Stone Age

Start with the periods

The Life of Early Man mind map introduces the Stone Age as a period when stone tools were used. It lists the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, alongside their Old, Middle and New Stone Age names. Start there if you want an overview before looking more closely at individual periods.

Next, the Key Ideas note offers vocabulary for studying the Paleolithic and Neolithic. It includes terms such as prehistory and archaeologist. Use the note alongside the map to connect the period names with the words used to discuss them.

Compare ways of life

A Stone Age mind map brings together hunter-gatherers, farming, clothing and pottery. A Prehistory mind map also lists hunters, gatherers, stone tools, cultivated crops and domesticated animals. Look at how each map groups these ideas, then use them to compare the ways of life shown.

When you are ready to practice, try the Neolithic and Paleolithic Ages quiz. It asks about the meanings of the period names and includes questions about domesticated plants and animals. Return to the maps and note afterward to go over any terms you want to study again.

Explore Ireland and the wider unit

For a different focus, open the Stone Age Ireland note and The Stone Age Ireland mind map. They include information about early settlers in Ireland and the periods associated with them. Comparing the note and map gives you another way to work with the period names.

Stone Age is one section of the Prehistory unit in History. Use this page to explore its resources before returning to the unit. Choose a map to begin, then test your understanding with a quiz.