Welcome to Topaz Class - Yr 3/4
Dear all Topaz page visitors,
Welcome to our class webpage! Here you will find information about our latest topic, links to useful websites, interesting facts about what we learn about, and much more!
If you need to contact me, you can email me at samp@netherfield.e-sussex.sch.uk or message me directly on ClassDojo.
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DICE Topic Term 5 - I Am Warrior!
This term, our DICE topic is entiteld 'I Am Warrior!' and focuses on the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain. We will learn about Rome, what it was like everyday in the Empire, how Roman and Celtic Britain differed, and what modern-day inventions originated in the Roman Era.
I am warrior! I am strong, brave, and powerful. Meet me in battle. Draw your sword, wield your axe, and challenge me if you dare! Invade and attack, Romans versus the Celts. The fight is on...
Discover warring Britain: meet Claudius, Boudicca, and Julius Caesar, and find out what the Romans did for us. Get ready for Gladiator School and learn alongside Spartacus and Spiculus: brave soldiers of the Roman Colosseum.
When all that battling makes you hungry, relax, lie back, and feast yourself on dormice and grapes, or perhaps a roasted swan sprinkled with nuts?
Useful Websites
We use a variety of online resources to help support what we do in school that your children can access at home if they wish. These include the following:
PurpleMash - a platform which has various games, apps, topics, and projects included to support both the Computing and wider curriculum.
Letterjoin - a website to support children with their handwriting, including a range of online and printable resouces.
Fitter Futures - a physical activity website with tons of indoor and outdoor workouts for children to try if they wish.
Your child should have their own personal logins for both PurpleMash and Fitter Futures. The school login for Letterjoin has been shared previously. If you need it, please do not hesitate to email me. The same can be arranged if your child does not know their PurpleMash or Fitter Futures login.
Please click on the pictures to be taken to any of these websites.
DICE Topic Websites
These websites are related to our DICE topic, which is called 'Rocks, Relics, and Rumbles' and focuses on geology and natural disasters.
As always, although these websites have been checked by staff, it is recommended you look at them first before you share them with children to ensure you are happy with their content.
The Celts and Romans – Resources for History A useful resource documenting the transition of British rule from the Celts to the Romans. The interactive map includes a handy timeline.
Roman Empire – BBC Bitesize A wide range of resources, including a brief summary of the history between the Celts of Britain and the invading Romans, short videos about weaponry and life as a Roman soldier, and a useful Teacher’s Resources area.
Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni – Thistle and Broom A detailed description about Boudicca’s life, which includes Dio Cassius’ description of Boudicca.
Life of a Gladiator – Tribunes and Triumphs A brief summary of the life of a gladiator in Roman times. The text could be adapted for children.
Gladiators: Heroes of the Roman Amphitheatre – BBC History A detailed account of the life of a gladiator and how Roman society embraced and celebrated gladiatorial combat.
Romans: Family and children – BBC Primary History An insight into the everyday life of a Roman family and children: school, writing equipment, diet and children’s toys.
Day in the Life of a 10-year-old in Roman Britain – BBC Hands on History This three-minute video made by BBC Hands on History shows the experience of a child from a wealthy Roman family.
Roman Numerals History, Chart and Converter – Roman Numerals Explains the system of using Roman numerals and includes a handy conversion chart.
What did the Romans invent? – BBC Bitesize A one-minute video explaining features of modern society that the Romans either invented or developed.
Fun Facts
Romulus was the first King of Rome and founded the city in 753 BC.
Rich Romans enjoyed banquets featuring exotic foods such as roasted parrots, dolphin meatballs, and flamingo tongues!
Julius Caesar invented our modern calendar of 12 months (365 days). July and August were added to the ten-month calendar and named after Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus.
The Romans introduced many things to Britain, including aqueducts, central heating, straight roads, and vegetables such as carrots and turnips.
Scotland was not part of the Roman Empire. Emperor Hadrian ordered a wall to be built to defend the Roman Empire against Scottish tribes. Hadrian's Wall strethces about 73 miles from Bowness, on the west coast, to Wallsend on the east coast. You can still walk along parts of it today!
In Roman times, only boys went to school and only men were allowed to fight in the army.
Roman soldiers could march up to 20 miles per day wearing armour and carrying their food and tents! Tough guys!
Part of the salary of a Roman soldier was paid in salt, which inspired the saying 'worth your salt'.
The 'tortoise' was a trick the Roman army used to protect themselves. Soldiers would form a square with their shields above their heads so that they would be protected on all sides.
The Romans loved wine. They even drank it for breakfast!
Purple clothing was a status symbol in Roman times. However, only emperors were permitted to dress completely in purple.
In Roman times, urine was used to clean clothes and as a tooth whitener in toothpaste!
The Celts loved brightly coloured clothes and used berries and plants to dye their wool different colours. Some of the patterns were striped or chequered in design - just like Scottish tartan!
Celtic warriors carried oval-shaped shields made from wood, sharp spears, and long swords with an iron blade. They used the mineral, lime, to shape their hair into spikes and decorated their skin with patterns using a blue dye called woad.
