La Houguette pupils Roman around school

The Romans is a new topic for Year 3. La Houguette wanted to do something enjoyable and interactive for the pupils.

‘As a school we wanted to do something fresh, invigorating, enjoyable and interactive, that would prove truly memorable and also help bring the learning to life,’ said year 3 teacher Roddy McKerrell.

‘I believe that our Roman day may well have achieved that, and I also believe that any self-respecting Emperor would have given the day an encouraging thumbs up.’

Mr McKerrell’s class started their day with a song about the best ways to learn Roman numerals.

Lessons about Roman banqueting, eating habits, table manners and etiquette were all part of the timetable for the day, which in keeping with the Roman-themed day was written in Latin.

‘We learnt that the wealthiest of Romans ate flamingo heads and on occasion would indulge in roasting larger animals, with still living game birds inside the carcass so when it was cut open all the birds would fly out,’ said Mr McKerrell.

In their maths lesson the pupils learnt to count to 20 in Latin and write them out in Roman numerals, as well as a game of Roman numeral bingo.

At the end of the day the children created their own edible Roman roads out of custard, digestive biscuits, custard creams and Maltesers.

‘The day ended with the children building their very own Roman roads – or rather making a rather yummy, edible, Rocky Road version – to show the engineering skill of incorporating different layers of suitable materials, in order to prolong the life and strength of the road,’ said Mr McKerrell.

‘Our Roman Day was a life-affirming, truly inclusive learning celebration, and children and staff were still buzzing about it the day after. We most certainly seized the moment, and definitely "carpe-d the diem".’