Stone Age to Iron Age

Explore Prehistoric Britain with Stone Age to Iron Age KS2 Lessons

Take your class on an incredible journey through prehistoric Britain with this ready-to-teach Stone Age to Iron Age KS2 History scheme of work for Years 3 and 4. Across seven engaging lessons, children will discover how life in Britain changed over thousands of years, from the earliest hunter-gatherers of the Stone Age to the farming communities, technological developments and settlements of the Bronze Age and Iron Age.

Beginning with an introduction to prehistory and archaeological evidence, children will investigate how early humans lived during the Palaeolithic period before exploring the changing landscapes and communities of Mesolithic Britain. They will discover how farming transformed life during the Neolithic period, investigate the mysteries of Stonehenge and explore how the discovery and use of bronze and iron changed the way people lived, worked and built their communities.

Throughout these Stone Age Year 3 and 4 lessons, children will develop their historical enquiry skills by examining archaeological discoveries, artefacts, ancient monuments and written accounts. From the submerged landscape of Doggerland and the Mesolithic settlement at Star Carr to Bronze Age burial practices and Iron Age homes, they will build a deeper understanding of chronology, continuity and change.

Perfect for teaching changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, this complete KS2 History scheme provides detailed lesson plans, teaching slides, differentiated activities and assessment opportunities to help you bring thousands of years of British prehistory to life.

What children will learn

• understand what prehistory means and identify the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age on a timeline

• investigate how archaeologists use evidence to discover what life was like in prehistoric Britain

• explore the lives of early humans and hunter-gatherers during the Palaeolithic period

• discover how Britain's landscape changed after the last Ice Age and investigate Mesolithic life at Star Carr

• explain how the development of farming transformed communities during the Neolithic period

• investigate Stonehenge and what archaeological evidence reveals about prehistoric life

• explore how bronze tools, technology and settlements changed life during the Bronze Age

• discover how ironworking developed and investigate homes and communities in Iron Age Britain

• compare the three prehistoric periods and explain how life in Britain changed over time

What's included

This complete seven-lesson Stone Age to Iron Age KS2 scheme of work includes everything you need to plan, teach and assess your History unit:

• 7 detailed lesson plans with clear learning objectives, teaching guidance and engaging activities

• Ready-to-teach presentation slides to introduce key historical knowledge and guide classroom discussions

• Differentiated worksheets and activities to support adaptive teaching

• Printable teaching resources, including picture cards, information sheets, timeline activities and historical source materials

• A knowledge organiser featuring key vocabulary, facts, a prehistoric timeline and historical enquiry questions

• Assessment opportunities, including an assessment grid and end-of-unit quiz to check children's understanding

All resources are supplied as downloadable PDFs, ready to use in your Year 3 or Year 4 classroom.