New
New
Year 3

Settlement during the Mesolithic Era

I can describe how humans lived in the Mesolithic Era.

New
New
Year 3

Settlement during the Mesolithic Era

I can describe how humans lived in the Mesolithic Era.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Mesolithic Era began around 12,000 years ago.
  2. Britain was attached to the mainland but sea levels rose making it an island, reducing contact with the rest of Europe.
  3. The first evidence for houses in Britain and Ireland comes from the Mesolithic Era; a lot of evidence is from campsites.
  4. Mesolithic people hunted wild animals, fished and gathered wild plants, likely moving camps in different seasons.
  5. Howick house is called ‘Britain’s oldest house’ with its remains suggesting it was built c.7600 years ago.

Common misconception

That a campsite is used for holidays.

Discuss the difference between campsites in the Mesolithic Era and a campsite today to highlight the differences.

Keywords

  • Mesolithic Era - the Mesolithic Era was the middle period of the Stone Age

  • Settlement - a settlement is place where people come to live in

  • Campsite - a group of temporary shelters is called a campsite

Children could work in small groups to build a model Mesolithic Era campsite or settlement out of small sticks and leaves or through junk modelling. Ensure children use and carry the sticks safely.
Teacher tip

Equipment

small sticks, leaves, scissors, glue, string, junk modeling

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

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.
Where does the Stone Age get its name from?
The material used for building houses
The material used for clothing
Correct answer: The material used for tools
The material used for farming
Q2.
How many sections is the Stone Age divided into?
Two
Correct answer: Three
Four
Five
Q3.
Starting with the earliest, put these periods of time into the correct order.
1 - Paleolithic Era
2 - Mesolithic Era
3 - Neolithic Era
Q4.
Which foods would hunter-gatherers eat?
Correct answer: wild animals
Correct answer: wild berries
fresh bread
thin-crust pizza
tropical fruits
Q5.
Where did early humans get their food from in the Early Stone Age?
farms
shops
Correct answer: the wild
Q6.
Another name for the Paleolithic Era is the ...
Correct Answer: Early Stone Age , Old Stone Age

6 Questions

Q1.
How many years ago did the Mesolithic Era begin in Britain?
Approximately 2,000,000 years ago
Correct answer: Approximately 12,000 years ago
Approximately 4,000 years ago
Approximately 2,000 years ago
Q2.
What caused Britain to become an island?
Correct answer: Sea levels rose due to the melting ice sheets at the end of the last Ice Age
A piece of land floated away from the mainland at the end of the last Ice Age
A big disagreement amongst the people in Britain and on the mainland
Q3.
Which things did hunter-gatherers need to survive in the Mesolithic Era?
Correct answer: wild animals
Correct answer: wild berries and nuts
Correct answer: flint to make tools
vehicles to travel
houses made from brick
Q4.
Mesolithic people most likely set up temporary settlements and moved around. Why do archaeologists think they moved around?
Correct answer: To find food
To find friends
To explore the land
To find homes
Q5.
The Mesolithic Era is also called ...
Correct Answer: The Middle Stone Age , Middle Stone Age
Q6.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of a Mesolithic shelter in Howick on the Northumbrian coast in Britain. They made a replica. What shape do archaeologists believe the shelter was?
Correct answer: circular
square
rectangular
hexagonal

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