Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age

Children can be introduced to the idea that people have been living in Britain for a very long time. They can learn about the changes that occurred between the middle Stone Age (Mesolithic Times) to the Iron Age – a period of over 10,000 years! Pupils should be encouraged to recognise the continuities too. For example there is very little change in houses, house-building or settlement size, until well into the Iron Age.

For most of the period there is no written evidence, so the archaeological record is very important. There is a strong emphasis on children investigating issues and solving valid historical questions recognising the nature of the evidence on which their judgements and knowledge are based.

This unit is structured around 4 sequential history enquiries:

1. What was ‘new’ about the New Stone Age?
2. Which was better, bronze or iron?
3. If you were Julius Caesar, would you have invaded Britain in 55BC?
4. When do you think it was better to live – Stone Age, Bronze Age or Iron Age?

Please note: While this unit contains resource suggestions, it is not a fully resourced scheme of work, and the resources it refers to may in some cases only be available to full members of the HA. The majority of the HA schemes of work were produced between 2014-2019 by members of the HA primary committee and its affiliates. These schemes of work are designed to support your planning and should be moulded and adapted to fit the context and needs of your own school.  To view a free sample scheme of work, please refer to our Anglo-Saxons unit. We regularly check the hyperlinks included in the schemes but unfortunately every now and again some links may go out of date. If you spot a broken link, please let us know on enquiries@history.org.uk.