Preparing for the Romans in Britain Workshop                                   homepage

Preparation for the workshop

1.    If you have an interactive whiteboard please have it set up so I can display my photos.

2.    Make sure the tables are arranged in groups of six seats (i.e. 3 tables in a rectangle), with one group of eight seats.

3.    I will need four helpers (children and/or teachers) to help set out the materials for the town making during morning break, and for the artefact making during lunch break.

4.    I have enclosed 2 sheets for you to assign the town and artefact activities to children based on their abilities. The sheets tell you how many children should be in each group. Three or four children are needed to make the mosaic, plus a TA or other adult.

5.    Please arrange for at least one assistant to help the children make the town and artefacts (in addition to the one needed for the mosaic). The activities are challenging and the more helpers you can get the better. I suggest asking parents to come in – in my experience parents always enjoy the activities and feel good about helping the class. A year 3 will need at least 3 extra helpers.

6.   Have a space ready at the side of the room for the children’s artwork. A sign or other decoration will help give the impression of a museum display. The town is 90X60cm and so you will need a large space for it – perhaps outside the classroom

7.    Please ensure the following items are present in the classroom on the day of the visit (if you can have them all ready on one side of the room, that would be very helpful):

Table at front of room for my own use, under the whiteboard

4 paint palettes

1 ruler per child (with thin edges, not the thick wooden ones)

1 pair of scissors per child

1 glue spreader per child

1 small container for PVA glue per pair of children (I will bring my own glue)

15 sharp pencils

Sheets or newspaper to cover the tables

Paper towels (10 or so)

6 glue sticks (Pritt sticks only – other brands of glue sticks don’t work very well)

1 pot for water

14 overalls (some children use acrylic paint)

9 paint brushes

I will also need a carpet space for the children to sit on (when I show them the artefacts).

  Also please have a cheque made out to Time Trips for £179 per day ready at the end of my visit. I look forward to teaching your children about the Romans in Britain.

 

Roman Town Making: Assignment of Buildings to Children

Arranged by difficulty level, for a typical year 4

Quite easy

Number of children

 Names

Towers

2

 

 

Town planning

2

 

 

Houses

4-10*

  

 

 

Basilica

1

 

 

Shops with columns

 

2

 

 

Moderate

 

 
Gateways

2  

Walls

4

 

 

Shops with veranda

2-4

 

  

Town houses

2

 

 

 

Difficult

 

 

Temple

2

 

 

 

Most difficult

 

 

Amphitheatre

2

 

 

Theatre

2

 

 

 

Romans in Britain Workshop - Artefact Assignment Sheet                           

 Difficulty level is for a typical year 4.  

 Easy

No. of children

Children’s names

1. Celtic coins*

 

1 or 2

 

2. Celtic brooch

 

1

 

 

Quite Easy

3. Roman coins*

 

1 or 2

 

4. Plaque of Sulis-Minerva

 

1 or 2

 

5. Game board*

 

1 or 2

 

 

Moderate

6. Snake armband*

 

2

 

7. Torc

 

2

 

8. Carve relief

 

1 or 2

 

9. Mosaic*

 

3 or 4

 

  

10. Silver plate*

 

1

 

 

Quite Hard

11. Roman sword

 

1 or 2

 

12. Celtic mirror*

 

1 or 2

 

13. Celtic shield

 

2 or 3

 

 

Very Hard

14. Silver plate*

 

1

 

15. Roman shield

 

2

 

16. Roman helmet

 

2

 

*If the class size is over 31, you can add a child to any of the artefacts which have an asterisk and they will make one of their own. The mosaic requires at least 3 children however.

Notes:

1. A TA will be needed to assist with the mosaic making.

2. If children are absent on the day, please modify these lists.