Shropshire Routes to Roots

8. Resources for teachers

National Curriculum

The trackways to motorways theme is a comprehensive introduction to the history of roads in Shropshire. Although all but the most capable pupils may find it too hard to read unaided, the theme could be easily adapted for teaching using the worksheets and approaches suggested on this page.

In relation to the DFES Schemes of Work for History, the theme could be used as part of Key Stage 2, Unit 18: 'What was it like to live here in the past?'. More specifically, through the Roman roads section, the theme could support Key Stage 2, Unit 6a: 'Why have people invaded and settled in Britain in the past? A Roman case study'.

The theme might also tie in with Geography at Key Stage 2, Unit 20: 'Local traffic - an environmental issue?'.

Worksheet - Roman roads

Get pupils to read through the Roman roads page, either online or by printing and reproducing it. Pupils now carry out a six-question, multiple-choice comprehension exercise on the topics covered on the page, focusing on why and how the Romans built their roads. The exercise can be done in one of two ways:

1. Interactive, online quiz (Opens in a new window).
   Pupils could do this individually in an IT classroom, or collectively using an interactive whiteboard in class. Before you start, you may like to read the quiz software Instructions (Opens in a new window).
2. Printable questions (Opens in a new window).
   A 'printer-friendly' worksheet, with identical questions to the online quiz, which can be reproduced and distributed in paper form. The papers can then be marked either by a teacher or by the pupils themselves, using the worksheet answers (Opens in a new window).

Alternative approaches

As well as being used for teaching the Romans, the theme could be used to form part of a broader course, answering the question 'What was it like to live here in the past?'.

Although the theme may be too challenging for pupils to work through by themselves initially, you could adapt the content to be taught by you directly. Use the background information and history for your own reference, and present the images on a whiteboard or print them out and distribute them to the class.

In particular, you may like to focus on the following images as examples of what happened at each stage of road development. Note that all the images will load in a new browser window:

1. The Sretton Gap, which shows the obstacles roads must overcome and why they tend to follow the topography of the land.
2. The Portway as an example of a Neolithic hillside route.
3. Roman Road builders, map and aerial photograph of Watling Street.
4. Bromlow Callow (where trees were planted as guiding markers) and sheep being driven to market.
5. Shelton Toll House and toll charges.
6. Thomas Telford and his road plans.
7. The M54 aerial shot.

For teaching the theme in relation to the Geography National Curriculum, the images listed could also be used to provide a brief contextual synopsis of how traffic patterns and demands have altered over the years, both in Shropshire and nationally.

Having provided an overview, pupils could now be encouraged to further explore the theme in person. The glossary (opens in a new window) should cover new vocabulary and difficult words.

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