Lower Key Stage 2 Romans in Britain

The Roman invasion of Britain

Understand some of the reasons behind the Romans’ success in invading Britain and create Roman shields to use in role play.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand how the Roman Empire emerged and expanded in the three centuries before the Common Era.
• To design and paint a Roman shield using inspiration from Roman designs.

Children will:

• Ask and answer historically relevant questions about the rise of the Roman Empire and consider reasons for its success.
• Design and paint a Roman style shield.

• Sheet of Roman shield designs

• A2 thick card
• A thick card strip
• Stapler
• Black marker pens
• Sketch books
• Red and yellow poster or acrylic paint
• Thick and fine brushes
• Water pots
• Sheet of Roman shield designs
• Aluminium pie cases

Interactive map showing the lands of the Celts and Romans over time from resourcesforhistory.com
The Roman army: their organisation and discipline - YouTube clip

Learn about life as a Roman Legionary and create an informative leaflet.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To explore the reasons for the Romans’ successful growing empire in two centuries before the birth of Christ and learn about life in the Roman army.
• To write short paragraphs or annotations that explain (why the Roman army was so successful) using a range of technical vocabulary.

Children will:

• Learn about the Roman army and life as a legionary.
• Produce an informative leaflet about weapons, equipment and organisation in the Roman army.

• Roman timeline
• Task scaffolding sheet

• Flip chart and pens
• Whiteboards and pens or paper to make notes
• Access to computers and the internet or printouts and reference books

What life in the Roman army and in a Roman fort was like from bbc.co.uk
Great for research information about the Romans from primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk
Pobble, an on-line writing website from pobble.com

Create a realistic impression, using music and movement, of what it felt like as the Roman army invaded Britain.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To begin to understand why the Romans wanted to invade Britain.
• To use a piece of music to create atmosphere and to discuss its effect on the listener.

Children will:

• Know why the Romans wanted to invade Britain.
• March in legion formation, obeying Latin commands.
• Listen to and discuss a piece of music evocative of an invading army.

• Roman timeline
• Sheet of simple Roman army commands and instructions on how to form a square

• Access to large space
• The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins
• A large stick/staff for the teacher/centurion

Map showing the lands of the Celts and Romans over time from resourcesforhistory.com

Build on the previous session in developing, through mime and role-play, a deeper understanding of the impact of the Roman invasion on the Celts.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand the reasons why Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 BCE.
• To explore the invasion of Britain and gain a deeper understanding of its impact on the people who were there.

Children will:

• Learn about the invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar in 55 BCE.
• Role-play Romans and Britons as the invasion begins.

• Roman timeline
• Narrative script

• Access to a large space
• The soundtrack from Braveheart
• Music from The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins
• 3 PE benches
• Large drum and beater

Why Julius Caesar invaded Britain and what happened from bbc.co.uk

Create a realistic debate within a Celtic tribe about whether to accept the Roman invasion or fight it.

Teaching Outcomes:

• To understand the events leading up to the Roman conquest of Britain by Emperor Claudius in 43 CE.
• To explore to issues of the Roman conquest of Britain through role-play and discussion.

Children will:

• Learn about the conquest of Britain in 43 CE by Emperor Claudius.
• Role-play a tribal discussion on whether to fight the Romans or accept their rule.

• Roman timeline

• Access to a large space
• A red/orange cloth and sticks to simulate a fire
• A simple cloak

How the Romans conquered Britain from bbc.co.uk