Key Question: Why were the Romans so powerful?

Watch this video about Roman Scutum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cq7rdwfLno

And read the information below about a Roman Scutum:

Today, you’re going to be creating your own Roman Scutum!

You can plan your shield on the planning sheet (or make your own version!) – don’t spend too long on this, just make sure you know what design you want make.

Make sure that your decorative design shows off your strength. Designs often included:

• wings; • eagles; • lightning bolts.

Why not research some powerful Roman gods to help you with your design? We will be doing some more work on Gods in this unit of work!Examples:

Planning:

What you will need: Cardboard – try to find some that is big enough, a big box is great, or you can

stick card or empty cereal boxes together scissors a ruler glue and sticky tape/duck tape tin foil Red paint/paper – sometimes wrapping paper is good for this Gold paper/pens – if you have them! (No stress if not)

This video is a really good guide to follow: https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas/kids/how-to-make-a-roman-shield just replace some of the fancy items they have for an alternative! You could also follow the instructions below. Make a shield in minutes

1. Draw out the shield shape on cardboard. Make it curved up at the top.

2. Then cut it out.   3. Cover the shield in red paper (or paint it) and sticky tape it down at the back of the shield (see below right).

Now for the straps.

A Roman shield only had one strap at the back for the soldier's hand to go into but you can have two for added comfort.

4. Cut out two rectangular straps out of cardboard - the top strap where your hand goes can be shorter than the other one.

5. Secure the straps with sticky tape, or something stronger like duck tape if you've got it, to the shield's back.

The British Musem has the shield boss of Junius Dubitatus in its collections. If you look closely, you can see Mars, the Roman God of War.

Now it's time to make your own shield boss...

Make your shield boss

6. Make your shield boss out of a square of tin foil.

7. Then stick some scrunched up tin foil to make a dome-shaped piece to the middle

of the shield boss.

8. Click on the links below to Roman objects from museum collections. You could print them out and stick them on your foil shield boss. Or you can have a go at making your own!

You can choose from:

A statuette of Mars, the god of war from the British Museum. A coin from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery showing a victory monument Pegasus on the Roman intaglio from the Museum of London

Extra job if you want to: In your own time and on a separate piece of paper, design a title page for your books to show we are learning a new topic, make sure you include our key question! (You could do that this afternoon after you have made your shield!) Include any pictures, word facts etc that you already know about the Romans.