Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

augustus & the principate

FoundationHigherAll Boards

4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: augustus & the principate

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about augustus & the principate. Then check against the key terms: key terms from augustus & the principate. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from augustus & the principate.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: augustus & the principate. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Ancient History because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of augustus & the principate

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about augustus & the principate.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: augustus & the principate

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on augustus & the principate. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Octavian (later Augustus) was Caesar's adopted heir who defeated Mark Antony at Actium (31 BC) to become Rome's sole ruler
Key Fact: The Second Triumvirate (43 BC): Octavian, Antony and Lepidus divided the Roman world; it ended in civil war between Octavian and Antony
Key Fact: Augustus established the Principate: he held supreme power but maintained Republican forms and titles (Princeps = First Citizen)
Key Fact: The constitutional settlement (27 BC): Augustus 'restored the Republic' but kept consulship, tribunician power and control of key provinces
Key Fact: The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) brought stability, prosperity and cultural flourishing across the empire
Key Fact: Augustus reformed the army, morality, religion and building programme; he boasted he 'found Rome brick and left it marble'

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of augustus & the principate

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: augustus & the principate

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from augustus & the principate. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: augustus & the principate

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Exam-Style Question

Attempt a past-paper style question on augustus & the principate from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Actium = 31 BC, Octavian defeats Antony | Principate = monarchy disguised as Republic (Princeps = First Citizen) | Constitutional settlement (27 BC): 'restored Republic' but kept real power | Pax Romana = 200 years of stability after decades of civil war
Common Errors: ✗ Augustus abolished the Republic ✓ Augustus carefully preserved Republican institutions (Senate, consulships, elections, tribunes). He held power through these offices rather than creating new ones. The Republic existed in form, but Augustus dominated it in practice ✗ Augustus called himself emperor ✓ Augustus never used the title 'emperor' (imperator was a military acclamation). He preferred Princeps (First Citizen), suggesting primacy among equals rather than rule over subjects ✗ The Pax Romana meant no wars at all ✓ The Pax Romana meant no major civil wars between Romans. Rome still fought external wars to expand and secure borders. It was 'peace' defined as internal stability, not the c
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how augustus & the principate connects to another Ancient History topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of augustus & the principate
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in augustus & the principate?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)