We all have at least one thing in common – we live in Britain! Chn meet lots of different chn from all over the UK courtesy of We are Britain by B. Zephaniah. They see people move around the UK & other countries é they think about their own histories. Suitable for Years 1 é 2.

This session begins some work on family life in the Roman Empire. Children prepare for, and then carry out their own research. Each group picks an aspect of family life and then use the internet as well as books and information sheets to find out some facts. Suitable for years 3 and 4.

One of the important changes in British society since WW2 has been the rise in numbers of people with different religious beliefs. Christianity remains the main religion. Investigate the main religions that are now practised in Britain and create display.

In this session children look at how the Romans improved hygiene arrangements across the empire by providing clean water and drains for sewage. Children investigate Roman toilets and baths, and discuss the positive effects of these innovations. Suitable for years 3 and 4.

Children research the internet and non-fiction texts and look for information about Roman mosaics. They talk about the images that Romans used in creating these, and then use a software package to create their own mosaics. Some chn do further research. Suitable for years 3 and 4.

Children look at trains from different ages, then try to make a moving vehicle using magnets, then have a competition involving choosing magnetic metal objects.

Children order pictures of old telephones. They decode, then write mobile ‘phone text messages.

Discuss the diff peoples who came to Britain in the past and made it their home - Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans and how other peoples have continued to come since WW2. Start a class timeline and individual timelines using ICT about this.

Celebrate the diversity of British people! The cultures of immigrants from many countries who have come to Britain since WW2 have been merged with the pre-war British culture to provide a great variety of foods, music, clothes and dance. Explore and enjoy!

Children locate the Roman empire on a timeline and discuss how historians and archaeologists are able to piece together the facts. They look at the 3 systems of government: monarchy, republic and emperors, and debate advantages/disadvantages of each. Suitable for years 3 and 4.

Children look at labour saving household inventions, order picture of machines across the decades and then carry out an experiment to find out how spin driers work.

Children look at 1950s sculptures by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and make their own similar model from clay.

Children discuss what technologies could be displayed in a 2012 exhibition in a similar way to the Festival of Britain in 1951, and then at a similar event in 3012.

Moving to West Africa, children explore how history of Asante people has been represented through the craft of block printing Adinkra cloths. Children use web research to find out about history, techniques and processes involved.

Children discuss ways of crossing the Channel and then make a balloon-powered hovercraft.

Zooming in on South Africa, children are introduced to the incredible beadwork of the Ndebele people of KwaNdebele. Through web images children explore the history of this craft and investigate its key visual elements.

Children look at cameras from different decades and then make a pinhole camera, experiment to see which size pinhole works best.

Children look at pieces of kitchen equipment and guess which were available in the 1950s. One group make a real chicken meal, whilst the others make a typical 50s dinner from Plasticine, an ICT package or paint/collage materials. All taste the 50s dinner.

Children look at Festival of Britain architecture especially the Skylon and Dome of Discovery. They choose to make a Skylon, Dome or to design their own futuristic piece of architecture.

Children continue the work on gladiators and Roman entertainment and look at amphitheatres. They study what they look like and realise that these varied from place to place. They begin to plan and design their own model amphitheatre. Suitable for years 3 and 4.