stone age games ks2

Sav Ter devian

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30-12-2024

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Stone Age Games: Fun and Games in Prehistory (KS2)

Imagine a world without video games, smartphones, or even board games! That's the world our ancestors lived in during the Stone Age. But that doesn't mean they didn't have fun. Stone Age people were incredibly creative, inventing games and activities using the materials readily available to them: stones, wood, bones, and natural features of the landscape.

Let's take a look at some of the games and activities children in the Stone Age might have enjoyed:

1. Stone Games:

• Stone skipping: A timeless classic! Smooth, flat stones were perfect for skipping across water, a game enjoyed across cultures and centuries. Think about how many different ways you could skip a stone – how far could you make it go? How many skips could you get?
• Target practice: Throwing stones at targets was a great way to practice hunting skills. Targets could be anything from a marked tree trunk to a pile of stones. Accuracy and skill were key!
• Stone balancing: Balancing stones on top of each other required patience and a steady hand. Building impressive stone towers or balancing a single stone on a pointed stick would have been a fun challenge.

2. Games with Natural Materials:

• Stick games: Long sticks could be used for a variety of games, from simple races to more complex games involving throwing and catching. Think about using sticks to create a game like hopscotch, or using them to create a game similar to bowling.
• Animal bones: Bones from hunted animals could be used as counters in simple counting games or used to create simple board games.
• Wood and twig toys: Simple dolls or animals carved from wood would have been treasured playthings.

3. Outdoor Games:

• Hide and seek: This classic game is incredibly simple and requires no special equipment – just a bit of imagination and a suitable landscape to hide in!
• Tag: Another timeless game that needs nothing more than a group of children and open space. Perhaps they played variations of tag using different rules or obstacles.
• Races: Children would have raced each other, perhaps carrying objects or running over uneven terrain.

4. Storytelling and Imitation:

While not exactly “games” in the traditional sense, storytelling and imitating animal sounds or actions were important forms of entertainment and learning. Sharing stories around the fire would have helped children learn about their history, culture, and environment.

Imagining Stone Age Games:

It's important to remember that we don't have detailed records of Stone Age games. These are educated guesses based on what we know about the materials available and the ways children play today. The key is to use our imaginations and think about how children might have used their environment to create fun and engaging activities.

Activities for KS2 Students:

• Create your own Stone Age game: Challenge students to design a game using only natural materials like sticks, stones, and leaves.
• Research different Stone Age cultures: Explore how games and activities might have varied between different Stone Age communities across the world.
• Draw pictures of Stone Age children playing: Encourage students to use their imaginations to create visuals of Stone Age games.

By exploring the possibilities of Stone Age games, KS2 students can develop their understanding of prehistory, learn about different cultures, and appreciate the simple joys of play. It's a fun and engaging way to connect with our past and understand the ingenuity of our ancestors!