Grade 5, Term 1
Lesson 3 of 10
Social Science: History
CAPS reference: page 38
GRADE 5
Lesson Topic: The Life of the San People
Total time: 1 hour
Aims
• Engage higher order thinking through questions
• Develop own cognition through application of knowledge and comprehension
• Exercise visual literacy and engagement with images
Resources
• Worksheet
• Internet where possible, specifically:
https://mycyberwall.co.za/get-smart/history/grade-5/san-hunter-gatherers
Introductory activity
Write down the following terms on the board and have the learners discuss what they mean in
small groups: indigenous, primitive, Stone Age, nomadic, migration, materials
Questions
10 minutes
• What do these words mean?
• Can you use them in a sentence?
Activity
40 minutes
• Read through the text
• Have the learners complete the questions for about 30 minutes
• Introduce the picture to the learners and have them discuss in pairs the content of the picture
• Have learners complete the remainder of the worksheet
Consolidation
10 minutes
• Have the learners describe the roles of the men and women and the lifestyle of the San orally,
having each learner use one sentence at a time and going around the class they have to add on
to what the previous person said.
Outcomes
Terms: (see worksheet)
• Learners are able to engage with the work
• Development of cognitive reasoning and
visual literacy
• indigenous • primitive
• Stone Age • nomadic
• migration • materials
Means of Assessment
Either to be marked in class or by teacher
Marks per section: 16 +17
Total Marks for entire worksheet: 31 Marks
Sources used: https://mycyberwall.co.za/get-smart/history/grade-5/san-hunter-gatherers
http://media1.mweb.co.za/iziko/sh/resources/online/hunter_gatherers.html
© e-classroom 2015 www.e-classroom.co.za
Grade 5 Term 1: Lesson 3, Social Science, History: The Life of the San People
Lesson Plan 3
GRADE 5
Name:
The Life of the San
When the Europeans came to Africa, they thought that the indigenous people
were very primitive, little did they know how clever the San hunter-gatherers
were!
Even though the San were using Stone-Age technology, these hunter-gatherers
were nomadic and very skilled. They were able to follow the seasons and know
where the plants for food would grow, making sure not to pick too many plants
and damage the environment. They also had to follow the migration of the
antelope for hunting to ensure that they would never go hungry, and know the
different places to get water so that they would not go thirsty. If anyone became
ill, they would also know which plants to use as medicine.
In the San society, the women would go out and pick the plants and herbs for
food, and the men would hunt and go fishing. They would only hunt what they
could eat, never hunting for sport, so when an antelope was killed, they would
use every part of the animal, so that nothing went to waste. This was because
they respected the animal for sacrificing its life so that they could eat it.
Because the San were
always moving, they lived
either in caves, camped out
in the open or made their
homes of materials that
were easily available such
as long grass, thin branches
and rocks. The women
were in charge of building
the hut-like structures and
were able to do so in under
an hour.
They were also very skilled toolmakers and crafters. The women would make
decorative ostrich egg-shell beads and the men would make bows and poisoned
arrows for hunting as well as sharpened rocks for cutting things and harvesting.
As the San were using Stone Age technology, this meant that their tools were
made from stones, animal bones and wood.
© e-classroom 2015 www.e-classroom.co.za
Grade 5 Term 1: Lesson 3, Social Science, History: The Life of the San People
The Life of the San People
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2.The San were very environmentally- conscious. List three ways mentioned in
the text that show us that they cared for their environment:
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3.What did the San use to make their tools? Why did they not use metals?
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4.Women made decorative ostrich egg-shell beads. What else could they use
the ostrich egg-shells for?
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© e-classroom 2015 www.e-classroom.co.za
GRADE 5
Grade 5 Term 1: Lesson 3, Social Science, History: The Life of the San People
1. Write a one-sentence summary for each paragraph about the San:
GRADE 5
1. What are the roles of the women? (2)
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2. What are the roles of the men? (2)
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3. What forms of technology do you see in the picture? (3)
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Colour all the items made from animals in blue. (2)
Colour all the items made from plants in green. (2)
Colour all the women in red. (2)
Colour in all the men in yellow. (2)
Circle all the items used for hunting in brown. (2)
© e-classroom 2015 www.e-classroom.co.za
Grade 5 Term 1: Lesson 3, Social Science, History: The Life of the San People
This is a picture of
a typical group of
San going about
their daily life.
Answer the
questions that
follow: (17 marks)
GRADE 5
1. Write a one-sentence summary for each paragraph about the San:
(10)
The San are very clever hunter-gatherers. (2)
The San travel as nomads to get food and are environmentally friendly to plants
and animals. (2)
Women are the gatherers and men are the hunters, only killing enough to eat. (2)
The San lived in caves, camped in the open, or the women made homes out of
thin branches, long grass and rocks. (2)
The San were skilled tool makers and crafters making ostrich egg-shell beads,
bows and poisoned arrows. They sharpened rocks for cutting and made tools out
of wood, bones and stones. (2)
2.The San were very environmentally- conscious. Name three ways from the
text that show us that they look after the environment:
The San never picked too many plants or killed too many animals. They also
never wasted any part of the animals they killed. (3)
3.What did the San use for making their tools? Why didn’t they use metals?
The San did not have metal available and were from the Stone Age so they used
bones, wood and stones. (2)
4.In the text, it says that the women would make decorative ostrich egg- shell
beads. What else could they use the ostrich egg-shells for?
They could also use the ostrich egg shells for carrying things like water. (1)
Above is a picture of a typical group of San going about their daily life. Answer
the questions that follow: (17 marks)
1. What are the roles of the women? (2)
The women are the gatherers, which meant they gathered berries and plants to eat.
2. What are the roles of the men? (2)
The men are the hunters, fishermen and they also made bows and arrows and tools.
3. What forms of technology do you see in the picture? (3)
Any appropriate answer, 1 mark per correct answer, maximum 3. (3)
Homes, tools, using an ostrich shell as a water carrier, bows and arrows, clothing, fire.
Colour all the items made from animals in blue.
Colour all the items made from plants in green. (2)
Colour all the women in red. (2)
Colour all the men in yellow. (2)
Circle all the items used for hunting in brown. (2)
© e-classroom 2015 www.e-classroom.co.za
Grade 5 Term 1: Lesson 3, Social Science, History: The Life of the San People
Answer sheet