New
New
Year 3
The beginning of the Iron Age
I can explain how and when the Iron Age began in Britain and describe who the Celts were.
New
New
Year 3
The beginning of the Iron Age
I can explain how and when the Iron Age began in Britain and describe who the Celts were.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Bronze Age was gradually replaced by the Iron Age in Britain approximately 2800 years ago.
- This happened when iron working began to replace bronze manufacture.
- Iron is a common metal and is harder and tougher than bronze but harder to smelt as it requires very high temperatures.
- At the time of this change, much of what is now England was inhabited by the Celtic people who had spread across Europe.
- Historians are not sure when they came to Britain or whether they did so peacefully.
Keywords
Iron Age - the Iron Age is a period in history when people used iron
Smelting - when metal ores are heated up to extract the metal it is called smelting
Celts - Celts were groups of people living in Britain and across Europe during the Iron Age
Tribe - a tribe is a group of people living and working together
Common misconception
That Celts and Iron Age people were two different things and there was a Celtic Era.
Ensure children understand that the Celtic people lived during the Iron Age.
Look at a selection of artefacts made from iron, ensure these are safe; show the children a video of a blacksmith at work and how iron is hammered, bent and twisted into shape when hot, ensure suitable content.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Exploration of objects
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.
What was the era before the Bronze Age called?
prehistory
the Iron Age
Q2.
People used to make tools and weapons during the Bronze Age?
Q3.
Rock or soil containing metal is called .
Q4.
Match the historical era to the materials used to make tools during that time.
stone
bronze
iron
Q5.
What does the word prehistory mean?
The time when we know nothing about humankind
The time before humans existed
Q6.
Which era began approximately 4,000 years ago?
Stone Age
Iron Age
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Starting with the earliest, put these historical eras in the correct order.
Q2.
The Iron Age replaced which era?
Stone Age
Roman Britain
Q3.
The Iron Age began when people began to use to make tools and weapons.
Q4.
The Iron Age began when people started to use iron because it is __________.
shinier than bronze
softer than bronze
Q5.
Who inhabited Britain during the Iron Age?
the Romans
the Elizabethans
Q6.
The Celts lived in houses made from which material?
brick
iron
Additional material
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