How important is Eweka’s story?

This unit provides children the opportunity to look at Benin, a non-European society which is very different from their own. Children should make links between Benin and a bigger picture of Africa's past as well as its changing relationship with Britain in order to consider the significance of the arrival of the Eweka Dynasty in the 12th century. They should make use of a range of sources including pictures of the Benin bronzes, written accounts and pictures, together with oral tradition.

This unit is structured around 3 sequential enquiries:

1. What is Africa’s Big Picture?
2. If objects could speak what story would they tell?
3. Why was Benin worth visiting in Tudor and Stuart times?
4. Telling a good story: Why is the story of Eweka so important?

This scheme is supported by the following articles (NB available to HA members only):

Please note: The majority of the HA schemes of work were produced between 2014-2019 by members of the HA primary committee and its affiliates. This unit is a resourced scheme of work; however, the resources it refers to may in some cases only be available to full members of the HA. These schemes of work are designed to support your planning and should be moulded and adapted to fit the context and needs of your own school. To view a free sample scheme of work, please refer to our Anglo-Saxons unit. We regularly check the hyperlinks included in the schemes but unfortunately every now and again some links may go out of date. If you spot a broken link, please let us know on enquiries@history.org.uk.