Upper Key Stage 2 Earliest Civilisations: Indus Valley

Craftspeople and Trade

Learn about some of the objects that Indus valley craftspeople produced; find out how potters created pots during the Indus Valley civilisation and then make a pot in the style of an Indus Valley craftsperson.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To appreciate that there were many skilled craftspeople working during the Indus Valley civilisation.
• To understand that different types of pot were produced by potters.
• To create a pot in the Indus Valley style, using an appropriate technique.

Children will:

• List some of the objects that Indus valley craftspeople produced.
• Explain how potters created pots during the Indus Valley civilisation.
• Make a pot in the style of an Indus Valley craftsperson.

• Indus Valley Artefacts

• Air-dried clay (unless you have a kiln at school)
• Black (and red) paint and brushes
• Diluted PVA glue to act as a glaze
• Rolling pins
• Aprons

Step-by-step guide on how to make a thumb or pinch pot with photographs from wikihow.com
Alternative step-by-step guide for making a thumb or pinch pot from claycraft.co.uk
Step-by-step guide to making a coil pot from lakesidepottery.com
Simpler step-by-step guide to making a coil pot from iboard.co.uk

Describe some Indus Valley jewellery; list the materials that Indus Valley jewellers used and then make a necklace or bracelet in the style of Indus Valley jewellery.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To describe some typical Indus Valley jewellery and list the materials that Indus valley jewellers used for creating various jewellery items.
• To make a bead necklace or bracelet using air-dried clay in the style of Indus Valley jewellery.

Children will:

• Describe some Indus Valley jewellery.
• List the materials that Indus Valley jewellers used.
• Make a necklace or bracelet in the style of Indus Valley jewellery.

• Indus Valley jewellery

• Air-dried clay
• Needles with large eyes
• Thick thread or thin string
• Paints, including silver and gold if possible
• Pasta of various shapes

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

Discover the trade routes and modes of transport used by traders of the Indus Valley civilisation; learn some of the goods which were traded; make a set of balance scales in the style of those used by the Indus Valley traders.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand how important trading was in the Indus Valley and how it may have taken place.
• To make balance scales in the style of those used by the Indus Valley traders.
• To mark Indus Valley trade routes on a map of the region.

Children will:

• Describe the trade routes and modes of transport used by traders of the Indus Valley civilisation.
• List some of the goods which were traded.
• Make a set of balance scales in the style of those used by the Indus Valley traders.

• Indus Valley trading

• Wood
• Card
• Thick thread/thin string
• Margarine tubs/yoghurt pots
• Scissors
• Hacksaws
• Plasticine
• World map

Set of slides showing significant findings at Lothal from harappa.com

Use role play to try bartering; list the types of goods that could be bartered; play and evaluate a simulation game about Indus Valley traders.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand that historians and archaeologists can make educated guesses about the uses of buildings and to find out more about traders in the Indus valley civilisation.
• To use a simulation program to learn about Indus Valley traders.
• To use role play to try bartering and take the role of an Indus valley trader in a simulation program.

Children will:

• Use role play to try bartering.
• List the types of goods that could be bartered.
• Play and evaluate a simulation game about Indus Valley traders.

This session does not need any provided resources.

• Sufficient PCs/laptops for chn to work in pairs

BBC Indus traders game from bbc.co.uk