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thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

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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: thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about thermopylae & salamis (480 bc). Then check against the key terms: key terms from thermopylae & salamis (480 bc). 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 thermopylae & salamis (480 bc).
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: thermopylae & salamis (480 bc). 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 thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about thermopylae & salamis (480 bc).

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on thermopylae & salamis (480 bc). Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Xerxes invaded Greece in 480 BC with a massive army and fleet, aiming to conquer all of Greece
Key Fact: At Thermopylae, 300 Spartans under King Leonidas held the narrow pass for three days against the Persian army
Key Fact: The Greek position was betrayed when Ephialtes showed the Persians a mountain path to outflank the Greeks
Key Fact: Leonidas dismissed most troops but the 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians fought to the death — a symbol of heroic sacrifice
Key Fact: At Salamis, Themistocles lured the Persian fleet into narrow waters where the Greeks' superior tactics won a decisive naval victory
Key Fact: The Delphic oracle's 'wooden wall' prophecy was interpreted by Themistocles as meaning the Athenian navy, not the Acropolis walls

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

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

Lesson 3: Application: thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from thermopylae & salamis (480 bc). 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: thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)

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 thermopylae & salamis (480 bc) from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Thermopylae = heroic sacrifice but a defeat; Salamis = strategic victory | Themistocles: interpreted oracle, built navy, tricked Xerxes at Salamis | Ephialtes = traitor; Leonidas = hero who fought to the death | Narrow terrain was key at both battles: pass at Thermopylae, strait at Salamis
Common Errors: ✗ Only 300 Spartans fought at Thermopylae ✓ There were 300 Spartans but also approximately 700 Thespians who chose to stay and fight to the death, plus helots and other allies. The total Greek force at the start was about 7,000 ✗ Xerxes won the war after Thermopylae ✓ Although Thermopylae was a Persian victory, Salamis (480 BC) was the decisive battle that turned the war in Greece's favour. Plataea (479 BC) completed the Greek victory ✗ The Spartans were the only brave Greeks ✓ The 700 Thespians who chose to stay and die with the Spartans showed equal courage. Herodotus also notes that other Greeks fought bravely throughout the wars; the Spartan-focused narrative reflects later propaganda
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how thermopylae & salamis (480 bc) connects to another Ancient History topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in thermopylae & salamis (480 bc)?"

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)