Ancient Kingdom of Benin Unit Plan

This resource is meant to be used by children in Key Stage 2 (English objectives pitched to Years 5 and 6) related to the Ancient Kingdom of Benin. Children will first learn about the art that has made the study of the kingdom significant, as well as the removal of the art by the British forces in 1897 when they annexed the kingdom by force.

Children will have to think critically about the art and who has rights to it, before writing a persuasive text that either argues that the British Museum should be able to retain the art, or that the government of Nigeria should be able to have the art back.

Sequence of Sessions:

- About and location of Ancient Benin
- Different examples of art from Ancient Benin
- Use timeline to show changes in Benin trading before and after meeting different merchants from Europe
- Understand the events of the annexation of the Kingdom of Benin and its art
- Use formal language to plan a persuasive writing piece
- Incorporate formal language into writing frame for or against returning the art

A digital file for editing and sharing on Google Classroom and Seesaw is available by following the link provided with download.