Thinking About...Stone Age to Iron Age

This set of 20 A5 cards explores key themes from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, featuring photographs of significant artefacts, sites, and historical scenes on one side. On the reverse, you'll find five questions or activity suggestions designed to engage students in critical thinking and historical inquiry. The variety of activities ensures that they can be pitched at a level appropriate for a range of abilities, helping students to develop observational, descriptive, and analytical skills. This versatile set is ideal for whole-class discussions, small group work, or individual tasks, and can serve as a starter or plenary activity or as the foundation for deeper exploration of the Stone Age to Iron Age period.

Key Features:

• 20 A5 Cards: Each card features a high-quality photograph on the front, with five questions or activity suggestions on the back.
• Range of Activities: Questions and tasks are designed to engage students at varying ability levels, offering opportunities for descriptive writing, group discussions, research tasks, and creative activities.
• Skill Development: Focuses on developing historical enquiry, observational skills, and the ability to analyse and describe artefacts and images from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for use in whole-class, small group, or individual settings. Can be used as starters or plenary activities, or to form the basis for an entire topic on early human history.
• Differentiation: Activities are designed to be flexible, making the set suitable for a range of ages and abilities.

Historical Context:
Spanning from the Stone Age (c. 2.5 million years ago) to the Iron Age (c. 1200 BCE to 600 CE), this period marks significant advancements in human history. The Stone Age saw the development of the earliest tools and the rise of hunter-gatherer societies. The Bronze Age brought about the use of metalworking and the creation of the first cities, while the Iron Age saw the development of more advanced societies with better tools, larger settlements, and early forms of written language.

Educational Purpose:

• Historical Inquiry: Students are encouraged to explore and question key events, developments, and artefacts from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
• Skill Building: Enhances descriptive and observational skills, while also developing critical thinking and the ability to make connections across time periods.
• Enquiry-Based Learning: Stimulates a deeper understanding of early human history through engaging activities and questions.

Ideal For:

• Classroom Activities: An excellent resource for history lessons on the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
• Individual Learning: Great for students working independently or on research projects related to early human history.
• Group Work: Encourages collaboration and discussion as students work together to analyse and interpret historical images and artefacts.

These Stone Age to Iron Age Activity Cards are a dynamic and engaging way for students to deepen their understanding of early human history, fostering both critical thinking and creative expression while supporting a variety of teaching methods.