What's included
6 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. These classes are asynchronous so learners will need to find time each week to complete the sessions. Each week there are 2 activities that can be completed outside of class time.Class Experience
US Grade 1 - 4
Most history classes look at what life was like for adults, but in this class we will explore what it was like to grow up and be a child at different points in history. Every week will feature an interactive NearPod class where we will explore the houses, foods and clothing of different time periods, before looking at childhood. We'll learn about different toys, what children did all day and what they wore. We'll talk about what school was like in the past (and who went to school) and think about how children learnt if they didn't go to school. Learning about what life was like for children is a great way to engage young learners with history, to capture their interests and to encourage young learners to think about what life is like for people who live in circumstances different to them. As well as an interactive NearPod, each week, learners will be presented with an image of a different toy within the classroom for learners to ask questions about, make predictions about and discuss with their peers. Learners will also be given different activities, based on the time period discussed, for example, creating their own toy in the style of other explored that week. Learners will also be given a different creative activity each week to help consolidate their learning. Week 1 - Ancient Egypt This week, learners will explore the world of Ancient Egypt. We will look at different food and housing in Egypt, as well as have a brief introduction to the time period and look at Tutankhamun, before moving on to look at children more generally. Learners will be presented with different toys and asked to make predictions as to what they are, as well as look at different games children played. We will also look at different schooling and discover some of the subjects that Egyptian children would have learnt. Activities - Learners will make an ancient Egyptian board game and solve a hieroglyphics puzzle. Week 2 - Indus Valley Civilisation This week, learners will explore the different cities in the Indus Valley Civilisation, looking at the ruins from these cities, typical housing and food. We will examine different toys and games, look at who went to school and explore the different subjects that boys and girls would have learnt. Activities - Learners will create their own Indus Valley style maze and explore some Indus Valley number puzzles. Week 3 - Ancient Persia We will look at different food and housing in Persia, as well as have a brief introduction to the time period and spread of the Persian Empire, before moving on to look at children. Learners will be presented with different toys and asked to make predictions as to what they are, as well as look at different games children played. We will also look at different schooling and discover some of the subjects that Persian children would have learnt. Activities - Learners will have the chance to design a Persian style pull toy and to write their name in the Persian alphabet. Week 4 - Ancient China We will look at life in Ancient China, discovering typical food and housing of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Learners will look at toys from ancient China, and explore some different games that were played during this period. We will look at the school system and discuss who went to school and what was learnt. We will talk about the importance of the ancestors and discuss the role of the parent in setting family rules and look at coming of age ceremonies. Activities - Learners will create their own set of rules (similar to those taught in ancient Chinese schools). Week 5 - Ancient Greece We will look at different food and housing in Ancient Greece, as well as have a brief introduction to Greek Gods and the concept of city states. Learners will be presented with different toys and look at different games children played. We will also look at different schooling and discover some of the subjects that Greek children in the city state of Athens would have learnt. We will also look at what life was like for a child in the city state of Sparta and learners will be able to give their opinions about whether they would prefer life in Sparta or Athens. Activities - Learners will have the chance to create an Ancient Greek style instrument and to write their name in the Ancient Greek alphabet. Week 6 - Ancient Rome This week, learners will explore the empire of Ancient Rome, looking at a typical Roman house and discussing the food that Ancient Romans would have eaten. We will look at some of the toys Roman children would have played with, pets they would have owned and games they would have played. Learners will get a chance to explore the school system and have a look at some of the different subjects children would have learnt at school as well as subjects that were learnt outside of the school environment. Activities - Learners will create their own version of the Roman Children's Amulet and design a Roman outfit for a child.
Learning Goals
Students will:
Explore different time periods and geographical locations from the ancient world
Discover toys from different time periods
Discover how children learnt and what school would have been like.
Develop their prediction skills by engaging with primary sources.
Syllabus
6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Ancient Egypt
This lesson is all about being a child in Ancient Egypt
Lesson 2:
Indus Valley
This week we will learn about what life was like for children in the Ancient Indus Valley.
Lesson 3:
Ancient Persia
This week we will learn all about being a child in Ancient Persia
Lesson 4:
Ancient China
This lesson will look at what is was like to grow up in Ancient China
Other Details
Parental Guidance
As we are discussing the ancient world, some level of inequality will be discussed, particularly in regards to education (typically only rich boys attended school). We will also be looking at different foods that were eaten in these time periods, which does include mention of eating meat.
In addition, there will be mention of slavery (although this is not a main focus) within the week on Ancient Rome. Please ensure that you and your learner are comfortable with these discussions.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Sources used in the creation of this class:
British Museum
BBC
Harappa Museum
DK History
British Library
Royal Ontario Museum
National Geographic
English Heritage
Herodutus
Scholars consulted:
Nisha Yadav
Gwen Robins Schug
Ilene Springer
Douglas J Brewer
Emily Teeter
Anne Kinney
Marie Brosius
Pierre Bryant
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Doctoral Degree in History from University of Southampton
I have a PhD in history and a Primary School Teaching Degree. I have taught history to all ages, from 3 years old up to the University level. My PhD focuses on the history of childhood and I have attended (and presented at) a number of conferences and events focusing on the international history of children, as well as been a member of the Children's History Society.
Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$10
weekly or $60 for all content6 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 28 learners
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Ages: 6-11