UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Sumer Block A: Introducing Ancient Sumer
Place the Ancient Sumer civilisation on a world history timeline and understand what Britain was like at the time.
Learn about the rise and fall of the Sumerian civilisation and the invasion by the Akkadians. Read the legend of
Sargon the Great, understand the revival and then further decline of Sumerian civilisation, including the invasion
by the Elamites, read the Lament of Ur and write a lament of your own.
Block A: Introducing
Main outcome: History
Ancient Sumer [4 sessions]
Other outcomes: English, Geography, Art
 Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the
By the end of this block you
nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires;
will have achieved the
characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies
following outcomes:
Session 1: History and
English
Back in Time
Place the Ancient Sumer
civilisation on a world
history timeline. Describe
what Britain was like at the
start of the Ancient Sumer
civilisation.
Session 2: History and
Geography
Snapshot
Label a map of Ancient
Sumer and its surroundings.
Understand that Ancient
Sumer was part of the Fertile
Crescent (Cradle of
Civilisation. Learn about the
terrain, climate and
geography of Ancient Sumer.
of mankind.
 Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as
‘empire’ and ‘civilisation’.
 Understand historical concepts such as similarity, difference and significance.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between economic, military, political,
religious and social history, and between short- and long-timescales.
 Draw on reading and research where necessary.
 Identify the audience for and purpose of writing, selecting the appropriate form.
 Use further presentational devices to structure text.
 Use other similar writing as models for their own.
 Continue to read and discuss an increasingly wide range of poetry.
 Make comparisons across texts.
 Locate the world’s countries, using maps and focussing on their environmental
regions and key physical characteristics.
 Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and
describe features.
 Describe and understand key aspects of physical and human geography.
 Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting
and working with clay.
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.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different
contexts, understanding the connections between short- and long-term
timescales.
 Understand the abstract term ‘civilisation’.
 Identify the audience for and purpose of writing, selecting the appropriate form.
 Use further presentational devices to structure text.
 Draw on reading and research where necessary.
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.
 Gain and deploy a historically grounded understand of abstract terms such as
‘civilisation’.
 Locate the world’s countries, using maps and focusing on their environmental
regions and key physical characteristics.
 Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and
describe features.
 Describe and understand key aspects of physical and human geography.
© 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 A: Introducing Ancient Sumer
Session 3: History and Art
The Akkadians
Understand the decline in
the Sumerian civilisation and
the invasion by the
Akkadians. Read the legend
of Sargon the Great.
Research the Sumerian
army, including weapons
and tactics. Draw a battle
scene in the style of
Sumerian records.
Session 4: History and
English
Revival… and Attack
Learn about the revival and
then further decline of
Sumerian civilisation and the
invasion by the Elamites.
Read the Lament of Ur.
Compare the Lament of Ur
with later laments from the
Old Testament. Write a
lament.
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; the expansion and dissolution of empires.
 Gain and deploy a historically grounded understand of abstract terms such as
‘empire’ and ‘civilisation’.
 Understand the connections between economic and military history.
 Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including working with clay.
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; the expansion and dissolution of empires.
 Gain historical perspective by placing their knowledge into different contexts,
understanding the connections between short- and long-term timescales.
 Understand historical concepts such as similarity, difference and significance.
 Continue to read and discuss an increasingly wide range of poetry.
 Make comparisons across texts.
 Use other similar writing as models for their own.
© 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 A: Introducing Ancient Sumer
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Earliest Civilisations Timeline; Timeline Cards; Ancient Civilisations of the World; Ancient
Sumerian Timeline.
You will need: String; Pegs; Globe and/or atlas; Optional: Books on Neolithic Britain.
Session 2
Provided: Map of the Sumerian Civilisation; Ubaidian Painted Pottery; Mesopotamia Timeline Events;
Fertile Crescent; Ancient Sumer Blank Map; Map Features; The Persian Gulf Coastline.
You will need: Globe and/or atlas.
Session 3
Provided: Images of Sargon the Great; The Legend of Sargon; The Sumerian List of Kings; Sumerian
Weapons; Records of Battles.
You will need: Drawing pencils and paper.
Session 4
Provided: Images of King Gudea; Images of Ur-Nammu; Lament for Ur; Psalm 137.
You will need: Simple musical instruments.
© 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.