UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: The Indus Valley Block B: Cities
Be amazed by the cities of the Indus Valley people and learn about the most significant sites and their
construction. Find out about the archaeologists whose discoveries led to the realisation that this ancient
civilisation had existed.
Block B: Indus Valley
Cities [4 sessions]
Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: Geography, Maths and D&T
By the end of this block you
will have achieved the
following outcomes:

Session 1: History and
Geography
Discovery
Learn about the most
significant sites of the Indus
Valley civilisation and mark
them onto a map; find out
about the archaeologists
who did initial work on the
sites of these discoveries
that led to the realisation
that this ancient civilisation
had existed.
Session 2: History and
Maths
Mathematics
Discover how the people of
the Indus Valley were good
mathematicians; construct a
typical Indus Valley brick
shape from a card net; learn
about the use of rulers for
measuring during the Indus
Valley civilisation period.
Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
nature of ancient civilisations; characteristic features of past non-European societies.
 Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between short- and long-term timescales
and understanding the connections between cultural and social history.
 Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used to
make historical claims.
 Locate the world’s countries, concentrating on key physical characteristics and major
cities.
 Use maps to locate countries and describe features studied.
 (Y5) Identify 3D shapes, including cuboids, from 2D representations.
 (Y6) Recognise and build simple 3D shapes, including making nets.
 (Y6) Solve problems involving the relative sizes of two quantities.
 Select from and use a range of materials.
 Apply their understanding of how to strengthen and reinforce more complex
structures.
Children will:
 Name the most significant sites of the Indus Valley civilisation.
 Research information about the archaeologists who did initial work on the sites.
 Show awareness of the significance of the discoveries that led to the realisation that
this ancient civilisation had existed and the archaeologists who discovered them.
Children will:
 Appreciate that the Indus Valley were good mathematicians.
 Construct a typical Indus Valley brick shape from a card net.
 Understand that the use of rulers during the Indus Valley civilisation period indicates
a skilful population.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: The Indus Valley Block B: Cities
Session 3: History and D&T
Houses
Learn about the features of
a typical Indus Valley house
and other buildings that
have been excavated; build
your own model Indus
Valley house.
Session 4: History and D&T
Sanitation
Learn how cleanliness was
important to the Indus
Valley people and how they
created a complex
sanitation system; construct
drains, reservoirs and wells
for the class model Indus
Valley city.
Children will:
 Describe the features of a typical Indus Valley house.
 Describe other buildings that have been excavated.
 Build a model Indus Valley house.
Children will:
 Explain that cleanliness was important to the Indus Valley people.
 Describe the complex sanitation system of the Indus Valley people.
 Construct drains, reservoirs and wells for a model Indus Valley city.
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Images of ruins; Maps.
You will need: Blank maps from Block A, Session 2 (optional); Access to internet; Information books
about the Indus Valley civilisation; Black wool.
Session 2
Provided: Mud Brick table; Examples of city grid system; Plans of cities; Ruler and dice images; Brick
image.
You will need: Thin card (white & brown); Brown paint & brushes if necessary; Rulers; Scissors.
Session 3
Provided: Indus Valley house images; House plans.
You will need: Card, cereal boxes, etc.; Scissors; Glue; Air-dried clay; Brown paints & brushes.
Session 4
Provided: Sanitation images.
You will need: Card, kitchen towel inner cardboard tubes or similar, cereal boxes, etc.; Scissors; Glue;
Air-dried clay; Paints & brushes.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.