The big picture of the earliest humans in Britain | History

Starter quiz

Which of these time expressions is in the past?

yesterday ✓

today

tomorrow
Starting with the longest ago, put the times in order of when they happened.

1

⇔

Before I was born

2

⇔

Last year

3

⇔

Last week

4

⇔

Yesterday
Which picture shows a way of life from the past?

Someone hunting with a spear ✓

Someone using a computer tablet

Someone charging an electric car
Starting with the youngest put the humans in order of age.

1

⇔

a baby

2

⇔

a child

3

⇔

a teenager

4

⇔

an adult
A timeline is a diagram that shows events that happened in the past. Which picture shows a timeline?
A timeline is a diagram that shows events that happened in the past. What order is a timeline in?

a to z

newest to oldest

oldest to newest ✓

biggest to smallest

smallest to biggest

Which group of humans are the only ones to have survived?

Homo neanderthalensis

Homo sapiens ✓

Homo antecessors

Homo neanderthalensis
Pick two types of evidence that have been used to show early humans were in Britain.

ancient records

clay pots

human bones ✓

human footprints ✓
Three children are discussing what an archaeologist does. Who is correct?

Izzy: "Archaeologists study human history and look for artefacts in the ground." ✓

Jun: "Archaeologists look after your teeth and gums."

Aisha: "Archaeologists study science and carry out science investigations."
How did the Ice Ages affect the number of humans living in Britain?

They caused long periods when no humans lived in Britain. ✓

They caused long periods when only a few humans lived in Britain.

They caused long periods when lots of humans lived in Britain.
How many different types of early humans are believed to have come and left Britain in the past?

One type of human

Two types of humans

Many different types of humans ✓
Which two factors meant early humans came to and left Britain at different times in the past?

changes in beliefs

changes in climate ✓

changes in landscape ✓

changes in technology

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Natural climate change has meant that different groups of humans have come to and left Britain at different times.
Stone tools and footprints at Happisburgh show that the first known Britons came to Britain c. 950,000 years ago.
Around 500,000 years ago teeth and bones found at Boxgrove show Homo heidelbergensis lived in Britain.
Ice Ages around 450,000 and 20,000 years ago resulted in long periods when no humans lived in Britain.
Homo sapiens came to Britain c. 40,000 years ago, left during the most recent Ice Age and returned c. 12,000 years ago.

That there has only ever been one type of human.

Explain there was more than one type of early human but they are all extinct now. All modern humans are Homo sapiens.

Homo sapiens - the only surviving group of humans is the Homo sapiens
Archaeologist - someone who studies human history by exploring artefacts found in the ground is an archaeologist
Prehistoric - something from before written history is known as prehistoric
Ice age - an Ice Age is when the Earth becomes very cold for a long period of time