Tag Archives: British Isles

Iron-age or Celtic Britain

History, ,

Moving on from the Stone Age  in the British Isles bronze technology arrives from the continent around 2500BC, and around 800BC the Celtic iron age culture begins.

Websites and online games

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/ – We love this interactive, animated stories and games on Celtic Wales. Also has some information, Celtic sites in Wales and craft ideas.
  • Iron Age Life – Find out whether you have the skills to make fire, bake bread and spin cloth and so survive the Iron Age. 
  • Boudicca’s revolt – Meet four characters and find out about their view of Boudicca’s Revolt (illustrated, but text/reading based)

Things to make and do

Over the years we have returned to Iron age Britain several times and have found these resources useful for things to make and do. We have dressed up, made cardboard swords and shields, and twisted wire torcs, painted ourselves with fake blue tattoos and visited Celtic Harmony.

  • Butser Ancient Farm – Downloads include how to make clothes, shoes from an educational site in Hampshire
  • Celtic Harmony Camp - Hertfordshire based education site with roundhouses, educational visits, archery and bushcraft

Places to go

  • Celtic Harmony Camp - Hertfordshire based education site with roundhouses, educational visits, archery and bushcraft

Factual Books – to come

Historical Fiction – to come

 

 

 

British Bronze Age – Children’s Historical Fiction

Children's books, Children's fiction, History Books, , , , ,

Historical fiction is a great way of finding out more about history.
But some places and times are harder to find books on than others. Where as there is lots of historical fiction for children on the stone age which could be set in the British Isles, I have found very few books on bronze age Britain, and nothing for younger children.

Both of the books featured examine the possible impact of the introduction of objects of new metals on a community.

Mini reviews of the ones we have read:

  • boybronzeaxeThe Boy with the Bronze Axe by Kathleen Fidler
    Kali and Brockan live in the village of Skara Brae on Orkney.  Their’s is a stone age way of life, but when a boy with a bronze axe is washed ashore everything changes.
    This is a good read, which despite its age doesn’t seem stilted. The story vividly depicts stone age life on Skara Brae and wrestles with the issues that arise when new technologies and ideas are introduced.
    It is a more approachable read than Warrior Scarlet.
  • warrior scarletWarrior Scarlet by Rosemary Sutcliff
    Drem is born with a withered arm. Follow his story as he faces the obstacles this poses for him in proving himself and becoming a warrior. Will he be able to overcome his disability?
    A story of friendship, persistence, and harsh realities.
    Rosemary Sutcliff’s descriptive, more complex style makes this book a harder read than The Boy with the Bronze Axe.

 More children’s historical fiction set in the bronze age (we haven’t read these yet)

View Children’s Historical Fiction: Bronze Age Britain on Amazon Listmania

Do you have any comments on these or any other historical fiction set in the bronze age?