Check it! - Romans - Year 4

The educational material from Focus Education explores the transformative period in Britain from the end of the Iron Age to the conclusion of Roman rule. It prompts Year 4 students to consider the significant changes that occurred during this time. The resources are designed to encourage regular review of students' learning about this historical era. To facilitate this, several creative ideas are suggested, such as conducting a "brain dump" where students quickly jot down everything they know, or adding to a mind map to visually organise and link their knowledge. Other strategies include "Give me FIVE!" where students list five key points about a topic, and "Expand and Elaborate", which encourages deeper thinking and explanation.

The learning materials also include a variety of check-in activities to assess understanding and retention. One such activity, "CHECK IT! (Give me 5)", asks students to recall five reasons why the Romans came to Britain and five reasons why they left. Another activity, "Expand and Elaborate", prompts students to think more critically about historical perspectives, such as the reluctance of Roman soldiers to come to Britain and the empire's quest for new resources. The resources also challenge students with questions about Roman emperors, the famous British resistance leader Boudica, and the origins of Roman soldiers. The expectation is set that all pupils should be able to respond to the simpler questions, with more challenging questions provided for those ready to delve deeper. The "Pyramid Check" offers a structured way to review and consolidate learning in a hierarchical manner.