UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Sumer Block C: Ancient Sumerian Religion
Learn the significance of temples to the Ancient Sumerians as the homes of gods and goddesses. Discover the
structure of a ziggurat and the significance of its shape. Learn about some of the main Ancient Sumerian gods
and goddesses and priests. Discover beliefs about death and the afterlife and discuss the evidence we use to
support our knowledge.
Block C: Ancient Sumer
Religion [4 sessions]
By the end of this block
you will have achieved
the following outcomes:
Session 1: History and
Maths
Temples and Ziggurats
Learn that temples were
considered by the Ancient
Sumerians to be the
homes of gods and
goddesses. Discover the
structure of a ziggurat
and the significance of its
shape. Use nets to build
ziggurats with temples.
Session 2: History and
English
Gods and Goddesses
Learn about some of the
main Ancient Sumerian
gods and goddesses.
Create a fact file about
one god or goddess.
Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: Maths, English

Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires;
characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of
mankind.
 Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used
rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting
arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed.
 Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and
consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make
connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically-valid questions and
create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and
international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and
social history, and between short- and long-timescales.
 Identify 3D shapes from 2D representations.
 Draw 2D shapes using given dimensions and angles.
 Recognise, describe and build simple 3D shapes, including making nets.
 Note and develop initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary.
 Use further organisational and presentational devices to structure text and to guide
the reader.
 Participate in role play.
 Retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction.
 Use devices to build cohesion.
Children will
 Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
nature of ancient civilisations; characteristic features of past non-European
societies.
 Understand historical concepts such as similarity, difference and significance.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between cultural, religious and social
history.
 Identify 3D shapes from 2D representations.
 Draw 2D shapes using given dimensions and angles.
 Recognise, describe and build simple 3D shapes, including making nets.
Children will
 Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
nature of ancient civilisations; characteristic features of past non-European
societies.
 Understand historical concepts such as similarity, difference and significance.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between religious and social history.
 Note and develop initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary.
 Use further organisational and presentational devices to structure text.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Sumer Block C: Ancient Sumerian Religion
Session 3: History and
English
Priests
Find out more about the
role of priests in Ancient
Sumer. Examine evidence
that helps historians to
understand the role of
Ancient Sumerian priests.
Use role play to explore
the role of priests in
Ancient Sumer.
Session 4: History and
English
The Royal Tombs of Ur
Discover the Ancient
Sumerian beliefs about
death and the afterlife.
Discuss the significance
of the finds in the Royal
Tombs of Ur. Write a
telegram in role as an
archaeologist.
Children will
 Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
nature of ancient civilisations; characteristic features of past non-European
societies.
 Understand the methods of historical enquiry.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between cultural, religious and social
history.
 Participate in role play.
 Use spoken language to develop understanding through imagining and exploring
ideas.
Children will
 Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
nature of ancient civilisations; characteristic features of past non-European
societies.
 Understand the methods of historical enquiry.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between cultural and religious history.
 Retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction.
 Use further organisational and presentational devices to structure text and to guide
the reader.
 Use devices to build cohesion.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Sumer Block C: Ancient Sumerian Religion
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Images of Ziggurats; Ziggurat Background Information; Architect’s Plan of a Temple;
Reconstruction of a Temple at Uqair; Example Ziggurat Model; Net for a Ziggurat Platform.
You will need: Card; Scissors; Rulers; Glue and/or sticky tape; Paints; Paint brushes.
Session 2
Provided: The Sumerian Creation Story; Sumerian Gods and Goddesses; Divine Family Tree; Gods and
Goddesses Research Links.
You will need: Laptops / tablets / computers.
Session 3
Provided: The Warka Vase; Temple Images; Sumerian Priests Fact Sheet; Hymn to Inanna.
Session 4
Provided: Date Cookies; The Royal Tombs of Ur; Tomb Telegram; Telegram Template.
You will need: A globe; Optional: 1½ cups pitted dates, ¾ cup white sugar, salt (approx. 1 teaspoon),
1¼ cups water, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 4 teaspoons lemon juice, ¾ cup finely chopped walnuts, ¾ cup
butter, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, 3½ cups flour, 1½ teaspoons
baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, food processor, saucepan, sifter, waxed paper, sharp knife,
greased baking sheets, kitchen facilities.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.