Latin & Classical Studies
Latin is started in year 6. Then in years 7 and 8 all children study either Latin or Classical Studies depending on their ability to cope with two languages at Common Entrance. In Year 8 the more able students will attempt Level 3 at Common Entrance. A Greek Club is offered to the very able pupils in Year 8.
Latin
Autumn Term
Introduction
- Root of Romance languages
- English derivations
- Latin in use today
- Abbreviations
- Mottoes/phrases
- Star signs etc.
Latin word order
Subject/object
Hidden subjects
Nominative/accusative cases of declensions 1-3 (singular)
Roman History – influence of Rome
Pompeii
Houses-daily life- food
Greek mythology - Perseus
Spring Term
Nominative/accusative cases of declensions 1-3
(singular and plural)
mock examination
Verbs –
Conjugations 1-4
(present tense all persons + infinitives)
‘esse’ to be (present tense)
Roman History – Pompeii (cont) – entertainment.
Summer Term
Consolidation of cases – (singular and plural)
Translation practice/role play
Roman History – the forum
Greek Mythology – Heracles – the 12 tasks
Internal examination and review
Autumn Term
Thorough revision of verbs (present tense) and of nouns (nom.acc. cases declensions 1-3)
Latin club for beginners
Imperfect tense – all parts (including esse)
Perfect tense (introduction - 3rd person only)
Consolidation of hidden subject
Ablative case – prepositions
Greek mythology – Theseus
Roman History – theatres – slaves and freedmen
Spring Term
Imperatives (positive and negative)
Revision of the accusative plural
Introduction to superlatives
Mock examination
The dative case – including mihi and tibi
The genitive case(needed for CE vocab list)
Roman History – Roman beliefs about life after death- gladiators- baths
Summer Term
Introduction to comparatives
Vocative case
Interrogatives
Issue CE vocab list
Neuter nouns
Perfect tense – all endings
Greek mythology – Jason and the Golden Fleece
Revision/exam (modified CE level 1)
Roman History – the excavation of Pompeii
CE vocabulary (holiday work)
Autumn Term
CE vocabulary tests
Revision of nouns all cases
(declensions 1-3)
Principal parts of verbs (esp 3rd part and the perfect tense)
Irregular verbs (sum, possum, volo, nolo, eo, fero)
Agreement and declension of adjectives(all types)
The comparison of adjectives
Mock examination (level 2 CE)
Demonstrative adjectives/pronouns
(hic, haec, hoc, is, ea, id, ille, illa, illud)
Relative/personal/reflexive pronouns + possessive adjective
Pluperfect tense
Spring Term
Recap of irregular verbs, relative pronouns and adjectival agreement
Passive voice +ablative of agent/instrument*
Participles (present/perfect passive)*
Subjunctive (imperfect only) with final clauses and indirect commands*
Dative verbs
Greek mythology – the Trojan War and Odysseus
Roman History – Romans in Britain
*NB these areas may also be covered in extra scholarship lessons
Summer Term
5th declension (4th not needed)
Revision of all grammar, vocab and Greek mythology/Roman History pertaining to CE
CE examination
Extended translation practice
Roman History – cult of Isis
Chariot racing(Ben Hur)
N.B. In Year 8 much of the work will involve the use of past CE and entrance papers.
Prep
There is one prep per week, for Years 6, 7 and 8. Preps will normally fall under four headings:
- Written translation - of individual sentences or of a continuous narrative or dialogue
- Prepared translation
- The learning of vocabulary or grammar tables - this is an essential part of study
- The reading of background material (socio-historical)
Guidelines:
- All written translation should carry a title and be page referenced to the text book. Individual sentences should be written in Latin with an English version beneath them. (or vice versa). Continuous passages do not need to be re-copied in Latin.
- 'Prepared' translation means that pupils are to work out the meaning of a piece of Latin in their heads but not to write it out neatly in the front of their exercise books. They may make rough notes if they wish, but may not refer to them when tested in the subsequent lesson.
- It is of great benefit if a parent, or another adult in the family, is able to find time to test a learned prep orally. A knowledge of Latin is useful for this but by no means essential.
- All reading of background material should be accompanied by note-taking, either specified by the teacher to be done neatly or on the pupil's own initiative in rough. Reading historical material by itself will not 'fix' the facts.
Curriculum Enrichment for Gifted and Talented Pupils
- In all years English to Latin sentences are used to stretch the more able.
- In Year 8 the more able students will attempt Level 3 at Common Entrance.
- Extra lessons are given to scholarship candidates
- A Greek Club is offered to the very able in Year 8
Classical Studies
Autumn Term
Introduction to Rome (evidence/importance/legacy)
The founding of Rome.
The early Republic.
The Punic Wars (Hannibal) and the expansion of Rome.
Rome’s social and political structure.
The end of the Roman Republic (triumvirates).
The Roman army.
Roads.
Ships and shipping.
From Republic to Empire.
Spring Term
Administration of the early Empire. Sieges and fortifications eg Hadrian’s Wall.
Roman towns/the City of Rome
Town houses and furniture.
Food and dining (cena).
Jewellery, clothes and fashion.
The Roman villa.
Farming.
Marriage, childbirth, funerals and burials.
Education and writing.
Summer Term
Jobs and occupations.
Slaves and slavery.
Money and trade.
Examination
Entertainment (chariot racing and gladiators).
The Baths.
Gods and goddesses.
Project work on the above 3 topics
Autumn Term
Introduction to Greek civilisation.
Evidence about the Greeks (archaeological/written).
The periods of Greek History (summary)
The Minoans (Knossos, religion).
The Myceneans (royal graves, cities, the Trojan War).
Examination
The Dark Ages.
The Archaic Period –sophists/alphabet.
Social structure and government in Greece and Sparta (aristocrats, tyrants etc.)
Farming and food
Spring Term
Greek houses (private/public).
Clothes and fashion.
Pottery (amphorae).
Coins (markets/trade).
The agora
Sea and land travel.
The army (hoplites, tactics etc.).
The navy (triremes, warfare).
The Persian Wars eg Marathon and Thermopylae.
The city of Athens (acropolis, Parthenon etc.).
Architecture and sculpture (development and styles).
The role of women
Education in Greece and Sparta
Summer Term
Music and poetry.
The theatre.
The democratic system in Athens.
Examination
Project on Greek mythology/ the Olympic Games/Alexander the Great
Prep
One prep a week for Years 7 and 8 based on research and learning of material.
Gifted and Talented Pupils
Students are able to extend their knowledge and skills through differentiated assignments and in-depth project work.
