UKS2 Topic: Stone Age to Iron Age Block C: From Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers
Learn about the course of events that might have led Stone-Age people to move from hunting and gathering to farming. Demonstrate your knowledge to other children through performance and an informative display.
Block C: From Hunter-
Gatherers to Farmers
[6 sessions]
By the end of this block you will have achieved the following outcomes:
Session 1: History and D&T
Introduction to the
Mesolithic
Research the fascinating
Mesolithic hunter-gatherer way of life.
Session 2: History , D&T and English
Focus on Star Carr
Focus on the Mesolithic settlement Star Carr; design a model and roleplay a day in the life of the
Star Carr people.
Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: D&T and English

Chn should develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British history.

Chn should address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.

Chn should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

Chn should use research to inform the design of functional products that are fit for purpose.
 Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, and prototypes.

Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.
 Develop design criteria; select from and use a wide range of materials; build structures; evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.

Participate in role play.

Participate in discussion.
 Participate in performances, role play, and improvisations.
 Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas.
Children will

Understand where the Mesolithic and Neolithic appears on the timeline.

Address/generate questions and hypotheses about what people hunted and gathered and do some research to find out.
 Make a list of materials that would have been available to Mesolithic people to build with.
Children will
 Address/generate questions about what they want to know about Star Carr to be able to reconstruct it.

Research Star Carr.

Design a model of Star Carr including stating what materials and technology they could use for making structures stand up.
 Role-play a day in the life of Star Carr.
© 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: Stone Age to Iron Age Block C: From Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers
Session 3: History and
English
Origins of agriculture
Learn about the origins of agriculture and its spread
to Britain.
Session 4: History and D&T
Focus on Skara Brae
Research the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae; design a model and roleplay a day in the life of the people.
Session 5: D&T and English
Design and build Star Carr or Skara Brae
Build and evaluate a model of either Star Carr or Skara
Brae.
Session 6 History and
English
Hunter-gatherers to farmers display
Make an informative display of your models for other children; role-play the course of events that might have led to huntergatherers taking up farming.
Children will

Understand when and where agriculture was invented and how and when it spread to Britain.

Generate questions and hypotheses about what other changes might come with agriculture and do some research to find out.

Make a list of new technology and materials that farmers would have had that hunter-gatherers wouldn't.

Speculate about which was the harder way of life, hunting and gathering or farming
Children will

Generate questions about what they want to know about Skara Brae to be able to reconstruct it.
 Research Skara Brae.
 Design a model of Skara Brae including stating what materials and techniques they could use for making structures stand up.

Role-play a day in the life of Skara Brae.
Children will
 Write a list of criteria that will demonstrate a successful model.
 Build a model of Star Carr or Skara Brae.

Evaluate their model based on the success criteria.

Discuss the success of their models with partners/the class.
Children will

Create a display of the models in class or hall with written labels to allow other classes to view.
 Imagine and role-play the course of events that might have lead huntergatherers to take up farming and present this as a performance to other classes.
© 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: Stone Age to Iron Age Block C: From Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers
Session 1
Provided: Mesolithic materials and techniques guide.
You will need: Laptops/headphones (to watch video); Copy of 10 things you should know about the
Mesolithic (from weblink in lesson).
Session 2
Provided: Star Carr question pyramid; Star Carr information sheet; Diagram of Mesolithic house.
You will need:
Session 3
Provided: The Neolithic revolution information sheets.
You will need:
Session 4
Provided: Blank Bloom’s taxonomy pyramid (question pyramid); Diagram of Skara Brae.
You will need: Computers with internet access.
Session 5
Provided: Example success criteria; Mesolithic and Neolithic building guide.
You will need: Materials for building, e.g. sticks of varying widths and lengths, straw, dry grass, pieces of leatherette, string, air-drying clay made into square stone blocks, fresh clay.
Session 6
Provided: Resources and work from previous sessions; Debate resource.
You will need: Tablets or video cameras.
© 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.