About the resources in the Prehistoric Britain Pack
Introduction
This Prehistory topic pack covers the Neolithic (Late Stone), Bronze and Iron Ages in Britain, as laid out in
the Primary National Curriculum. As this is the earliest period of British history that is studied at KS2, the lead
‘information book’ sets the context by first summarising the long period of time before humans first settled. It
then covers the main features of each period, ending with a page introducing the Roman invasion; readying
pupils for the next period of study.
Within this pack, we have also provided detailed information and activities based around three UK sites of
archaeological interest, one for each Age.
Structure of TES iboard History Packs
1) An introductory information/explanation book. This is the backbone of the pack, providing a main
summary of the period, including any relevant crossover with the period before or after.
2) Groups of resources based around a number of architectural sites, famous people or famous events
within the period. These are stand-alone, mini-topics. They contain some standard features
(overview document, matching, sorting and labelling activities, site maps etc) and some specific
lessons (e.g. opportunities for map-drawing, biography/diary writing, debates, report writing). In this
pack the three, mini-topics (each detailed on further pages of this document) are
a. Skara Brae
b. Amesbury Archer
c. Maiden Castle
3) A timeline interactive resource. This can be used for review at the end of the topic and includes clip
art and labels to show the period visually.
Main Resources:
About Prehistoric Britain - Comprehension Books x 2
Introduce the topic using this information book. The first page explains how we know about this
period of history. Several pages follow that set context by summarising the period prior to the Stone
Age / Neolithic Period. The book then covers the three main periods of the topic by summarising the
important features of each. The book includes a short comprehension quiz (an extended quiz is
available in the document, below). For differentiation, a further IWB resource (simple) is also
provided.
About Prehistoric Britain – Text, Images and Comprehension (Word docs x 3)
Contains text and images from the Information Book (above), together with an extended
comprehension quiz, in a document format. For writing tasks, simply delete the text and ask pupils to
re-write their own versions, perhaps after carrying out further research. For differentiation, 2
additional documents (simple and higher) are provided.
About Archaeology - Information Sheet (Word doc)
As this topic is based on periods of British history before written records appear, this additional sheet
shows how we know about the past. It looks at the process of ‘digging up the past’; the questions
that archaeology tries to answer, the actual process and potential problems. After reading the sheet,
set up a ‘dig’ (having previously buried items in a sandpit or similar). Try using modern artefacts what would they tell archaeologists from the future about us?
Prehistoric Britain - Interactive Timeline (IWB)
By using this activity, pupils can show how early human societies progressed over thousands of
years – from the Ice Age through to the Romans. Ideal for a whole class or individual topic review. 2
documents, Stone, Bronze and Iron Age Timeline - Blank and Stone, Bronze and Iron Age
Timeline - Captions and Images are included for pupils to use to make a timeline.
About the resources in the Prehistoric Britain Pack
New Stone Age / Neolithic Period – Resources based on Archaeological Sites
NEOLITHIC PERIOD: Skara Brae – Information Sheet (Word doc)
Skara Brae is an example of an archaeological site with remains from the Neolithic period. The
sheet gives pupils information on when and how it was discovered, why the site is so important and
what life might have been like for the Stone Age inhabitants.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD: Skara Brae – Card Sort (Word doc)
To check understanding of the information about Skara Brae, pupils take part in a sorting activity.
Hand out one card to each pupil and ask them to find their two ‘partners’ – other pupils with the
information or pictures that match theirs. These cards could also be used as part of a class display.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD: Skara Brae – Cut and Stick (Word doc)
As an alternative, or in addition, to the Card Sort activity, pupils could stick these (smaller) cards into
their exercise or project books. Some pupils could write their own text against the images, whereas
others could use the text provided.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD: Archaeological Sites in the UK (Word doc)
This sheet gives pupils the opportunity to carry out their own research. Pupils plot the locations of
five archaeological sites, from around the UK, onto the map. Since they have been given specific site
names, this would be a useful task to research further on the internet – using the names as search
terms. An additional page provides a Teacher Crib Sheet for the sites.
Nomad versus settler debate lesson resources
Lesson Idea: these resources have been written specifically to support a debate where two Neolithic people argue for ‘settling’
or ‘roaming’. Additional ideas could include pupils writing from the point of view of a hunter or an early settler.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD: Nomadic Versus Settler Life (Word doc)
The way humans lived changed drastically in this period - from small nomadic groups to settled
communities. So why not stimulate a debate on which social structure worked best? This sheet gives
information for both types of social grouping.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD: Nomadic Versus Settler Life – recording table (Word doc)
Use the document Neolithic - Nomadic vs Settler - recording table for pupils to make notes on the
pros and cons of (one or) both sides. The pupils’ debate could be verbal - or written as a short
explanation text.
About the resources in the Prehistoric Britain Pack
Bronze Age Period – Resources based on Archaeological Sites
BRONZE AGE: The Amesbury Archer – Information Sheet (Word doc)
The burial site of the Amesbury Archer is an example of an archaeological site with remains from the
Bronze Age. The sheet gives pupils information on when and how the grave was discovered, why it
was such an unusual find and what conclusions archaeologists have drawn from the skeleton and
artefacts.
BRONZE AGE: The Amesbury Archer – Card Sort (Word doc)
To check understanding of the information about the Amesbury Archer, pupils take part in a sorting
activity. Hand out one card to each pupil and ask them to find their two ‘partners’ – other pupils with
the information or pictures that match theirs. These cards could also be used as part of a class
display.
BRONZE AGE: The Amesbury Archer – Cut and Stick (Word doc)
As an alternative, or in addition, to the Card Sort activity, pupils could stick these (smaller) cards into
their exercise or project books. Some pupils could write their own text against the images, whereas
others could use the text provided.
BRONZE AGE: Archaeological Sites in the UK (Word doc)
This sheet gives pupils the opportunity to carry out their own research. Pupils plot the locations of
five archaeological sites, from around the UK, onto the map. Since they have been given specific site
names, this would be a useful task to research further on the internet – using the names as search
terms. An additional page provides a Teacher Crib Sheet for the sites.
Bronze Age smelting lesson resources
Lesson Idea: Ask pupils to present the information as a series of instructions written in the imperative form. Pupils could draw
a flowchart.
BRONZE AGE: About Bronze Smelting – Information Sheet (Word doc)
This sheet gives detailed information on the process of bronze-making.
BRONZE AGE: Smelting Sequencing Cards (Word doc)
Especially useful as an activity for SEN pupils or to provide images for the above task. Use these
sequencing cards to assess pupils’ understanding of the bronze-making process.
About the resources in the Prehistoric Britain Pack
Iron Age Period – Resources based on Archaeological Sites
IRON AGE: Maiden Castle – Information Sheet (Word doc)
Maiden Hill is an example of an archaeological site with remains from all three of our studied periods,
but most notably the site was used as an Iron Age hill fort. The sheet shows pupils how the site tells
the story of its generations of inhabitants, and what life might have been like there.
IRON AGE: Maiden Castle – Card Sort (Word doc)
To check understanding of the information about Maiden Hill, pupils take part in a sorting activity.
Hand out one card to each pupil and ask them to find their two ‘partners’ – other pupils with the
information or pictures that match theirs. These cards could also be used as part of a class display.
IRON AGE: Maiden Castle – Cut and Stick (Word doc)
As an alternative, or in addition, to the Card Sort activity, pupils could stick these (smaller) cards into
their exercise or project books. Some pupils could write their own text against the images, whereas
others could use the text provided.
IRON AGE: Archaeological Sites in the UK (Word doc)
This sheet gives pupils the opportunity to carry out their own research. Pupils plot the locations of
five archaeological sites, from around the UK, onto the map. Since they have been given specific site
names, this would be a useful task to research further on the internet – using the names as search
terms. An additional page provides a Teacher Crib Sheet for the sites.
Iron Age roundhouses and hill forts lesson resources
Lesson Idea: Pupils could use the written text to draw the imagined interior of a roundhouse. Pupils could describe entering a
hill fort, perhaps as a trader.
IRON AGE: Hill fort – With and Without Labels
This document contains a number of pages with different layouts of a diagram of a hill fort. Use for
labelling or as a general resource to support a writing task.
IRON AGE: Roundhouses - Information Sheet (Word doc)
An information sheet about roundhouses. Ask pupils to draw the inside of a roundhouse using the
information found in the description. Make the point that even the most learned historian can only
guess what it would have looked like - by studying ancient artefacts - so any pictures in books are
always interpretations.
ALSO, similarly, IRON AGE: Hill forts - Information Sheet (Word doc)
About the resources in the Prehistoric Britain Pack
Generic TES iboard resources to support pupil planning and review
Note Refiner (IWB)
This generic tool allows you to take notes and edit them, before modelling how to construct
sentences from notes. Use this tool to plan out an explanation or information text, or to make notes
on the pros and cons of a subject - adding notes on the post-its, ordering them and then refining into
sentences on the last screen.
My Thoughts and Opinions! (IWB)
This tool is for noting thoughts, opinions, comment, knowledge or facts. The text frames
automatically shrink the font as you type, so the resource is suitable for simple statements or longer
explanations. Text frames can be presented as captions, speech bubbles or thought bubbles.