Write Your Own Roman Story

Pupils’ book: 60pp. Authors: Beth Brooke, Dave Martin & Ian Dawson

Teachers’ book: 56pp, including photocopiable resources.

If you want to get your KS3 History off to a livelier, less predictable start then ‘Roman story’ may provide what you’re looking for. The task is for pupils to write their own story about life in the Roman Empire and they’re carefully guided through all the necessary stages. Perhaps most importantly they get to know and understand their characters so they’re motivated and care about people – the heart of History. And in NC terms it’s a great way to explore diversity and interpretations by comparing the different stories around the class.

Here’s some more detail:

• Story writing offers a depth of understanding other methods do not provide - it is empathy with edge. Plus see the impact on motivation – it’s enquiry with a purpose, writing for an audience.
• The book provides a variety of perspectives on the Roman Empire at a moment in time (the ninth year of Vespasian's reign AD78) - from slave gladiator, ex-legionary, baker’s wife and priestess of Juno - and from 4 different places, Durnovaria in Britain, Curium in Cyprus, Lectis Magna in North Africa and Pompeii in Italy.
• The support materials offer an enquiry exploring why the Roman Empire fell - ideal for a contrasting study to the end of the British Empire.
• The book provides a template to introduce historical fiction writing in any period or place, see the work of Gary Hillyard on the Each historical fiction website [ click here ]

And at the end pupils have a story they can really be proud of – a brilliant way of starting KS3.

Use these Amazon links to order copies or use the Hodder link on the right of the screen to order from the publisher.

Buy/browse on Amazon for Pupils’ Book: Write Your Own Roman Story: Pupil's Book (This Is History)

Buy/browse on Amazon for Teachers’ Book: Write Your Own Roman Story: Teacher's Resource Book (This Is History)

The Impact of Empire

Pupils’ book: 124pp. Authors: Jamie Byrom, Michael Riley & Christopher Culpin

Teachers’ book: 48pp, including photocopiable resources.

There are probably more meaty, unusual, stimulating investigations in this 124 pages than in any other comparable book.

Set amidst overviews giving the bigger picture are the many and varied investigations and the big task focussing on interpretations – why do people disagree about the impact of empire? And as for those investigations, choose between why the Roanoake colony failed, do Wolfe and Clive deserve to be called heroes, telling the stories of slavery, planning a film about early Australia, deciding who should have the Benin bust and so on and so on. And the investigations add up. They’re not just a random selection of good stories and activities but carefully chosen so, through them, young people understand the development and decline of the British Empire and its impact on the lives of the rulers, the ruled - and of the young people themselves! And you’ll enjoy it.

When you get your copy I bet you simply sit and read the book for enjoyment – and you can’t say that about many textbooks. And, oh yes, Empire is a major strand in the new NC so why not find out how to teach it effectively, challengingly and enjoyably?

Use these Amazon links to order copies or use the Hodder link on the right of the screen to order from the publisher.

Buy/browse on Amazon for Pupils’ Book: Impact of Empire: Colonialism 1500-2000: Pupils' Book (This Is History!)

Buy/browse on Amazon for Teachers’ Book: The Impact of Empire: Teacher's Resource Book (This Is History)