The Indus Valley
I can describe the location of the Indus River and what was found there in 1921.
The Indus Valley
I can describe the location of the Indus River and what was found there in 1921.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- In 1921 an archaeological dig began at a place called Harappa on the banks of the River Indus.
- As the archaeologists excavated they began to find evidence of an ancient civilisation in the Indus Valley.
- The Indus is a powerful river that flows through India and Pakistan.
- Just like the Nile, the Euphrates and the Tigris, the Indus floods, making the land around it very fertile.
- About 8,000 years ago the people of the Indus Valley began to farm this land, and got better and better at it.
Keywords
India - India is a country in southern Asia, surrounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean
Pakistan - Pakistan is a country in southern Asia that shares a border with India
Valley - a valley is a flat area of land where a river flows between hills or mountains
Fertile - soil is fertile when it is very good for growing lots of healthy plants
Common misconception
That the civilisation in the Indus Valley began 8000 years ago.
Archaeologists believe farming in the valley began around 8000 years ago but the evidence for the cities and civilisation dates from around 5000 years ago.
To help you plan your year 3 history lesson on: The Indus Valley, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 history lesson on: The Indus Valley, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Indus Valley civilisation: What have archaeologists found out about it? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a flat area of land where a river flows between hills or mountains
soil that is very good for growing lots of healthy plants
a country in Asia, surrounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean
a country in southern Asia that shares a border with India