This week was a busy week with lots of exciting History lessons. We covered 3 different areas of prehistory in Britain: the Neolithic period, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
The Neolithic period: When studying this period we covered farming and focused on the Big Question: Why did people begin farming if it actually made their lives harder? To begin with Year 3 looked at the differences of this period in comparison to other periods in the Stone Age. The Neolithic period brought many changes including permanent settlements as people gave up their nomadic life styles and began to farm their food. We discovered that farming had some negatives such as causing more work for people and conflicts over land territory. However, farming ensured that everyone had a reliable supply of food and even surplus which could be used throughout the year. This was much better than hunting and gathering as it ensured everyone had enough to eat. Many other things could be made from crops and livestock such as flour from wheat and leather from animal skins. We completed a table activity listing out the pros and cons of farming and then answered the big question based on what we had learnt at the end!
The Bronze Age: During the Bronze Age people found out how to make tools out of a metal alloy called bronze. We explored how bronze was made, how it transformed the way people lived and the tools they used. Bronze was stronger, more durable and could be sharpened to make much better tools such as sickles, swords and arrow heads. Bronze was also lighter and easier to shape than stone. The class created an advert for bronze tools to explain why they are better than stone tools people previously used!
The Iron Age: The Iron Age was a very important period in British History. In this lesson, we watched a special video about how archaeologists have used what was found on Britain’s biggest Iron Age Hill fort, Maiden Castle to learn more about Iron Age life. Hill forts were where clans lived together in round houses to protect themselves from other tribes. Roundhouses were homes with thatched pointy roofs and wattle and daub walls. Many people had different jobs such as metal workers making iron tools, carpenters and pottery makers. Everyone did a fantastic job explaining what life in a hill fort was like and why Iron Age people needed to defend themselves.
Well done for all of your hard work this week Year 3!
Was was your favourite History lesson this week?
Looks fun year 3!
It was about the Iron Age, because I liked learning about their way of life and to learn how to make iron.
I loved learning about the Iron Age. It was so fun.
My favourite period was the Iron Age because we got to learn about hill forts. I learnt
that people used hill forts to defend them self from other tribes!