Roman Mysteries - Resources for Schools

Resources for Schools

The Roman Mysteries is a series of historical novels set in Ancient Rome. Aimed at children aged 7 - 14, the books offer exciting openings for lines of enquiry into almost every aspect of Roman life, including social structure, daily life, mythology, entertainment and leisure.

Look out for repeats and DVDs of the BBC children's TV series.

right: the First Roman Mysteries Quiz Book is a bestseller!

It is recommended that teachers start with The Thieves of Ostia. It is the easiest to read and introduces the world of ancient Rome. The books get more challenging as the series progresses. Each book has its own theme and topics, e.g. the eleventh book in the series, The Sirens of Surrentum, deals with sex and decadence in ancient Rome and is therefore suitable for older children (aged 10 and up). A particulary suitable book for classrooms is a collection of short stories about Flavia, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus called Trimalchio's Feast and Other Mini-Mysteries. The six stories take place between the events of the main books. The short stories vary in length and reading level; some are perfect for children aged 7 or 8 others suitable for older children. The Roman Mysteries Treasury (see spread below) is a glossy resource book with images from the TV series. All contain valuable and fun information about Roman life.

Here is a list of free resources for teachers on this site:
Ideas for Teachers - topics for discussion and class work in The Thieves of Ostia
Themes and Topics in the first four books: Thieves, Secrets, Pirates and Assassins
Themes and Topics in books five to eight: Dolphins, Twelve Tasks, Enemies, Gladiators
Themes and Topics in books nine to twelve: Colossus, Fugitive, Sirens, Charioteer
Roman Mysteries Wordsearch - for the Latin names in the books which have hidden meanings
How to Make a Stola - how to make a Roman costume from a single sheet
Pulchra's Roman Beauty Tips - surprising ways the Romans made themselves beautiful
Romance in Ancient Rome - a quiz tying in with book six, The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina
Writing Tips - my best tips, and exercises which can be done in class
How to Write a Mystery - tips for writing a mystery story from my blog
TV Series Diary - an account of the making of the BBC TV series, from conception to screen
NEWS SCROLL - the month's latest news and fan mail

below: a spread from The Roman Mysteries Treasury, a glossy resource book with images from the TV series.

P.S. After five intense years of visits to schools, Caroline is taking a break to catch up on writing.