New workshop for April 2025 - Romans in Britain

The Stone Age

The Stone Age Through To The Iron Age

Welcome to our 'pre-history' page. The full period collectively known as the Stone-Age, started with the primary Palaeolithic period and covers a whopping 2,500,000 years of history! Because this is such a massively long age, our workshop will use an interactive timeline to focus on the changes that took place for our ancestors from then, through the Mesolithic and Neolithic and finally to the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Focusing then, on the later Neolithic period, we will do practical activities on how hunter-gatherers lived; how they transitioned into farmers and herders and how eventually they learnt the skills of metalworking. We will be working with stone tools and implements; learning about cave art; finding out about what they ate and what they wore. We will also practise the skills needed to be an effective hunter.

'A very action packed and memorable day for everyone.' Julia Brassington year 3 teacher, Ipplepen Primary 18/09/2024

Possible Morning Activities

Welcome by Garth and Yelan – as two Neolithic hunter gatherers who will share the news of this new way of living called farming.
We will create a 30 metre interactive timeline showing key events of the Stone Age
Cave art – making a group cave art style painting using only natural colours.
Clothing and jewellery – how Stone Age communities utilised the natural resources around them.
‘Attack of the Aurochs’ – Experience a hunting story featuring siblings, Sol and Manu.
Learn about Neolithic homes by building a miniature replica Stone Age dwelling.
Use stone age artefacts that would be used in a Neolithic settlement such as a quern stone, drop spindle, flint arrow heads, iron hammer and flint axe.

‘From my point of view, I loved the very active way that the children learned and the opportunity to try out the bull roarer etc.’

Emma Sharman, Year 3 teacher, Brixham CofE Workshop date: 16/09/2024

Possible Afternoon Activities

Finding out about how Neolithic groups communicated by using drums and a ‘Bull Roarer’.
Identifying creatures that would have been hunted by Neolithic people and how they would have used all of the animal for food, clothing, building and fuel.
Experience a demonstration of how fire was made from Neolithic times through to the advent of metal.
Practising hunting skills 1 – stalking your animal and accurately throwing your spear at a target.
Practising hunting skills 2 – learning how to use a (safety) bow and arrow and slingshot to hit your target.
Learn about the new technologies that came in during the Neolithic age – including bronze.
Handle metal minerals to learn how Bronze Age technology revolutionised Neolithic life.

Y3 children's comments:

'I enjoyed the flint because you can make a spark that makes fire. It looked good.'

'I really liked the charcoal drawing because I like to draw. I would like to know more about playing Mangala.'

'I enjoyed cave painting with my friend. I liked the artefacts because they were cool.'

'I enjoyed the archery because I'd like to go to an archery club.'

'I enjoyed all of it because it was all very fun. I want to know how far the bull roarer noise goes.'

'I enjoyed the archery because it was active. I want to learn about what the average age is for Stone Age people.'

'I liked archery best. I would like to know how they made bows and arrows.'

Please note that we can be very flexible about the order and timings of these activities. Our workshops will accommodate the needs of your class and the learning of your pupils.

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