KS1 & KS2 history curriculum

These units, whether pupils learn about the Indus or the Shang dynasty, build on and extend their knowledge of themes such as migration, river settlement, artisanship, farming and trade that they developed when studying early humans, ancient Egypt and Sumer. This unit prepares pupils for year 5 units about Islam and Baghdad, where trade, knowledge gathering and astronomy are explored in new and different ways and continues to develop pupils' understanding of how archaeologists work which is explored further in years 5 and 6.

1. The discovery of Fu Hao's tomb
2. Who were the Shang?
3. Bronze dings
4. Jade artefacts
5. Oracle bones and writing
6. What archaeologists have found out about the Shang

• An awareness of some of the common features of the Bronze Age.
• An awareness of some of the common features of ancient civilisations, as introduced in 'Sumer and other early civilisations: what made them similar?'
• An awareness of artifacts and how archaeologists interact with them.
• An awareness of what civilisation means, especially in the context of 'ancient civilisations'.