Lesson Planning
Lower Key Stage 2 The Romans in Britain - NEW LOOK
Roman Buildings - NEW LOOK
What buildings did the Romans build and for what purposes? How did they solve engineering problems such as providing enough water for their towns and cities, and enabling the army to get from A to B. Study Roman roads, buildings and aqueducts? Build models, carry out scientific tests and make a presentation of discoveries.
Session 1 Roman Architecture
Objectives
History
- To become familiar with Roman architectural style.
- Recognise some famous Roman buildings and remains.
- To use a range of tools and materials to make a simple model of a Roman-style building.
Enquiry question
What do we know about Roman architecture?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Research and draw some famous Roman buildings.
- Identify features of Roman architecture such as columns, pediments and colonnades.
- Make a simple model of a Roman building supported by two columns.
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Triangular “pediments” of different sizes, cut from thick cardboard
Sheets of card for cutting out right angled triangles to strengthen pediments
A4 paper for making columns
PVA glue and spreaders
Pencils
Rulers
Weblinks
A guide to some of the important buildings in Roman Cities
BBC Bitesize film clip describing how Roman cities were designed and built
Session 2 Roman Arches
Objectives
History
- To understand how arches were used in construction and why they are so strong.
- To begin to understand how forces act on arches and post & lintel style bridges.
- Collaborate to investigate the strength of different shaped arches, applying skills of measuring and fair testing.
Enquiry question
How are arches used in construction and why are they strong?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand why arches are strong and explore surviving examples in Roman architecture.
- Conduct an investigation on the effectiveness of different shaped arches by varying the length of span and measuring the weight supported.
- Record their findings and draw conclusions from these results.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Sheets of A3 card (or thick paper, e.g. sugar paper)
A large number of books (to make columns);
Small play people (or other non-standard unit of weight, e.g. wooden blocks or metal weights)
Weblinks
A presentation about the use of arches in Roman architecture
Session 3 Roman Roads
Objectives
History
- To understand how the Romans built roads, many of which still exist.
- How the location of several British towns and cities of historical Roman significance.
Enquiry question
How did the Romans build roads?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Explore how Roman roads were made and where they were built.
- Learn more about British towns that the Romans named, locating and linking them on a map.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Atlases, online road maps of England
Weblinks
Roman roads in Britain
Session 4 Roman Aqueducts
Objectives
History
- To develop understanding about the construction and use of aqueducts to bring fresh water into the towns and cities.
- To research and present information on a famous Roman aqueduct.
- To use a range of materials, tools and equipment to contribute to the making of a model of an aqueduct.
Enquiry question
Why did the Romans build aqueducts and what are they for?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Explain how the Romans carried water into their towns using aqueducts.
- Research and present information on a famous Roman aqueduct.
- Contribute to the making of a cardboard model aqueduct.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
A long cardboard tube (could be made of a rolled sheet of A1 paper held with a rubber band) and a marble.
Activity 1: Non-fiction books on Roman architecture (optional) and access to the internet; Sheets of A4 white card; Pencils; Rulers; Scissors; Colouring pencils.
Activity 2: (see PPT): large cardboard boxes with the fronts cut away; Strips of card 40cm x 10cm (for the arches); Strips of white card to cover arches; Small cardboard rolls and an equal number of paper rectangles to cover them; Strips of white card 10cm wide and as long as the aqueduct (or several shorter strips that together make up the length with a 2cm overlap for each join); Pencils; Rulers; PVA glue with spreaders; Colouring pencils.
Weblinks
This film clip from the Science Channel provides an overview of how Roman engineers kept water flowing in and between towns and cities.
Use this BBC film clip to learn how aqueducts were used to supply Rome with water. The city’s drainage system is also discussed.
The Britannica Kids website has a useful explanation of what an aqueduct is.