New
New
Year 3
Settlement during the Mesolithic Era
I can describe how humans lived in the Mesolithic Era.
New
New
Year 3
Settlement during the Mesolithic Era
I can describe how humans lived in the Mesolithic Era.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Mesolithic Era began around 12,000 years ago.
- Britain was attached to the mainland but sea levels rose making it an island, reducing contact with the rest of Europe.
- The first evidence for houses in Britain and Ireland comes from the Mesolithic Era; a lot of evidence is from campsites.
- Mesolithic people hunted wild animals, fished and gathered wild plants, likely moving camps in different seasons.
- Howick house is called ‘Britain’s oldest house’ with its remains suggesting it was built c.7600 years ago.
Keywords
Mesolithic Era - the Mesolithic Era was the middle period of the Stone Age
Settlement - a settlement is place where people come to live in
Campsite - a group of temporary shelters is called a campsite
Common misconception
That a campsite is used for holidays.
Discuss the difference between campsites in the Mesolithic Era and a campsite today to highlight the differences.
Children could work in small groups to build a model Mesolithic Era campsite or settlement out of small sticks and leaves or through junk modelling. Ensure children use and carry the sticks safely.
Teacher tip
Equipment
small sticks, leaves, scissors, glue, string, junk modeling
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Where does the Stone Age get its name from?
The material used for building houses
The material used for clothing
The material used for farming
Q2.
How many sections is the Stone Age divided into?
Two
Four
Five
Q3.
Starting with the earliest, put these periods of time into the correct order.
Q4.
Which foods would hunter-gatherers eat?
fresh bread
thin-crust pizza
tropical fruits
Q5.
Where did early humans get their food from in the Early Stone Age?
farms
shops
Q6.
Another name for the Paleolithic Era is the ...
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
How many years ago did the Mesolithic Era begin in Britain?
Approximately 2,000,000 years ago
Approximately 4,000 years ago
Approximately 2,000 years ago
Q2.
What caused Britain to become an island?
A piece of land floated away from the mainland at the end of the last Ice Age
A big disagreement amongst the people in Britain and on the mainland
Q3.
Which things did hunter-gatherers need to survive in the Mesolithic Era?
vehicles to travel
houses made from brick
Q4.
Mesolithic people most likely set up temporary settlements and moved around. Why do archaeologists think they moved around?
To find friends
To explore the land
To find homes
Q5.
The Mesolithic Era is also called ...
Q6.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of a Mesolithic shelter in Howick on the Northumbrian coast in Britain. They made a replica. What shape do archaeologists believe the shelter was?
square
rectangular
hexagonal
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