Invaders and Settlers
Key Stage 2
Aim of the workshop
To introduce pupils to the KS2 history programme of study from the Stone Age to the Anglo Saxons.
This workshop will allow pupils to become archaeologists and learn how find out about the past
from the evidence left behind, now held in the museum collection. This workshop can either take a
wide approach across the whole period or a more detailed focus on a specific age prior to 1066.
Workshop contents
Session 1 (basis, 1 hour)
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Museum introduction
How do we know about what happens in the past? Group discussion of different ways that
historians find out about things that happen in the past, focussing on archaeology.
Stratigraphy challenge – which group will be the first to complete a timeline from the Stone
Age to today (can be adapted for lower ages/abilities as a whole class activity).
What’s the difference – explore the archaeology gallery, looking at differences in
archaeological finds through history.
The dig – pupils are kitted out with hard hat, high-vis vest, goggles and gloves ad given tools
to hunt in the sand trays for relevant archaeological artefacts.
Archaeologists report – pupils pick a ‘find’ and complete the report, including material, size,
markings, description and object purpose.
Session 2 (optional extra, 1 hour)
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Focus on a particular local site
Identify archaeological process of discovery – using relevant finds in the collection
Choose a particular archaeological find related to the site/period and sketch – pupils can
challenge themselves by selecting a piece of broken pottery
Recreate the sketch with air-dry clay (to scale if necessary)
write a museum label for their finished artefact to take back to school and form a mini
museum.
Session 3 (optional extra, 1 hour)
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Travel to one of the local archaeological sites with a member of museum staff to find out
more about its significance
Demonstrate importance of the site within the landscape
Look at maps of the site to identify different points of archaeological significance and
identify in real life
Talk about life on the site, changes between different periods and different cultural mixes
Re-enact an assault of the fort ramparts
Learning outcomes
 An understanding of the chronology of the period from the Stone Age – 1066, or where a
particular period fits within this chronology.
 An understanding of how the role of an archaeologist
 An understanding of how objects can tell us about what happened in the past
 An understanding of what life was like for people living before 1066, and how it changed
over time
National Curriculum areas covered
 Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
 The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
 Britain’s settlement by Anglo Saxons
 A local history study (a depth study linked to one of the British areas of study listed above)