History · Year 4

Active learning ideas

Roman Gods and Goddesses

Active learning turns abstract myths into tangible experiences, helping students understand gods not as distant figures but as daily forces in Roman life. By stepping into roles and examining rituals, students grasp how religion shaped decisions from warfare to family life.

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

• 25–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Concept Mapping
• 45 min · Small Groups

Role-Play: Council of the Gods

Assign students roles as major gods and goddesses. Groups prepare speeches on a decision, like whether to aid Rome in battle, using myths for evidence. Perform for the class, with peers voting based on arguments.

Compare Roman gods to Greek gods, identifying similarities and differences.

Facilitation Tip

For the Council of the Gods role-play, assign each student a deity’s profile card with their domain and symbols to anchor their arguments.

What to look for

Provide students with a list of three Roman gods and three Greek gods. Ask them to draw lines connecting the gods that are most similar and write one sentence explaining their choice for one pair.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Activity 02

• Stations Rotation
• 40 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Daily Rituals

Set up stations for household shrine (offerings with clay models), festival prep (design invitations), omen reading (interpret 'bird flights' with cards), and myth mapping (draw family trees). Groups rotate, noting influences on life.

Explain how Roman religious beliefs influenced their daily rituals and festivals.

Facilitation Tip

During Station Rotation, place a timer at each station with a question prompt to guide students’ observations of rituals.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are a Roman citizen in Year 4. Which Roman god or goddess would you pray to for help with your schoolwork, and why?' Encourage students to justify their choice based on the god's domain.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Concept Mapping
• 30 min · Pairs

Pairs Debate: Roman vs Greek

Pairs research one paired deity, list similarities and differences on charts. Debate which version better suited empire needs, using evidence from myths and roles. Share key points class-wide.

Analyze the role of omens and prophecies in Roman decision-making.

Facilitation Tip

In Pairs Debate, provide a simple Venn diagram template to scaffold evidence comparison between Roman and Greek gods.

What to look for

Show students images of common Roman artifacts, like a hearth or a shield. Ask them to identify which god or goddess is most closely associated with the object and briefly explain the connection.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Concept Mapping
• 25 min · Individual

Individual: Omen Diary

Students create a diary entry as a Roman citizen interpreting daily omens for decisions. Draw symbols, explain choices, and link to gods. Share in pairs for feedback.

Compare Roman gods to Greek gods, identifying similarities and differences.

Facilitation Tip

For the Omen Diary, give students a template with dated entries and space to record both omens and their interpretations.

What to look for

Provide students with a list of three Roman gods and three Greek gods. Ask them to draw lines connecting the gods that are most similar and write one sentence explaining their choice for one pair.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with concrete objects like coins or household altars to ground discussions in evidence. Avoid treating myths as mere entertainment; instead, frame them as explanations for natural phenomena or moral lessons. Research shows that embodied activities, like role-play, improve retention of abstract concepts by 20% over passive listening.

Students will explain how Roman gods functioned in society and compare them to Greek counterparts using evidence from myths and artifacts. Success looks like reasoned debates, accurate role-play justifications, and clear connections between objects and deities.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Pairs Debate activity, watch for students assuming Roman and Greek gods are identical.

  Provide each pair with a comparison chart of Roman and Greek gods, asking them to highlight differences in roles, symbols, and worship practices before debating.

• During the Council of the Gods role-play, watch for students treating myths as fictional stories.

  Have students reference specific myths during their debates, such as citing Jupiter’s role in the founding of Rome to explain his importance in state rituals.

• During the Station Rotation activity, watch for students believing all Romans practiced the same rituals.

  At each station, include images or quotes from different social classes or regions, prompting students to discuss why practices varied.

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Methods used in this brief

• Concept Mapping
• Stations Rotation