The Ancient Greeks have long been a staple of the KS2 history curriculum. They’re celebrated as a bastion of democracy (well, mostly), and we owe many great ideas and inventions to them.
Use this six-week medium term plan or a one-off drama lesson plan to explore this ancient civilisation in class.
Ancient Greece KS2 medium-term plan
These six lessons aim to give children lots of different ways to connect with the Ancient Greeks, by comparing historical lives with their own.
The titles of the lessons can be easily adapted to other parts of the history curriculum as well, to aid with building and connecting knowledge.
This unit of work is accompanied by downloadable worksheets, and detailed supporting materials containing all the information pupils will need.
Learning objectives
- Know where Ancient Greece was
- Know when the Ancient Greek period took place
- Know about the lives of a range of people in Ancient Greece
- Understand difference and diversity in Ancient Greece
- Understand what daily life was like in Ancient Greece
- Understand the importance of the Ancient Greek civilisation in world history
Matthew Lane is a teacher from Norfolk. His book Wayfinder, on how to lead curriculum change, is out now.
Explore the myth of Persephone
Act out the tale of Persephone and the pomegranate seeds via tableau and role play with this Ancient Greece KS2 drama lesson plan.
Drama provides children with a fun, practical and meaningful way of exploring the world, both in the present day and in times past. In this lesson plan, it’s used to explore the Ancient Greek myth of Persephone and the pomegranate seeds.
This is a story which the Greeks used to help them understand the changing nature of the four seasons. The story features Greek gods and goddesses Hades, Demeter and Persephone.
Pupils will undertake practical activities in small groups, demonstrating an awareness of story sequence, characters and themes via tableau, hot seating and role-play activities.
Learning objectives
- Identify key moments within a story/text
- Use drama techniques to explore a story/text
- Create role-play that balances dialogue with action
- Evaluate drama critically but empathetically
Starter activity
Read the class the story of Persephone and the pomegranate seeds. This is freely available online. Choose a version to read in which the Greek god of the underworld, Hades, features rather than the Roman god Pluto. Alternatively, listen to a 15-minute audio version from the BBC.
Discuss the main sequence of events. How does your class feel about the actions of each of the main characters in the story? Ask the children how this myth would have helped the Ancient Greeks to make sense of the changing seasons.
Tom Kirkham is the publishing director of The School Musicals Company and a qualified teacher of English and drama. Follow him on Twitter @musicalsco. Browse drama games for primary children.
