Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
3rd Year Exploring Our Past: From Stone Age Ireland to Ancient Civilizations
This course introduces Year 3 students to the skills of the historian through the study of local history, early Irish settlers, and the wonders of Ancient Egypt. Students develop chronological awareness and learn to use evidence to reconstruct the lives of people in the past.
01The Historian's Toolkit
An introduction to how we discover the past using artifacts, documents, and oral traditions.
Students explore what history is and why we study it, focusing on formulating historical questions.
Students learn to distinguish between primary and secondary sources by examining physical objects and written accounts.
Students practice interpreting information from various artifacts to reconstruct past events and daily life.
Students develop chronological awareness by ordering events and creating simple timelines.
Students explore continuity and change through the lens of their own family history, focusing on oral traditions.
Investigating the origins and development of the local school building and community using available records.
Students research and present on a significant person or place in their local area's history.
02Early Settlers in Ireland
Examining the lives of the first hunter-gatherers and the transition to farming in the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras.
Studying the lifestyle of the first people to arrive in Ireland after the Ice Age, focusing on Mount Sandel.
Students investigate the types of tools used by Mesolithic and Neolithic people and their purposes.
Investigating the massive shift from hunting to agriculture and its impact on the Irish landscape and society.
Students explore the design and function of early farming settlements and houses in Ireland.
Exploring the engineering and spiritual significance of the Brú na Bóinne passage tombs.
Students learn about different types of megalithic tombs across Ireland, comparing their structures and possible uses.
03Life in Ancient Egypt
A deep dive into the civilization of the Nile, focusing on social hierarchy, religion, and daily life.
Understanding how the geography of the Nile River allowed a great civilization to flourish.
Exploring the polytheistic religion of Ancient Egypt and the roles of key deities.
Examining the power of the rulers and their divine status in Ancient Egypt.
Investigating the engineering marvels of the Great Pyramids and the people who built them.
Exploring the process of mummification and its connection to Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
Exploring the Egyptian writing system and the importance of scribes and record keeping.
Understanding the discovery and significance of the Rosetta Stone in deciphering hieroglyphics.
04Great Explorers
Biographical studies of individuals who ventured into the unknown and changed world history.
The life and voyages of the Kerry man who survived the harshest conditions on Earth.
Exploring the reasons why Europeans began to explore the world in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Analyzing the motivations and challenges of Columbus's 1492 voyage to the Americas.
Examining the immediate and long-term consequences of European arrival for the Taino people and the Americas.
The story of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and her impact on gender roles.
Briefly introducing other significant explorers like Ferdinand Magellan or Vasco da Gama and their contributions.
05Life in Medieval Ireland
Exploring the world of castles, knights, and monks during the Middle Ages in Ireland.
Life in places like Glendalough and Skellig Michael, focusing on the work and daily routines of monks.
A closer look at the artistry and significance of the Book of Kells and other early Irish Christian art.
Exploring the arrival and impact of the Vikings on Irish society, trade, and settlements.
How the arrival of Strongbow and the Normans changed Irish architecture, law, and society.
Investigating the different roles and daily routines of people living within a medieval castle.
Investigating the trades, hygiene, and social structures of walled towns like Dublin or Kilkenny.
Exploring the types of food eaten by different social classes and the customs of medieval feasts.
06Games and Pastimes Through Time
A thematic look at how children and adults have spent their leisure time from ancient times to the present.
Exploring the board games and physical activities enjoyed by children and adults in Ancient Egypt.
Investigating the sports, toys, and theatrical performances of classical civilizations.
Exploring the games, music, and festivals that entertained people in medieval Ireland and Europe.
Comparing the leisure activities and toys of wealthy and poor children in the 19th century.
Exploring traditional Irish games, street games, and the emergence of new forms of entertainment.
Tracing the shift from outdoor community play to indoor digital entertainment in the late 20th century.
Students apply their understanding of historical games to design a new game that reflects modern values or technologies.