New
New
Year 3

The evidence of the Paleolithic Era

I can explain what archaeologists think they know about the Paleolithic Era and the evidence it is based on.

New
New
Year 3

The evidence of the Paleolithic Era

I can explain what archaeologists think they know about the Paleolithic Era and the evidence it is based on.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Paleolithic Era took place between two million years ago and ten thousand years ago.
  2. Many of the types of Paleolithic human who lived in Britain used stone tools, which were often made of flint.
  3. These tools, especially hand axes, are some of the main sources of evidence archaeologists have for this period.
  4. Archaeologists have worked out how Paleolithic humans might have used their hand axes.
  5. Archaeologists think that they probably used them to skin animals for clothing and strip branches for fire and shelter.

Common misconception

All humans living in the Stone Age were Homo sapiens.

Ensure pupils understand that there were different types of humans such as Neanderthals.

Keywords

  • Paleolithic Era - the Paleolithic Era is a time in history, sometimes called the Early Stone Age

  • Nomadic - someone who doesn't settle in one place to live is nomadic

  • Hand axe - a hand axe is a prehistoric tool used for cutting

  • Flint - flint is a type of stone that was used to make tools in the past

Set up an archaeologist role play activity. Print and laminate pictures of Paleolithic hand axes, footprints and bones and bury them in sand trays for pupils to discover. Encourage pupils to discuss what the items are and what they do.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Trays of sand, laminated pictures of Paleolithic hand axes, footprints and bones.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which three of these tools are used for chopping and cutting?
Correct answer: axe
hammer
Correct answer: knife
Correct answer: scissors
screw driver
Q2.
What does an archaeologist study?
Correct answer: artefacts from prehistory
experiments in science
equations in mathematics
meanings of words in languages
Q3.
What is prehistory?
a time before humans existed
Correct answer: a time before written records existed
a time before the world existed
Q4.
What does the word 'evidence' mean?
Correct answer: evidence is something that can be used to prove an idea
evidence is always a written statement or official document
evidence is always something that is found in the ground
Q5.
In prehistory, there were periods of time when Britain was joined to mainland Europe. What type of bridge joined Britain to Europe?
Correct answer: a land bridge
a rope bridge
a stone bridge
a wooden bridge
Q6.
Scientists and historians believe different types of humans lived during prehistoric times. What two types of evidence of this is there?
Correct answer: bones
Correct answer: footprints
photographs
video footage

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the pictures shows a Paleolithic hand axe?
<a/w: a modern axe with a handle>
Correct answer: <a/w: a Paleolithic hand axe>
<a/w: an ice axe>
Q2.
The Paleolithic Era was part of which age in history?
Correct answer: The Stone Age
The Bronze Age
The Iron Age
Q3.
Which two are types of evidence that historians use from the Paleolithic Era?
Correct answer: footprints
photographs
Correct answer: stone tools
written records
Q4.
Starting with the earliest, put the parts of the Stone Age into the order they happened.
1 - Paleolithic Era
2 - Mesolithic Era
3 - Neolithic Era
Q5.
What did Early humans use to make Paleolithic hand axes?
bone
Correct answer: flint
metal
wood
Q6.
Match the words to the correct definition
Correct Answer:Stone Age ,a period in time when stone was used to make tools

a period in time when stone was used to make tools

Correct Answer:prehistory,a period in time before written records and writing systems

a period in time before written records and writing systems

Correct Answer:Paleolithic Era,a period in time often called the Early Stone Age

a period in time often called the Early Stone Age

Q1 image 1 © SolidMaks/Shutterstock.com Q1 image 2 © Eduardo Estellez/Shutterstock.com Q1 image 3 © Steve Allen/Shutterstock.com

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