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Lower Key Stage 2 The Romans in Britain - NEW LOOK
Roman army and busts

The Roman Army was disciplined and effective. What was its organisation? What were the Roman soldiers like and why did so many Britons join the Roman army? Learn about the army and then use this knowledge to help understand how Roman busts differed from their Greek equivalent. Create Roman Busts in relief from clay.

block outcomes

Session 1 Understanding why the Roman army was so powerful

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Objectives

History

  • Develop a chronologically secure knowledge of world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the Roman era.
  • Understand how knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
  • Address and devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference and significance.
  • Construct informed responses that come from the selection of relevant historical information.
  • Understand the power of the Roman army and its significance to the Empire’s success.

Lesson Planning

Children learn about the Roman army and train together, being given orders by a centurion. They act out a battle.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To investigate the Roman army and significant Romans who influenced and made the army great.

Children will:

  • Explain some of the reasons why the Roman army was so successful.
  • Understand why someone would have joined the Roman army.

You Will Need

  • Non-fiction text on Roman army and it's soldiers
  • Information on Gaius Marius
  • Bean bags
  • Large pieces of cardboard

Session 2 Understanding the power of the Roman army through 3D art

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Objectives

History

  • Understand the importance of Roman busts as historical evidence and their cultural and artistic significance.
  • Understand how knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
  • Address and devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference and significance.
  • Construct informed responses that come from the selection of relevant historical information.

Art

  • Understand the historical and cultural development of art forms (3D portraiture).
  • Understand how art and design reflect history.
  • Explore their ideas.

Lesson Planning

Children explore some of the features of the Roman Army by looking at the differences between Roman & Greek busts.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To investigate the development of Roman busts from Greek sculptures.
  • Explore and discuss busts as an art form begun by the Greeks and developed by the Romans, looking particularly at facial expressions.

Children will:

  • Explain some of the key features of Roman busts.
  • Explain why Romans wanted to have all of their ‘flaws’ on display.
  • Relate the development of Roman busts to what we understand about the Roman army.

You Will Need

Mirrors

Session 3 Recording different facial expressions in sketchbooks and experimenting with clay

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Objectives

Art

  • Explore their ideas to improve their mastery of art and design techniques with clay and record their observations in sketch books to revisit.

History

  • Understand Roman art and the power of the Roman army.
  • Construct informed responses that come from selection of relevant historical information.

Lesson Planning

Children start to plan and design their Roman busts, thinking about the features and expression of a soldier in the Roman Army.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To develop ideas for sculpture.
  • To continue to develop their understanding of the power of the Roman army and how this was sometimes depicted in their art.

Children will:

  • Have recorded their observations about facial expressions to revisit over the next session.
  • Have improved their understanding of how clay can be used and the different effects that can be created with clay.
  • Appreciate that the style and expression of Roman busts reflects the power and position of the Roman army within Roman culture.

You Will Need

  • Mirrors
  • Sketchbooks
  • Clay and tools
  • Digital camera

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

Session 4 Creating a fierce depiction of themselves from clay

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Objectives

Art

  • Explore their ideas to improve their mastery of art and design techniques with clay and record their observations in sketch books to revisit.
  • Evaluate and analyse their work and the work of others.

History

  • Understand Roman art and the power of the Roman army.
  • Understand the importance of Roman busts as historical evidence and their cultural and artistic significance.
  • Understand how our knowledge of the past is gathered from a range of sources.

Lesson Planning

Children re-cap all they have learned about the Roman Army. Then they create a Roman bust in relief from clay.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To create a relief model of a ‘fierce’ bust.
  • To continue to develop an understanding of the organisation and power of the Roman army and how this was sometimes depicted in their art.

Children will:

  • Have used their developing range of techniques to create a relief model of their face based on their learning about Roman sculptures.
  • Understand that the difference between Greek and Roman busts reflects the culture of the Roman army and its position in Roman society.

You Will Need

  • Sketch books
  • Clay and tools
  • Clay boards
  • Plastic bags

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

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