Who were the Shang?
I can describe some of the features of the Shang and where they lived.
Who were the Shang?
I can describe some of the features of the Shang and where they lived.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Shang Dynasty began c.1600 BCE in the Yellow River Valley, later than the other major ancient civilisations.
- Like in Mesopotamia and Egypt, the Shang exploited the fertile land they lived in for extensive agriculture.
- Like in Mesopotamia and Egypt, the Shang built major cities including Anyang and Zhengzhou.
- Much like the Ancient Egyptians, bronze weaponry helped the Shang to build and maintain an empire.
Keywords
Yellow River - the Yellow River is a large river that flows from central to eastern China
Empire - an empire is a group of nations or peoples under one ruler
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all these ancient civilisations existed at separate times.
Although beginning thousands of years apart, by the time of the Shang Dynasty, the Ancient Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian and Indus Valley civilisations were still going!
To help you plan your year 3 history lesson on: Who were the Shang?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 history lesson on: Who were the Shang?, 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Shang: What have archaeologists found out about them? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
