History · Year 4

Active learning ideas

Food and Farming in Roman Britain

Active learning works well for this topic because students need to move beyond abstract ideas about new foods and farming tools. Hands-on sorting, role-play, and discussion help them connect Roman innovations to real daily life in Britain.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS2: History - The Roman Empire and its Impact on Britain
• KS2: History - Roman Life and Culture

• 20–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 40 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Roman Menu

In small groups, students are given a list of foods. They must sort them into 'Native to Britain' and 'Introduced by Romans'. They then design a three-course banquet menu using only the 'new' Roman ingredients.

Identify new foods and agricultural techniques the Romans brought to Britain.

Facilitation Tip

During the Roman Menu investigation, assign each group a food category so they divide tasks and share findings efficiently.

What to look for

Provide students with a card listing Roman foods (e.g., grapes, cherries, chicken, rabbit) and native British foods (e.g., oats, barley, pork, beef). Ask them to sort the foods into two columns: 'Roman Introduction' and 'Already Present'. Then, have them write one sentence explaining why this sorting is important.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 30 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Triclinium

Students set up a 'dining room' using mats on the floor. They must practice the Roman custom of reclining on their left side to eat and discuss how this would feel compared to sitting at a table.

Explain how the 'triclinium' changed how people ate dinner.

Facilitation Tip

In the Triclinium simulation, limit students to three key questions they must answer about reclining, sharing, and status to keep the role-play focused.

What to look for

Display images of a Roman villa, a triclinium, and a heavy plough. Ask students to write down one key fact they learned about each image and how it relates to food or farming in Roman Britain. Review answers as a class.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Farming Innovations

Show images of an Iron Age plough and a Roman heavy plough. Students pair up to discuss how the better tool would allow farmers to grow more food and what they would do with the extra 'surplus' (e.g., selling it to the army).

Analyze how Roman farming techniques increased food production and variety.

Facilitation Tip

For the Farming Innovations think-pair-share, provide sentence starters like 'The heavy plough changed farming because...' to support reluctant speakers.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'How did the Romans change the way people in Britain ate and farmed?' Encourage students to use at least two vocabulary terms (e.g., 'triclinium', 'villa', 'heavy plough') in their responses. Facilitate a brief class discussion, calling on volunteers to share their ideas.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic by starting with what students already know about food and farming, then layering in Roman changes. Use images and objects to make abstract ideas concrete. Avoid overemphasizing the exotic foods; instead, highlight the everyday impact of Roman farming tools and dining customs. Research shows that students retain more when they connect new knowledge to familiar experiences.

Successful learning looks like students accurately sorting foods into Roman introductions and existing British staples, confidently explaining one farming innovation, and using terms like triclinium or villa when describing Roman dining and housing.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Roman Menu investigation, watch for students assuming all Roman foods were exotic or rare.

  During the Roman Menu investigation, provide a mix of common and unusual foods and ask groups to categorize them as 'daily' or 'special occasion' based on historical evidence.

• During the Farming Innovations think-pair-share, watch for students believing the Romans 'saved' Iron Age Britons from starvation.

  During the Farming Innovations think-pair-share, ask students to compare Iron Age farming with Roman innovations and identify what changed, rather than suggesting the Romans were necessary for survival.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Simulation Game
• Think-Pair-Share