Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Roman Soldier Trading Card: Free Printable Card Set for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Roman Soldier Trading Card is a free printable card set for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children read four short fact cards about Roman soldiers. Then they make a trading card of their own, with a drawing, a shield and badge, and facts in their own words. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a set of trading cards. Children read four fact cards about Roman soldiers, built around the key words legionary, legion, scutum and gladius. Then they make their own card. There are boxes to draw a Roman soldier and his shield and badge, and lines for writing short facts. Children use the key words in their writing. The cards can be cut out and swapped, so the sheet works as a small collection as well as a task.
- LEGIONARY: A Roman foot soldier. He marched, built and fought.
- LEGION: A large group of Roman soldiers who fought together.
- SCUTUM: A big curved shield. Soldiers held them close together.
- GLADIUS: A short sword used for fighting up close.
- Draw your Roman soldier
- Draw his shield and badge
How children build their own card
Pick a soldier
Decide who the soldier on the card is. Give him a name and a job, such as marching, building or fighting.
Draw with care
Fill the drawing box with the soldier. Add details a reader could point to, like his clothes and what he carries.
Design a shield and badge
Use the shield and badge box to make a design that belongs to your soldier. Keep it bold and simple so it is clear in black and white.
Write facts
On the lines, write short facts in your own words. Use at least one key word from the cards and check it is spelt as on the card.
Roman soldiers in Year 4 history
Year 4 children often meet the Romans as part of learning about the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain. The Romans ruled much of Britain for several hundred years. Their army was a big part of that story. Soldiers did more than fight. They also marched long distances, built forts and roads, and lived in organised groups with strict routines.
Trading cards suit this topic well. A card has little room, so children must pick what matters and say it clearly. That is a real history skill. They read for facts, decide which are important, and write them briefly. Key words such as legion and gladius also come from Latin, which gives children a first taste of how language travels through history.
Quick facts about Roman soldiers
- The Roman army used Latin, and many English words trace back to Latin.
- Roman soldiers helped to build forts and roads, as well as fighting.
- Hadrian's Wall is in the north of England and was built by Roman soldiers.
- Parts of Hadrian's Wall can still be visited today.
- Roman soldiers carried their own kit when they marched.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading for facts
- Writing short facts
- Roman Britain vocabulary
- Drawing with detail
- Choosing key information
How to help with history facts
- Read aloud firstRead each fact card aloud together. Hearing unusual words such as scutum helps children say and spell them later.
- Spot the key wordAsk your child to point to the word in bold or capitals on each card. Then ask what it means in their own words.
- One fact at a timeChildren write one short fact, then read it back. A clear short sentence is better than a long muddled one.
- Fact or guessAsk, "Did we read that on a card, or are we guessing?" This builds the habit of separating what we know from what we imagine.
Key words
- LegionaryA Roman foot soldier. He marched, built and fought.
- LegionA large group of Roman soldiers who fought together.
- ScutumA big curved shield used by Roman soldiers.
- GladiusA short sword used for fighting up close.
- FactSomething that is true and can be checked.
- BadgeA small picture or symbol that shows who someone belongs to.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the four cards aloud together. Stop on each key word and say it slowly.
- Let your child draw their Roman soldier, then his shield and badge, and write their own facts using the key words.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Ask your child to read their card aloud and say which fact they are proudest of.
- Come back to it another day. Make a second card, or swap cards with a friend. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let your child copy one fact from a card and add a drawing label. Point to the key word and read it together first. Then ask them to draw one part of the soldier and write a single word beside it.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to explain why soldiers held their shields close together. They should use the word because and at least one key word from the cards. Then they can add their explanation to the back of their own card.
Make it a game
Swap cards with a friend and take turns to quiz each other on the key words. One player reads a fact from their card and the other names the word it describes. Score a point for each correct answer.
Talk about it
- Which of the four cards would you most like to keep, and why?
- What do you think a day in the life of a legionary was like?
- Why might an army give its soldiers badges and shield designs?
- Which fact on your card are you most sure about?
- How would you explain the word legion to a younger child?
- What would you like to find out next about Roman Britain?
Take it off the page
Cardboard shield
Cut a shield shape from a piece of card. An adult should do any cutting with scissors. Children then decorate it with their own badge design.
Latin word hunt
Look through a book or around the house for English words that come from Latin. Talk about how old words are still used today.
Map it
Find Hadrian's Wall on a map of England. Trace it with a finger and talk about where soldiers might have marched.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first card, then let them lead. Read the cards aloud and talk about the pictures they draw. Praise careful thinking and neat facts, not only perfect spelling. Display the finished card on the fridge.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity within a Roman Britain topic. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the finished cards make a quick display.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider history plan. It pairs well with library books, a visit to a Roman site, and everyday talk about the past. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in history
Before this sheet, children will have practised reading short texts for information and learning to tell a fact from an opinion. They may also have met the idea of a timeline and that Britain has a long past.
After it, children can move on to wider study of the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain, which is part of Key Stage 2 history. They can write longer pieces, compare Roman life with life today, and make cards for other topics.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Roman Soldier Trading Card for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2 to take it further.
- What will children practise?
Children practise reading short fact cards and writing their own facts about Roman soldiers. They also learn Roman Britain vocabulary and use drawing to show what they know.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and read the four cards aloud together. Children then draw and write their own card using the key words. Check against the notes and answers on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Let your child copy one fact from a card and add a drawing label. Read the key words together first. When they feel ready, ask for a second fact in their own words.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a whole class.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour to their own card with pencils or crayons if they like.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.