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Year 3 - History

What archaeologists have found out about the Indus Valley civilisation

The Indus Valley civilisation: What have archaeologists found out about it?

Unit Summary

These units analyse the way in which archaeologists have found out about the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Shang dynasty. Whichever unit is chosen, pupils examine the archaeological record of an early civilisation and develop their knowledge of what claims are based on these remains.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain what archaeologists think they know about the Indus Valley civilisation and why.

Key Notes

  • Archaeologists have uncovered all sorts of objects that tell us about the great cities of this farming civilisation.
  • Archaeologists have asked lots of questions about the objects to try and work things out about these people.
  • From these questions about the objects, they have found out lots of things about these people and their cities.
  • However, there are still many mysteries about these people because archaeologists cannot understand their writing.
  • A good explanation of what archaeologists think they know about this subject will use knowledge from across this unit.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • archaeologists: people who dig in the ground for clues about people who lived in the past are archaeologists
  • civilisation: a group of people who live together and follow the same ways of life and the same set of rules are a civilisation

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may associate making guesses with being wrong.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Archaeologists have uncovered all sorts of objects that tell us about the great cities of this farming civilisation. Archaeologists have asked lots of questions about the objects to try and work things out about these people.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'archaeologists'

people who dig in the ground for clues about people who lived in the past are archaeologists.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Pupils may associate making guesses with being wrong. Correction: Reassure pupils that making guesses is necessary to learn new things, and essential in jobs like archaeology. Acknowledge that the guesses are educated and based on drawing information from lots of sources to make conclusions.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 3 History guide library.