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

greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

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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: greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx. Then check against the key terms: key terms from greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx. 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 greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx.
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: greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx. 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 greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: The hoplite phalanx was the dominant Greek fighting formation: a dense line of heavily armed infantry fighting shoulder to shoulder
Key Fact: Each hoplite carried an aspis (large round shield), dory (long spear), Corinthian helmet, bronze cuirass and greaves
Key Fact: The phalanx's strength lay in solidarity: each man's shield protected his neighbour's right side, creating an interdependent wall
Key Fact: Naval warfare became crucial after the Persian Wars; the trireme (three-banked oared warship) was the standard warship
Key Fact: Athens built a large navy funded by silver mines at Laurium; the thetes (poorest citizens) served as rowers, increasing their political importance
Key Fact: Warfare was seasonal (summer campaigning), and war was a normal state of affairs between Greek poleis

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

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

Lesson 3: Application: greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx. 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: greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx

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 greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Phalanx = solidarity and interdependence, not individual heroism | Naval power = thetes = democracy (key connection for Athens) | Equipment was self-provided: wealth = military role = political status | Right wing = position of honour and greatest vulnerability
Common Errors: ✗ Hoplites fought as individual warriors ✓ The phalanx was a collective formation where each man depended on his neighbour. Individual heroics were dangerous — breaking ranks could collapse the entire formation ✗ Only the rich served in the Athenian military ✓ The richest served as cavalry, the middle class as hoplites, and the poorest (thetes) as naval rowers. Athens' military power actually depended most on its thetes who manned the fleet ✗ Greek warfare was continuous year-round ✓ Greek warfare was seasonal: campaigns took place in summer when weather permitted and farmers could be spared from their land. Winters were generally a truce period
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx connects to another Ancient History topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in greek warfare & the hoplite phalanx?"

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)