Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by Leeds Museums and Galleries Discovery Centre.

Did the Romans ever come into the centre of Leeds? What evidence is there of the people who lived in the local area during the Roman period? And why were people making fake Roman coins 2000 years ago?

A Global View:

Also during the 3rd and 4th centuries, the Han Dynasty collapsed in China (220) and was replaced by three divided kingdoms, ending a period of unity which had lasted 400 years. The Classic Period of the Maya Civilization began in central America (250 CE), with the growth of new cities and impressive architecture, and the Gupta Dynasty also conquered and ruled over several kingdoms in and around modern-day India, forming the Gupta Empire (c. 320).

 

Curriculum Links

  • KS2 History:  The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain

  • KS1 and KS2 Art: Sketching, drawing, painting, sculpture and history of art

  • KS2 PSHE:   Relationships, Community and Global Citizenship

  • SMSC: British Values

 

Discussion Ideas

  • Why do you think people were forging coins during Roman times?

  • What steps do the government take now to stop coins being forged?

  • Why do you think Roman emperors used portraits, symbols and messages on their coins? What message would you put on your own coin and why?

  • Why are human remains important for archaeologists? Should museums collect human remains, research them and display them?

  • How did the Roman Empire affect the world, Europe, and Leeds? Think about physical impacts, such as goods and trade, and intangible aspects, such as power and influence.
    • What impact would the empire have had on different people?
    • What impact has the Roman Empire had on today’s society, for good and bad?
    • Can you draw comparisons and parallels to the British Empire centuries later?

 

Activity Ideas

  • Find out more about the Romans in this interactive image.
  • Visit the numismatics collections at your local Museum. Numismatic collections contain historic coins, medals and tokens. There will be many Roman coins within most museum collections. Ask pupils to draw their favourite coin and find out where and what dates it was from.

  • Design your own Roman coins.
    Pupils could study Roman coins and the symbols, imagery, words and portraits of Roman Emperors used on them. They could design their own using their own portraits and words associated with their personalities to decorate their coins.

  • Make your own Roman coins using clay and plaster of paris

    – They could carve their own designs onto the clay to create their personalised coins.

  • Create a class map of Leeds and add pupil pictures and creative writing about Roman Leeds and archaeological finds to where they were found on the map.

  • Design and make your own model Roman Villa like Dalton Parlours or a Roman mosaic like the one found at Dalton Parlours.

  • Think about who might have lived at Dalton Parlours. What do they do each day? What are they like? Do a piece of creative writing or poetry about their lives.