by
carvings that were placed in the tomb. The Egyptians
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believed the pharaoh would need these things in the
afterlife.
When the pharaoh died, his or her body was mummified.
It took 70 days to make a mummy. First, the Egyptians
washed the body with salt water. Then they dried it in salt
and packed it with sawdust. They also rubbed it with oils.
Next, they wrapped it in linen and put amulets, or charms,
on it to protect the pharaoh from harm. Finally, they put a
mask over the face. They always laid a pharaoh inside a
gold coffin.
A mummy could last thousands of years. We have learned
a lot about ancient Egypt from mummies and the
pyramids that were built for them.
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