UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China Block D: Technology
Investigate the Shang bronze manufacturing process and the amazing Shang bronze vessels. Create
your own vessels and set up your own museum to explain how bronze vessels were made in the Shang
period; write museum labels and information boards and make presentations to visitors to your
classroom.
Block D: Shang Dynasty Technology
[7 Sessions]
Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: Art, D&T, English and Science
By the end of this block you will have
achieved the following outcomes:
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Session 1: History and Art
Take one object
Address and devise historically valid
questions about change, cause,
similarity and difference, and
significance.
Session 2: History and Art
Decoration
Know and understand significant
aspects of the history of the wider
world: the nature of ancient
civilisations; characteristic features of
past non-European societies.
Use a sketchbook and gain an
increasing awareness of different kinds
of art, craft and design.
Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider
world: the nature of ancient civilisations; characteristic features of past
non-European societies.
They should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful
selection and organisation of relevant historical information.
Address and devise historically valid questions about change, cause,
similarity and difference, and significance.
An in-depth study of The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
Gain an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing,
painting and sculpture with a range of materials
Use a sketchbook
Prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a
range of cooking techniques
Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play,
improvisations and debates
Identify the audience for and purpose of writing, selecting the
appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own
Demonstrate that dissolving, mixing and changes of state are reversible
changes
Children will:
 Devise and address research questions
 Explain the range of bronze vessels made in the Shang Dynasty
 Make annotated sketches in their sketchbooks
Children will:
 Explain why certain decorative features were used on Shang bronze
vessels
 Make sketches of decoration on bronze vessels in a sketchbook
 Annotate their sketches
© 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 Shang Dynasty of Ancient China Block D: Technology
Children will:
Session 3: History, English and Art
Context
Understand how our knowledge of the
past is constructed from a range of
sources. Participate in discussions,
presentations, performances, role play,
improvisations and debates. Learn to
use a sketchbook.
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Session 4: History and Art
Children will:
 Explain how bronze vessels were made in the Shang period
 Use sketches to decide how to decorate their sculpture
 Use clay to create a sculpture
Form
Know and understand significant
aspects of the history of the wider
world: the nature of ancient
civilisations; characteristic features of
past non-European societies. Improve
their mastery of art and design
techniques, including drawing, painting
and sculpture with a range of materials
Session 5: History and Art
Process
Know and understand significant
aspects of the history of the wider
world: the nature of ancient
civilisations; characteristic features of
past non-European societies. Improve
their mastery of art and design
techniques, including drawing, painting
and sculpture with a range of materials
Session 6: History, D&T and Science
Make
Know and understand significant
aspects of the history of the wider
world: the nature of ancient
civilisations; characteristic features of
past non-European societies. Prepare
and cook a variety of predominantly
savoury dishes using a range of cooking
techniques. Demonstrate that
dissolving, mixing and changes of state
are reversible changes
Explore what we know from different types of evidence
Act out how a Shang Dynasty ceremony might have happened
Do an imaginative sketch of a Shang Dynasty ceremony
Children will:
 Explain how bronze vessels were made in the Shang period
 Make a mould from a blank
 Sketch from life or imagination
Children will:
 Explain how bronze vessels were made in the Shang period
 Predict whether changes of state are reversible
 Follow instructions to make jelly, ice lollies or chocolate
© 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 Shang Dynasty of Ancient China Block D: Technology
Children will:
Session 7: History and English
 Explain how bronze vessels were made in the Shang period
Presentation
They should construct informed
responses that involve thoughtful
selection and organisation of relevant
historical information. Identify the
audience for and purpose of writing,
selecting the appropriate form and
using other similar writing as models for
their own. Participate in discussions,
presentations, performances, role play,
improvisations and debates
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Write museum labels and information boards
Make presentations to visitors to the classroom
Resources
Session 1
Provided: PowerPoint presentation on a Shang bronze vessel; How to use a sketchbook; Information
about bronze vessels in the Shang Dynasty.
You will need: Access to the internet.
Session 2
Provided: PowerPoint presentation of Shang Dynasty bronze vessel; PowerPoint presentation of
decoration on Shang bronzes; Information sheet covering details of decoration on bronze vessels;
Information sheet on How to annotate a sketch.
You will need:
Session 3
Provided: Story of how bronze objects were used; PowerPoint presentation about evidence of
inscriptions and excavations; Framework for an improvisation; Some images of bronzes being used in
the Shang Dynasty.
You will need: Props such as books, pencil holders etc.
Session 4
Provided: Information sheet on different types of bronze vessels to be used as sorting cards;
PowerPoint presentation of different types of bronze vessels sorted into categories; Information sheet
on How to make a blank.
You will need: Air-drying clay, sculpting tools.
Session 5
Provided: Information sheet on How to make a mould.
You will need: Air-drying clay, sculpting tools, paper.
© 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 Shang Dynasty of Ancient China Block D: Technology
Session 6
Provided: How to remove the moulds from the blanks; How to cast using water, jelly and chocolate;
How to create a museum display.
You will need: Access to a kitchen, hob, freezer, fridge; Cold and warm water, jelly, squash, cooking
chocolate, Plastic film, lolly sticks.
Session 7
Provided: How to write labels; How to write an information board.
You will need: Visitors!
© 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.