Changing agriculture in Britain during the Iron Age
I can describe how the use of iron impacted farming during the Iron Age.
Changing agriculture in Britain during the Iron Age
I can describe how the use of iron impacted farming during the Iron Age.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Iron farming tools like the ard plough could be used in heavy clay soils and wetter conditions.
- This allowed a greater variety of crops to be grown, such as oats, and more land to become available for farming.
- Iron also allowed the creation of stronger tools, such as axes, meaning further clearing of the wildwood.
- With more farming, the number of enclosed settlements grew and land ownership became more important.
Keywords
Crops - plants grown for food are called crops
Ard plough - an ard plough was an iron tool used by Iron Age farmers to create lines in the soil for planting seeds
Sickle - a sickle was an iron tool used by Iron Age farmers to cut crops when they were ready to harvest
Wildwood - forest or woodland areas growing naturally are called wildwood
Enclosed - if an area is enclosed it is surrounded by a wall or fence
Common misconception
Farmers in the Iron Age had the same tools farmers have today such as tractors.
Ensure children understand that farming was done by hand with a few iron tools to help. New tools such as the ard plough and iron sickle made a huge impact on farming.
To help you plan your year 3 history lesson on: Changing agriculture in Britain during the Iron Age, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 history lesson on: Changing agriculture in Britain during the Iron Age, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Bronze and Iron Age Britain: how did life change during this time? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a period in history when people used iron
groups of people living in Britian and Europe during the Iron Age
a group of people living and working together
Exit quiz
6 Questions
an area surrounded by a fence, ditch or wall
plants grown for food
forest or woodland areas growing naturally