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Bronze Age KS2

 

This Bronze Age KS2 History lesson for Year 3 and Year 4 explores how life in prehistoric Britain had changed as the Bronze Age dawned. Your class will find out about the bronze-making process, as well as exploring Bronze Age tools, weapons, building materials and other objects. In their independent activities, your children then explore the life of a Bronze Age sword, from mining the metals to being placed in the sacred marsh when its chief owner dies. Alternatively, they can find out what life might have been like for a child living in the Bronze Age.

This Bronze Age KS2 History lesson includes:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities

This lesson is part of our The Prehistoric World (Stone Age to Iron Age) Cross-Curricular Topic for Year 3 and Year 4.

Bronze Age KS2 Lesson Pack

£2.99

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Bronze Age KS2 slideshow example 1
Bronze Age KS2 slideshow example 2
Bronze Age KS2 slideshow example 3
Bronze Age KS2 slideshow example 4
Bronze Age KS2 slideshow example 5
Bronze Age KS2 slideshow example 6
Bronze Age KS2 worksheet example 1
Bronze Age KS2 worksheet example 2
Bronze Age KS2 lesson plan example 1
Hookney Tor, Dartmoor, Devon

The Bronze Age

When was the Bronze Age?

Prehistory is split into three main categories, based on developing technologies and the materials people used at the time: Stone, Bronze and Iron. The Bronze Age comes after the Stone Age, but before the Iron Age.

Prehistory timeline

The Bronze Age began c. 3300 BCE in the Middle East, spreading across Europe, North Africa and Asia. It reached Britain c. 2100 BCE, and lasted around 1,500 years.

Why is it called the Bronze Age?

The Bronze Age was a period of time where people moved on from using stone to using bronze as their main material for making tools and weapons. Different civilisations across the world learnt how to make bronze from travellers coming from other lands and sharing their knowledge and skills. As a result, swords, armour, tools and building materials could then be made from bronze, making them stronger and more durable than before.

What is bronze?

Bronze is made up of at least two metals, usually copper and tin. These metals are heated to a very high temperature until they melt. They are then mixed to make a new metal – bronze. Whilst still hot, it can be poured into moulds to make objects.

 

Molten copper and tin being poured into moulds to make bronze objects.

Molten copper and tin being poured into moulds to make bronze objects

Bronze Age Facts

  • During this period, people began to settle in one place and farm the land. They built permanent circular huts from timber and stone, with walls made from wattle and daub (interwoven sticks and twigs covered with mud and clay). They were known as roundhouses.
  • Irrigation systems were developed during the Bronze Age (e.g. canals, dams, ditches). This meant that water could be supplied from nearby rivers to crops more easily to help them grow.
  • Cereals that were grown, such as wheat and barley, formed part of the Bronze Age diet. Sheep, cattle and pigs were domesticated, and were a source of meat, in addition to the wild animals they continued to hunt, such as boar and deer. They also continued to gather foods like berries and mushrooms.
  • People had learned to tame horses. They were used for travel, either via horseback or by pulling wooden carts containing people and goods. For longer distances, people travelled in long wooden boats. They visited other lands in order to trade goods.
  • Long tunics made from wool were worn by both men and women. People also wore hats, belts, cloaks and leather shoes. Pieces of bronze jewellery, such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings, were worn by women as a symbol of wealth.

 

An illustration of a small Bronze Age settlement

An illustration of a small Bronze Age settlement

When should children learn about the Bronze Age?

According to the National Curriculum History objectives, children should be taught about:

  • changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the iron Age

Non-statutory examples could include: Bronze Age religion, technology and travel, for example, Stonehenge

 

Don't forget to take a look at our Prehistoric World: Stone Age to Iron Age cross-curricular topic, which includes 18 ready-to-teach lessons covering the following subjects: History, Art, DT, Science, Computing and PE.