Long-term overview - Stone Age - Year 3

The Year 3 history curriculum aims to develop students' understanding of the extensive changes that occurred in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. This educational journey allows pupils to build a chronologically secure knowledge of British history, with a particular emphasis on the significant transformations during this period. Students are expected to learn about the substantial developments from the early hunter-gatherer societies to the more settled communities of the Iron Age. This includes recognising pivotal advancements such as the invention of the wheel, the discovery of iron ore, and the construction of Iron Age hill forts, all of which played a crucial role in shaping early British civilisation.

In terms of disciplinary knowledge, the curriculum focuses on chronology and causation, historical enquiry, and interpretation and significance. Pupils begin to understand the division of the past into distinct periods and learn to use dates and chronological conventions such as BC, BCE, and AD. They are encouraged to place artefacts and information in chronological order and to appreciate how significant inventions like the wheel and the discovery of iron ore instigated considerable changes in people's lives. Through the use of diverse sources, including pictures, photographs, and artefacts, students develop their ability to conduct historical enquiries and distinguish between fact and fiction. They are also taught to recognise the variety of evidence available to represent the past, fostering a deeper understanding of historical interpretation and significance.