Life at the end of the last Ice Age
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how archaeologists know about Homo sapiens’ early settlement of Britain.
Key learning points
- Dating different human remains suggests the presence of modern humans in Britain has been brief and sporadic.
- It has only become continuous at the end of the last Ice Age, c.12,000 years ago.
- The modern humans who appeared in Britain were highly adaptable hunter-gatherers.
- Flints found far from where they were acquired show that they moved around Britain far more than the Neanderthals had.
Keywords
Homo sapiens - the only surviving group of humans is the Homo sapiens
Ice Age - an Ice Age is when Earth becomes very cold for a long period of time
Hunter-gatherer - hunter-gatherers hunt animals and gather berries and nuts
Common misconception
That our knowledge of the past is factual.
Explain that our understanding of the past is based on evidence that helps to build up a picture. New discoveries are made all the time.
Teacher tip
Show children pictures of prehistoric stone tools and bones. Encourage them to think like an archaeologist by encouraging children to discuss what the artefacts tell us and what clues they hold to life in the past.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are people who study human history and artefacts found in the ground called?
Q2.What is the period in history called before written records and writing systems were used?
Q3.What is it called when the Earth becomes very cold for a long period of time?
Q4.How many Ice Ages have happened in Britain?
Q5.Which statement describes a woolly mammoth?
Q6.What are modern humans called?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A hunter-gatherer...
Q2.The modern humans who appeared in Britain at the end of the last Ice Age were?
Q3.Stone tools made from flint have been discovered in areas where flint is not found. What do archaeologists believe this shows?
Q4.Which statement describes the presence of humans in Britain?
Q5.Starting with the longest ago, put the events into the order that they happened.
Q6.How long ago did homo sapiens settle in Britain?
To help you plan your 3 history lesson on: Life at the end of the last Ice Age, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 history lesson on: Life at the end of the last Ice Age, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Stone Age Britain: what do archaeologists think they know about it? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.