Building the timeline

Topics Year 4/5
This unit is part of Benin (900 to 1300CE) Benin Timeline

Objectives

History

  • Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
  • Construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.

Geography

  • Pupils should use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.

Lesson Planning

Experience a traditional Benin food, listen to some of their music and start to research modern and ancient Benin using a series of research challenges. Build the base of a tabletop timeline of the Benin civilisation using a series of research challenges to gather information. Work in groups to find out the main facts and dates about the Benin Kingdom and place on the timeline.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To experience traditional Benin food, listen to some of their music and start to research the modern country of Benin.
  • To become familiar with the modern country of Benin, including its location on a world map and some facts about the country.

Children will:

  • Experience traditional Benin food and music and understand more of the modern and ancient Benin using a series of research challenges.
  • Build the base of a tabletop timeline of the ancient Benin civilisation and work in groups to find out the main facts and dates about the Benin kingdom.

Provided Resources

  • How to make traditional Benin Yovo Doko (or European Beignets)
  • Benin research questions
  • How to construct a Benin Tabletop Timeline

You Will Need

  • Equipment and ingredients for Yovo Doko: yeast, butter, caster sugar, salt, evaporated milk, eggs, plain flour, oil for frying and icing sugar
  • Sticky-notes
  • Globes and atlases
  • Lego™ bases and Lego™ or strips of card
  • Marker pens