β All ancient topics
How did ancient people measure time?
Shadows, water and sand
Have you ever wondered how people knew when to meet friends before clocks were invented?
1/5
- Long ago
Watching shadows
Ancient people noticed that shadows move as the sun travels across the sky. They stuck a stick in the ground to watch the shadow shift!
The big idea
Long ago, clever people used nature like the sun, water, and sand to count the hours.
Fun facts
- β¨ Ancient Egyptians made water clocks so they could tell time inside dark temples.
- β¨ The word 'clock' comes from an old word that means bell!
- β¨ Sailors used sand hourglasses on ships because water would slosh around in the waves.
Science words
- Sundial β A tool that uses the sun's shadow to show what time it is.
- Hourglass β A glass timer filled with sand that trickles from top to bottom.
- Mechanical β Made with moving machine parts like gears, wheels, and springs.