Stone Age to Iron Age - Chronology and Location

This week, Year 3 began their exciting new topic all about the pre-historic period that lasted from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. We began our learning by exploring the location of Stone Age - Iron Age Britain and we began our working timeline examining the key events of the period. We will continue to add to this timeline in our book as we acquire more knowledge. 

Stone Age to Iron Age - Who were the Earliest Humans?

In this lesson, we learned about neanderthals and homosapiens! We used artefacts to learn about the lives of the earliest humans and made judgements about what the artefacts told us about their daily lives. 

Stone Age to Iron Age - Religion and Beliefs 

Today, we have been learning about the spiritual and religious beliefs of the earliest humans. We talked about how we know about these things because of the discoveries that archaeologists have made. 

Stone Age to Iron Age- Childhood and Education  

This lesson, Year 3 explored childhood and education in the Stone Age times and we compared it to modern day childhood and education. As you can imagine, there were many differences! 

Stone Age to Iron Age -  Political Beliefs

In this lesson, we discussed how little is known, but much is theorised, about power and politics in the Stone Age - Iron Age period. We used sources to research and present our findings to the rest of the class. 

Stone Age to Iron Age- Housing and Architecture 

Today, Year 3 annotated images of a replica Stone Age home. We used our knowledge of how they lived in order to describe the different features of a house from the time period.

Stone Age to Iron Age: Significant Event 

Just how important was the invention of bronze to the people of the time? The answer: VERY! We sifted through evidence and used our oracy skills to explain why the discovery of bronze was such a significant event in world history. 

Stone Age to Iron Age: Key Figure 

This lesson, we compared Neanderthals and Homosapiens. We used our knowledge of the time to explain how the earliest humans differed from us and why. 

Ancient Egypt- Pre-Teach: Mastermind

Before starting our final History topic in Year 3, we completed a Mastermind quiz in order to test our knowledge on Ancient Egypt. At the end of the topic, we will redo the test and hopefully our scores will rise! 

Ancient Egypt- Chronology and Location

For our second lesson of our final Year 3 topic, we explored the chronology of Ancient Egypt from when the period began to the eventual end of the period when the Romans took over. We use our 'working timeline' as a tool to add to each lesson in order to build a chronological narrative of this ancient civilization. Once we have explored key events from the time, we then locate Egypt on a map along with other key features such as the River Nile and the Valley of the Kings. 

Ancient Egypt- Who were the Ancient Egyptians?

During this lesson, we learnt about who the Ancient Egyptians were based upon what was left behind. We examined various artefact replicas in order to think critically and to build an accurate picture of what life may have been like at the time. In addition to this, we also compared and contrasted some of these artefacts with the Stone Age to Iron Age artefacts from our first topic in order to notice connections and changes over time. 

Comparing Childhood and Education in Ancient Egypt and the Stone Age 

Today, Year 3 compared and contrasted childhood and education in both Ancient Egypt and our previous topic, the Stone Age period. We explored the similarities and differences between the two time periods and also made connections with our own childhoods in the present day.  

Ancient Egypt: Politics in Ancient Egypt 

This week we explored  democracy in Ancient Egypt. We learned that boys from wealthy families had the best education. Many boys would be taught by their father to be a builder so that they could help building the pyramids. If they weren't good enough, they would be sent out of the village away from their family forever!

Archie, Class 4 said: "The Pharaoh was in charge in Egypt, which is similar to in England today because we have a Prime Minister; however, we vote for our Prime Minister because we live in a democracy, and in Ancient Egypt they didn't vote."
 

Lucas, Class 1 said: "If I lived in Ancient Egypt, I would want to be a soldier because everyone would think I was a hero! It might be a bit dangerous though."

Ancient Egypt: Beliefs

This week we learnt about Ancient Egyptian religion and beliefs, discussing how these compare to belief systems today. Through secondary research, we explored the significance of Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Ancient Egypt: Housing and Architecture

This week, we learned all about what housing and architecture was like in Ancient Egypt. With the time period spanning almost 30 centuries, we discovered that architecture changed a lot, and was largely dependent on wealth. However, we explored a classic home in Ancient Egypt along with a pyramid and labelled their key features. We then compared an Ancient Egyptian home to a home from Skara Brae in Prehistoric Britain. 

Masie said: "Did you know that in many Ancient Egyptian houses, the downstairs was used for growing crops?"

Ancient Egypt: Major Event

This week, we created a debate about Howard Carter and if his discovery of King Tut's tomb advanced our knowledge of Ancient Egyptian history or if it in fact, left us with more questions than answers. We also discussed whether or not artefacts should remain within the place and country they originally came from as opposed to being moved elsewhere. In addition, we learnt about the key stages of the mummification process. Did you know that the mummy would often be painted with eyes to symbolise the pharaoh being able to see in the afterlife?

Significant Figure- Cleopatra 

Today, we explored the fascinating life of the last Egyptian Pharaoh, Cleopatra. We explored how she married her brother and then oversaw his downfall and death at the Battle of the Nile. We were shocked and saddened to learn that she was rumoured to have ended her own life by allowing a poisonous snake to bite her.