New
New
Year 3

The art and artefacts of the earliest civilisations

I can describe the similarities and differences in the art made by some early civilisations.

New
New
Year 3

The art and artefacts of the earliest civilisations

I can describe the similarities and differences in the art made by some early civilisations.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The early civilisations that developed in the 'cradles of civilisation' all produced art and beautiful objects.
  2. They carved statues out of stone or formed them from clay.
  3. They made pottery and painted or pressed decorative patterns into them.
  4. When they discovered how to mix tin and copper to make bronze, this was used to make many pieces of art.
  5. Despite similarities in how they were made these civilisations all had their own styles of art.

Keywords

  • Art - art is something someone has created to be beautiful, interesting or to make you feel an emotion

  • Pottery - pottery are items like pots, cups or dishes made from clay that are baked hard in fire

  • Clay - clay is a type of soil that is useful for making objects

  • Bronze - bronze is a useful metal made by mixing copper and tin

Common misconception

Art is only drawings or paintings.

Look at lots of different examples of ancient art, such as sculpture, textiles, jewellery, decorated household objects, weapons and armour.

Encourage students to make their own versions of ancient art, for example, moulding and decorating modelling clay or threading and decorating jewellery made from coloured paper.
Teacher tip

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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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the definitions.
Correct Answer:civilisation,where people settle to live in one place in an organised way

where people settle to live in one place in an organised way

Correct Answer:trade,to buy and sell items

to buy and sell items

Correct Answer:nomadic,to move around without settling

to move around without settling

Correct Answer:create,to make or think of something new

to make or think of something new

Q2.
Which ancient civilisation developed in Mesopotamia?
Indus Valley
Shang
Ancient Egyptian
Correct answer: Sumer
Q3.
Match each ancient civilisation to the correct river or rivers.
Correct Answer:River Nile,Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt

Correct Answer:Tigris and Euphrates Rivers,Sumer

Sumer

Correct Answer:Yellow River,Shang

Shang

Correct Answer:Indus River,Indus Valley

Indus Valley

Q4.
What were features of 'cradles of civilisations'?
a nomadic lifestyle
Correct answer: successful farming
Correct answer: trade
Correct answer: art
Correct answer: cities
Q5.
All ancient civilisations learned to control the flow of water.
Correct Answer: river, RIVER, River, river's, rivers'
Q6.
How did Ancient Sumerians record their writing?
They made marks on wood.
They drew symbols on paper.
They wrote letters on cardboard.
Correct answer: They made marks on clay tablets.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the definitions.
Correct Answer:art,something created to be beautiful, interesting or to make you feel

something created to be beautiful, interesting or to make you feel

Correct Answer:artist,someone who makes art

someone who makes art

Correct Answer:pottery,items made from clay that are baked hard in fire

items made from clay that are baked hard in fire

Q2.
Choose the sentence that is true.
Art is only paintings.
Art is only sculpture.
Art is only drawings.
Correct answer: Art can be many different forms.
Q3.
is made by mixing copper and tin.
Correct Answer: Bronze, bronze
Q4.
Pottery is made from which is baked hard by fire.
Correct Answer: clay, Clay
Q5.
Ancient artists or pressed patterns into pottery.
Correct Answer: painted, paint
Q6.
What is different about the art of ancient civilisations?
materials
Correct answer: style
purpose

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