Travel back 2,500 years with this rich, colourful introduction to Ancient Greece for Year 5. Pupils first place Greece on a map and on a timeline, then discover the surprising truth that Ancient Greece was never one country at all but a patchwork of rival city-states. A detailed comparison of Athens and Sparta - government, education, strengths and legacy - gives children real historical substance to work with, and an honest look at who could and could not vote in Athenian democracy builds critical thinking. The Greek gods and the purpose of myths are explored next, followed by the enormous legacy the Greeks left us in democracy, the Olympics, theatre and mathematics. Two interactive tasks anchor the learning: a structured Athens-versus-Sparta debate that demands evidence, and a creative write-your-own-myth challenge. A slide on historical evidence teaches pupils to ask “how do we know?”. A complete, ready-to-teach hour.

A ready-to-teach PowerPoint lesson for Year 5 History, covering the Ancient Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, Greek mythology and the lasting legacy of Ancient Greece.