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The Romans in Britain
Life in Britain before the Romans

Learn about life in Britain before the Romans arrived and how the arrival of the Roman armies affected the Celtic tribes. Take different jobs and roles in a Celtic village. Debate whether to resist or collaborate and create Celtic shields.

Block Overview

Session 1 Celtic round houses

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British history (what Britain was like before the Romans came).
  • Begin to learn about Iron Age culture.

English

  • Discuss a text in a similar style to the writing they are planning, to understand and learn from its structure, vocabulary and grammar.
  • Draft and write non-narrative material, using simple organisational devices.

Teaching and Activities

Study Celtic Round House homes so that we know what life was like in Britain before the Romans came. Create a leaflet to show this.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To understand key terms relating to the Celtic period.
  • To draft, write and publish a leaflet using the features of information texts.

Children will:

  • Understand what sort of homes Celtic people lived in.
  • Produce an attractive, interesting and informative leaflet.

You Will Need

  • A4 paper
  • Pens
  • Pencils
  • Coloured pencils

Session 2 Village life in Iron Age Britain

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British history (what Britain was like before the Romans came).
  • Begin to learn about Iron Age culture (farming, clothes, food and crafts).

English

  • Participate in improvisations and role-play.
  • Ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge.

Teaching and Activities

Begin to understand the different jobs that people did in a Celtic village before the romans came and make a poster to show this.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To gain knowledge of the way of life in an Iron Age settlement.
  • To role-play a member of an Iron Age settlement and recognise key aspects of the culture and life.

Children will:

  • Understand how people lived in Iron Age Britain including clothes, food and jobs.
  • Co-operate in a group/pair to produce an informative and attractive poster that outlines a Celtic job or craft.
  • Role-play members of an Iron Age settlement.

Provided Resources

  • A set of cards with the name of a Celtic job or craft on each
  • A corresponding set of cards with an illustration of each job/craft and some text to explain it

You Will Need

  • Pencils and coloured pencils
  • An orange cloth and sticks to simulate a fire

Session 3 Hill forts and tribal wars

Session plan Download all files

Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British history (what Britain was like before the Romans came).
  • Begin to learn about Iron Age culture.

English

  • Participate in improvisations and role-play.
  • Ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge.

Teaching and Activities

Understand how Celtic tribes fought between themselves. Take part in a debate about whether to attack a neighbouring Celtic tribe who have been stealing sheep.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To learn about Celtic tribes and hill fort settlements.
  • To role-play a debate in a Celtic settlement about whether or not to go into battle against a neighbouring tribe.

Children will:

  • Understand how Celtic tribes fought and defended themselves.
  • Take part in a tribal discussion on the implications of going in to battle.
  • Produce an attractive shield design in a Celtic style.

You Will Need

  • A red/orange cloth and sticks to simulate a fire
  • A simple cloak
  • Oil pastels
  • Large oval shapes of coloured sugar paper

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