Lower Key Stage 2 The Romans in Britain - NEW LOOK

Roman entertainment

Children look at (if possible, in the context of a visit to a museum or Roman site) artefacts from Roman times and think about their function and attributes.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To investigate Roman entertainment from a range of sources.

Children will:

• Explain who gladiators were and how they entertained the Romans.
• Understand that our knowledge of the past comes from a range of sources including artefacts.

• Images of gladiators on Roman artefacts
• Artefact record sheet

• Topic books
• Internet

The Colosseum - YouTube clip

Children investigate a variety of vehicles and understand how they move.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To investigate Roman entertainment from a range of sources.
• To develop ideas and designs of moving vehicles (chariots) through discussion and prototypes.

Children will:

• Understand that chariot racing was a form of entertainment for the Romans.
• Have an image of a Roman chariot and can imagine what a race would have been like.
• Make a moving vehicle from construction equipment.

• Images of chariot racing
• Image of Circus Maximus

• Topic books
• Construction equipment
• Variety of toy vehicles

Roman leisure from bbc.co.uk

Children understand that wheels and axles can be assembled in different ways.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To join wheels and axles effectively, choosing appropriate materials, and explain how they work.

Children will:

• Join wheels and axles effectively and can explain how they work.
• Choose from a range of materials to build a functioning moving vehicle.

This session does not need any provided resources.

• Straws
• Wooden dowel
• Tape, stapler, paper-clips, clothes pegs, cotton reels

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

Children work together and individually to design a chariot, deciding what materials they will use.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To generate a design for a Roman chariot based on research, prior knowledge and the design brief.
• To know about entertainment during the time of the Roman Empire.

Children will:

• Select from a range of materials based on their functional properties.
• Generate and develop their design ideas through annotated sketches and discussions.
• Use prior knowledge and research to inform the design of a chariot that is fit for purpose.

• Design sheet

• Wood, straws, cotton reels, paper clips
• Clay
• Blu-tack, Plasticine
• Saws, Dowel
• Playmobil Roman chariot and horses or suitable alternative

Chariot race in the Colosseum - YouTube clip

Children use variety of tools and materials to create their own chariot.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To safely and accurately select tools and equipment to build a Roman chariot.
• To research the Circus Maximus and understand its significance in Roman chariot racing history.

Children will:

• Select from a range of materials based on their functional properties.
• Use a range of tools to make a Roman chariot.
• Make a Roman chariot according to the design brief.
• Have a good idea of the location, size and significance of the Circus Maximus.

• Circus Maximus record sheet
• Images of various chariot designs

• Wood, straws, cotton reels, paper clips
• Blu-tack, Plasticine
• Saws, dowel, bench hook or G clamp
• Design sheet
• Playmobil Roman chariot and horses or suitable alternative
• Topic books and internet access

Circus Maximus from ancient.eu.com

Children compare their chariots, looking at the things that worked and those that they would do differently.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of their chariot based on the design brief.
• To consider how the Romans would design their chariots today.

Children will:

• Evaluate their chariot based on the design brief.
• Understand how engineers have changed design and technology.
• Consider how the Romans would design a chariot today.

This session does not need any provided resources.

• Photos of chioldren’s chariots
• Evaluation sheet on session 4 design sheet

There are no weblinks needed for this session.