Year 3 has been on an exciting journey back in time to the Stone Age! The children have been learning about how early humans adapted to their environment, particularly how they built different types of shelters across the three key periods of the Stone Age: the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras.
We started by discussing the Palaeolithic period, the earliest part of the Stone Age. The children learned that people were mainly hunter-gatherers during this time, moving frequently in search of food. As a result, they often took shelter in natural caves, which provided protection from the weather and wild animals. The class was fascinated by the idea that people lived in such simple, natural homes.
Next, we moved on to the Mesolithic period, where early humans became more skilled in building temporary shelters. The children discovered that Mesolithic people often built wooden-framed huts, covered with animal skins, branches, and leaves. These shelters were easier to set up quickly as they moved with the seasons, following animal herds and gathering plants. The children enjoyed imagining what it might be like to live in such a flexible, natural home!
Finally, we explored the Neolithic period, when humans began to settle down and farm. This was when people started to build more permanent shelters, such as stone houses and mud-brick homes. The children were amazed by how much humans’ building skills improved during this period, allowing for sturdier, more weather-resistant homes as farming became a way of life.
To bring their learning to life, the children also created wonderful drawings of the different types of shelters. From dark and mysterious caves to cleverly designed huts and stone houses, the drawings show a real understanding of how people’s lives and homes changed over time.
