Sundowner Magazine: Spring/Summer 2020

AGE
7
SUMMER #8
ROME
During Key Stage 2 (KS2) history, most pupils
will learn about ancient Rome. Bring their
studies to life with a holiday in the Eternal City. At school, they’ll
be discovering what the Romans did for us. They’ll examine how
Rome began, who ruled, who the emperors were, what Romans
believed, and how they liked to spend their spare time. What
better way to learn about the beloved, bloody games than a visit to
the Colosseum and enrolling them into Gladiator School? During
the training class, children dress up in belted tunics and learn
basic swordsmanship, history, and battle strategy. Other sites to
enjoy (between fuelling stops at pizzerias and gelatarias) include
the Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, and of course, the Forum.
FAMILY QUARTERS: HOTEL DU RUSSIE
AGE
8
SUMMER #9
ATHENS
The ancient Greeks also feature on the National
Curriculum for history. While doing school
projects they’ll learn about who the ancient Greeks were, the
different city-states, the Olympic Games, family life, gods and
goddesses, war, culture, theatre, the invention of government,
and Alexander the Great – all important subjects for young minds
to explore. These age-old influencers affected our modern-day
arts, sports, medicine, law, language, and even the buildings we
live in. A trip to see the Elgin Marbles is good, but why not go
one step further? Athens is the obvious choice for an ancient
Greece-inspired long weekend or as part of a longer Greek
sojourn. The Acropolis is the city’s most famous and important
landmark. Visit with a local guide to explore the site and its
centrepiece, the Parthenon, which dates back to 438 BC.
FAMILY QUARTERS: HOTEL GRAND BRETAGNE
AGE
9
SUMMER #10
MEXICO
With so much Euro-centricism in the National
Curriculum, it’s vital that children learn about
non-Western cultures. One possible KS2 history topic covered
during Years 4 and 5 is the Maya. These Mesoamericans shared
complex beliefs and traditions, studied the stars and weather, and
built amazing cities including Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, and Tulum.
Studying the Maya links well with work on ancient Egypt –
think of all those stepped pyramids. A&K’s seven-night
Family Mexico suggested itinerary features an educational
scavenger hunt at Uxmal as well as exploration of UNESCO
World Heritage-listed Chichén Itzá.
HOW TO DO IT: A&K’S SUGGESTED FAMILY MEXICO ITINERARY
AGE
10
SUMMER #11
EGYPT
Staying with the theme of KS2 history, students
in Years 5 and 6 might travel back in time
thousands of years to the banks of the Nile to learn all about
ancient Egypt during this curriculum stage. So why not take
them to see the artefacts and monuments of this still-there-to-bediscovered
civilisation. Most schoolchildren study the ‘boy king’,
Tutankhamun, while learning about Egypt. A&K’s ‘Explore the
pyramids and museum’ experience is an A&K Egyptologist-led
tour of Cairo during which families explore the pyramids of Giza
and come face-to-face with King Tut’s golden death mask at the
Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.
FAMILY QUARTERS: FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CAIRO AT THE
FIRST RESIDENCE
FAMILIES
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