The Shang: What have archaeologists found out about them?
Downloads can take a few minutes, especially for larger files or slower connections.
Threads
Why this why now
These units, whether pupils learn about the Indus or the Shang dynasty, build on and extend their knowledge of themes such as migration, river settlement, artisanship, farming and trade that they developed when studying early humans, ancient Egypt and Sumer. This unit prepares pupils for year 5 units about Islam and Baghdad, where trade, knowledge gathering and astronomy are explored in new and different ways and continues to develop pupils' understanding of how archaeologists work which is explored further in years 5 and 6.
Prior knowledge requirements
- An awareness of some of the common features of the Bronze Age.
- An awareness of some of the common features of ancient civilisations, as introduced in 'Sumer and other early civilisations: what made them similar?'
- An awareness of artifacts and how archaeologists interact with them.
- An awareness of what civilisation means, especially in the context of 'ancient civilisations'.
Threads
Why this why now
These units, whether pupils learn about the Indus or the Shang dynasty, build on and extend their knowledge of themes such as migration, river settlement, artisanship, farming and trade that they developed when studying early humans, ancient Egypt and Sumer. This unit prepares pupils for year 5 units about Islam and Baghdad, where trade, knowledge gathering and astronomy are explored in new and different ways and continues to develop pupils' understanding of how archaeologists work which is explored further in years 5 and 6.
Prior knowledge requirements
- An awareness of some of the common features of the Bronze Age.
- An awareness of some of the common features of ancient civilisations, as introduced in 'Sumer and other early civilisations: what made them similar?'
- An awareness of artifacts and how archaeologists interact with them.
- An awareness of what civilisation means, especially in the context of 'ancient civilisations'.
The Shang: What have archaeologists found out about them?
These units analyse the way in which archaeologists have found out about the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Shang dynasty. Whichever unit is chosen, pupils examine the archaeological record of an early civilisation and develop their knowledge of what claims are based on these remains.
6 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the The Shang: What have archaeologists found out about them? unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our primary history curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for primary history programmes.