Session 1: Session Title s15

LKS2 Topic: The Romans in Britain Block C: The Roman Invasion of Britain

Find all lesson plans for The Romans in Britain here: https://wrht.org.uk/romans

Session 2 Legions of legionaries
National Curriculum / History: To develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study focusing on the Roman Empire
Teaching Objectives / 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
National Curriculum / English: Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts
Teaching Objectives / To write short paragraphs or annotations that explain (why the Roman army was so successful) using a range of technical vocabulary
Resources
Roman Timeline; Flip chart and pens; Whiteboards and pens or paper to make notes; Access to computers and the internet or printouts and reference books; Task scaffolding sheet. / Weblinks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/life-in-the-roman-army/5415.html - This short BBC film clip shows what life in a Roman fort was like; http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/roman-army/3702.html - This BBC film clip explains about the Roman army: their organisation and discipline; http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/the_roman_army
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/romans/legion.html - These two sites are great for the chn’s own research.
Whole class: This session can be taught in parallel with Session 1 to allow some children to paint while others research (swapping roles the following session).
Tell chn that today we will find out about the life and role of a soldier in the Roman army. Look at the first two events on the Roman Timeline to put events in chronological context. You could peg these onto an actual line in the classroom or put them on the classroom wall with sticky tack. As this block progresses, you will keep adding events to the timeline. Remind them of how last session we looked at the interactive map. We saw how the Roman Empire expanded to conquer many countries. How did they manage this? Show the two BBC film clips. Let’s make a list of reasons why the Romans were such a ‘fine fighting machine’. You may want to watch the second half of the second clip again and give the chn whiteboards or paper to make notes as there is a lot of relevant information in this clip. Gather information together on the flip chart. Make headings for your list of reasons, i.e. Equipment: helmet, shield, hobnailed sandals, armour; Weapons: gladius (short sword), dagger, pilum (spear); Organisation: legions of 5,000 men organised, battle plans, formations, tactics. Tell chn that we will each make a folded leaflet to explain the reasons why the Roman army was so successful.
Medium/ Hard: A task scaffolding sheet is provided with a premade drawing, vocabulary, paragraph headings and suggested websites. Teachers should decide which sections to give each group to aid and support the task.
Using a sheet of A4 paper (landscape), fold the two outside edges into the centre to make a double door open-flap leaflet. Write a two-part title on the front, e.g. ‘The Roman Army’ / ‘A Fine Fighting Machine’. Write one part of the title on each side. Open up the flaps and in the central rectangle draw (or cut around and stick in from the scaffolding sheet) a drawing of a Roman legionary. Label the equipment and weapons. In the outer sections chn should write paragraphs that explain all the reasons why the Romans were so successful in conquering other countries using their knowledge from the lesson as well as further research using the internet and reference books. / Easy
Chn should make their leaflets in the same way but use the outer sections to annotate each label with a short explanation of its function.
Teacher to support as necessary.
Plenary / Would you like to be in the Roman army? Discuss the advantages (becoming a Roman citizen, good pay, excitement, travel opportunities, a pension when you retire) and disadvantages (risk of injury and death, hard work, lots of heavy kit to carry).
Outcomes / 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

© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.

We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.