Upper Key Stage 2 Stone Age to Iron Age Britain
Technology and Tools

Learn about the amazing development of technology from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Make your own collection of edible prehistoric tools from sugar paste, chocolate and pastry, speculate about why these changes came about and then have a prehistoric technology feast.

Session 1 Stone Age tools

Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge of Stone Age technology.

Science

  • Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, report and present findings from enquiries.

Lesson Planning

Make a timeline about Stone Age tools and start your own collection of edible tools, starting with a sugar paste axe head.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To make a timeline of Stone Age tools and begin a collection of edible prehistoric tool.
  • To plan a controlled experiment and report on it.

Children will:

  • Sort stone tools by date or time period.
  • Explain the benefits of having a ground stone axe instead of a knapped one.
  • Devise an experiment to identify which grade of sandpaper is best for grinding sugar paste.

You Will Need

  • Sugar paste
  • Sandpaper

Session 2 Bronze Age tools

Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge of Bronze Age technology.

Science

  • Investigate reversible and irreversible changes.

Lesson Planning

Make a timeline of Bronze Age tools and make a miniature chocolate Bronze Age axe.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To make a timeline of Bronze Age tools and add to their collection of edible prehistoric tools.
  • To make a miniature chocolate Bronze Age axe.

Children will:

  • Sort bronze tools by date or time period.
  • Explain the method of bronze-casting.
  • Predict the reversible and irreversible changes.

You Will Need

  • Air drying clay or FiMo
  • Alginart moulding powder and water (Warning - keep instructions away from children)
  • Cooking chocolate

Session 3 Iron Age tools

Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge of Iron Age technology.

Science

  • Investigate reversible and irreversible changes.

Lesson Planning

Make a timeline of Iron Age tools and make a pastry sword.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To make a timeline of Iron Age tools and add to their collection of edible prehistoric tools.
  • To make a pastry Iron Age sword.

Children will:

  • Sort bronze tools by date or time period.
  • Explain the methods of iron smelting and smithing.
  • Predict the reversible and irreversible changes.

You Will Need

  • Ready made pastry
  • Oven trays

Session 4 Timeline of tools and technology

Objectives

History

  • Establish clear narratives across the periods they study.
  • Construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

Science

  • Talk about how scientific ideas have developed over time.

Lesson Planning

Finish your timeline of tools and technology and have a prehistoric technology feast.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To put the timeline of tools and technology together; To have a prehistoric technology feast.
  • To discuss and then film a five-minute blast about the changes in technology over time.

Children will:

  • Confirm the methods they used that caused reversible or irreversible change.
  • Give an explanation why bronze and iron technology replaced the use of stone for cutting tools.
  • Speculate how the development of metalworking effected future technological changes.

You Will Need

  • Video camera