This activity encourages pupils to look at the different ways in which Shang people used symbols and ideograms as writing. Pupils can use the web to research different uses of writing and record their findings on the worksheet.

This is an activity that encourages pupils to think about the ancient Shang practice of taking prisoners of war. Pupils will consider the arguments for and against Shang kings taking prisoners of war and they will write and deliver a persuasive argument to support or oppose this practice.

This is an activity that allows pupils to prepare for a class debate. Pupils will place themselves in the shoes of the Shang fighters at the Battle of Muye and they will take part in a debate about whether or not they should defect to the opposing army.

Pupils can use this flowchart to learn about the Dynastic Cycle and the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, a popular philosophy in the time of the Shang Dynasty.

This resource contains a set of picture cards to match up with short explanations. Pupils will become familiar with the different types of artefacts that help us to know about life in the Shang Dynasty

In this activity pupils will investigate who Lady Fu Hao might have been by imagining some of the artefacts found in her tomb. The activity will help pupils to learn about how people in Shang times were often buried with a tomb full of treasures to take with them to the afterlife.

This resource includes a copy of the Christmas poem "Sly Santa Clause" and two response activities. The first activity challenges pupils to find different verbs in the poem and to sort them into different categories. The second activity allows pupils to demonstrate their understanding of the poem by turning it into a comic strip. This resource could be used for guided reading, for independent reading activities, for homework challenges or as part of a festive literacy lesson.

This resource includes a poem about a field mouse and an activity sheet that challenges pupils to think of verbs that describe the actions of the mouse in the poem. This activity could be used for guided reading, as an independent reading/SPAG activity, for a homework challenge or as part of a literacy lesson.

A useful sheet for pupils to use when they are planning a hero myth. Could be used to plan a story following the conventions of Anglo-Saxon myths like Beowulf, Greek myths, Roman myths or others.

This is a Powerpoint lesson and worksheet based on the ‘Laurel or Yanny’ soundclip debate that is going viral! When people listen to the clip, some people seem to hear it as ‘Laurel’ and others seem to hear ‘Yanny’. This fun lesson is a simple data handling activity that can be made suitable for KS2 or KS1 classes. Pupils will listen to the sound clip and then record the responses in a frequency table and block graph, Included in the Powerpoint are also some data processing questions, starting with straight forward questions that simply require intepreting of the data for younger classes and going on to more difficult questions involving fractions, percentages and ratios for KS2. Included in this resource: Powerpoint file (fully editable) Worksheet

Lesson 4. Dynasty Drama: Why did the first dynasty of Ogiso end in AD 1180? In this lesson pupils will find out how things changed in Benin Kingdom when the last Ogiso king was exiled from the kingdom and the second dynasty of Obas took charge. Pupils will listen to the dramatic series of events before making their own comic strip version of the story. The PDF file contains the full lesson plan and three

Here is a recipe from Ancient China for millet porridge that you can make with pupils as they learn about the Shang Dynasty or to use for Chinese New Year.

Lesson 5. Obey the Oba!: What were the rulers of Benin Kingdom like? In this lesson pupils will use the Benin Bronze Plaques as historical sources to find out about the 'Obas' who ruled Benin Kingdom. Pupils will use their online research skills to discover more information and then use what they have learned to design their own bronze plaque depicting a powerful Oba. The PDF file contains the full lesson plan and two pupil activity sheets. For Upper KS2.

Instructions for making oracle bones out of clay and adding Ancient Chinese symbols to make a message. This is a fun activity for Chinese New Year or for leaning about Ancient China.

An activity to help pupils describe 2 contrasting settings from the story of Beowulf. Pupils will use the diagram to record words and phrases from the Danish moors outside Heorot and the warm feasting hall inside the palace.

This is a really useful sheet to use with pupils when they are editing their writing. They colour in each piece of the puzzle as they edit their work. Designed for Year 3 & 4, but could also be used with other year groups.

Performing Poetry Walter de la Mare - 2 week unit A two-week literacy unit of work for Year 4, containing lesson plans and pupil resources, looking at how this poet creates a haunted atmosphere in some of his spooky narrative poems. In this unit pupils will: - read and listen to classic poems by Walter de la Mare - use inference skills to understand narrative poetry - engage imaginatively with poetic language - create their own versions of the one of the spooky poems - investigate how the poet creates a haunted atmosphere - explore how sound effects can enhance a performance - prepare and give a performance to an audience The poems include 'The Huntsmen', 'Some one' and 'The Listeners'

Romans planning for 2nd/3rd Grades. Includes 10 history lessons and 10 literacy lessons. History lessons: 1. Introduction: How did the Roman Empire begin? 2. Rise and Conquer!: How did the Roman army help the Roman Empire to expand? 3. Invading Britannia: How did Britain become part of the Roman Empire? 4. Who was Boudica?: How did Boudica rebel against the Romans? 5. Building up Britain: What did the Romans build after they settled in Britain? 6. Time to Relax!: What did people do for leisure in Roman Britain? 7. Digging up the Past: What do archaeological sites tell us about Roman Britain? 8. Home Sweet Home: What were houses like in Roman Britain? 9. What did the Romans do for us?: What important things did the Romans introduce to Britain? 10. Summing up: What have we learned about this period of history? Literacy Lessons: The ten lessons in this unit aim to give children the opportunity to understand the features of instructions as a genre. In the first week, children will engage with the text type by following instructions to make edible Roman roads out of biscuits, chocolates and custard! There is also a grammar focus on using prepositions and imperative verbs. In the second week, pupils will use drama to develop ideas and extend their vocabulary. They will then plan their own set of instructions about becoming gladiator champions and they will then have the opportunity to draft, edit and present their final instructions. The literacy objectives covered in this unit are: - To give and follow verbal instructions - To use prepositions - To read and follow written instructions - To identify how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning - To use a range of imperative verbs - To prepare a group performance - To make a plan for my writing - To write my own instructions - To edit my writing - To make decisions about how to present my writing The PDF files contain the full lesson plans and all accompanying pupil resources.

This is an activity designed to help pupils understand how tension mounts in the story Beowulf. Focusing on the scene where Beowulf journeys through the lake to battle Grendel's Mother, pupils should discuss where each card should be placed on the diagram to show how tension is built and relieved by the storyteller.