History · 5th Year

Active learning ideas

Roman Gods, Goddesses, and Festivals

Active learning helps students grasp the complexity of Roman religious life by moving beyond static names and dates. Through role-play, visual analysis, and creative design, students connect myths to festivals and daily routines in ways that lectures alone cannot achieve.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Early people and ancient societies
• NCCA: Primary - Story

• 30–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 50 min · Small Groups

Role-Play: Festival Reenactment

Assign small groups a festival like Saturnalia or Lupercalia. Groups research key rituals using provided sources, prepare props and scripts, then perform 5-minute skits for the class. Follow with a debrief on social purposes.

Compare Roman gods and goddesses to those of other ancient civilizations.

Facilitation Tip

For Festival Reenactment, assign roles with clear scripts that include both dialogue and stage directions to ensure historical accuracy and engaged participation.

What to look for

Present students with images of Roman gods, goddesses, or festival scenes. Ask them to write down the name of the deity or festival and one key characteristic or purpose associated with it.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Jigsaw
• 40 min · Small Groups

Jigsaw: God Comparisons

Divide class into expert groups on Roman, Greek, and Celtic gods. Experts study one deity pair, note similarities and differences, then regroup to teach peers and complete comparison charts.

Explain the purpose and significance of major Roman festivals.

Facilitation Tip

During God Comparisons, provide a comparison matrix so students organize traits side-by-side before presenting to peers.

What to look for

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'How might the stories of Roman gods and goddesses have helped ordinary Romans make sense of the world around them, from weather to human behavior?' Encourage students to cite specific examples.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 35 min · Pairs

Gallery Walk: Art and Temples

Display images of Roman religious art and architecture. Pairs rotate through stations, noting god depictions and temple features, then discuss in whole class how beliefs shaped designs.

Analyze how religious beliefs influenced Roman art and architecture.

Facilitation Tip

In the Gallery Walk, place images in chronological or thematic order to help students trace visual evolution and connections between gods and temples.

What to look for

Students receive a card asking them to name one Roman god or goddess and one major Roman festival. They must then write one sentence explaining how these elements were important to daily Roman life.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 04

• Role Play
• 30 min · Individual

Design: Modern Roman Festival

Individuals brainstorm a festival for a Roman virtue like piety, sketch posters with gods and activities, then share in small groups for feedback on historical accuracy.

Compare Roman gods and goddesses to those of other ancient civilizations.

Facilitation Tip

For the Design activity, give a rubric that evaluates both creativity and historical fidelity, such as how well the festival reflects Roman values.

What to look for

Present students with images of Roman gods, goddesses, or festival scenes. Ask them to write down the name of the deity or festival and one key characteristic or purpose associated with it.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should emphasize how Roman religion blended piety, politics, and community, avoiding the trap of presenting it as a simple set of beliefs. Use artifacts and primary sources to show how Romans themselves experienced their world, and encourage students to question how these elements worked together. Research shows that combining kinesthetic, visual, and analytical activities improves retention of abstract concepts like mythology and ritual.

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining how Roman gods and festivals shaped society, using evidence from myths, artifacts, and their own reenactments. They should also recognize cultural adaptations and the practical purposes behind rituals.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Jigsaw activity, watch for students assuming Roman gods were identical to Greek gods without comparing names or attributes.

  Provide a comparison chart where students must fill in Roman names alongside Greek counterparts and note cultural shifts, such as Jupiter’s emphasis on state authority.

• During Festival Reenactment, listen for students describing the festival as a simple party without recognizing its religious or social functions.

  Ask students to pause after their skit and identify one ritual action or line of dialogue that connects to Roman values, such as feasting for community harmony or role reversal for social balance.

• During the Gallery Walk, notice if students skim past temple designs without connecting them to specific deities or civic purposes.

  Give each student a worksheet with prompts like 'Which god does this temple honor, and how can you tell?' to focus their observation on iconography and inscriptions.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play
• Jigsaw
• Gallery Walk