Ides of March (March 15)
March 15 has always felt like one of those dates teachers mention in passing, “Beware the Ides of March” and then move on.
But when you’re working with kids, especially middle schoolers studying ancient Rome or Shakespeare, it helps to make it tangible. That’s where this Ides of March coloring page comes in.
Instead of just talking about Julius Caesar’s assassination, this printable gives kids something concrete to engage with while you explain why this date still matters more than 2,000 years later.
When is the Holiday?
The Ides of March is March 15 every year.
In the ancient Roman calendar, the “Ides” simply marked the middle of the month. For March (along with May, July, and October), that midpoint landed on the 15th.
It wasn’t dramatic at first. It was practical, a date for settling debts and handling official business.
History is what made it unforgettable.
Why March 15 Became Famous
In 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of Roman senators who believed they were protecting the Republic.
Instead, the power vacuum that followed led to civil wars and eventually the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus.
It’s one of those rare historical moments where the “solution” made things even bigger and more complicated.
And of course, centuries later, Shakespeare turned it into one of the most quoted warnings in literature:
“Beware the Ides of March.”
Without that line, most of us probably wouldn’t remember the date at all.
Coloring Page
If you’re covering ancient Rome, Roman government, or Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, this Ides of March coloring sheet works well as:
- A quiet independent activity
- A history center addition
- An early finisher page
- A simple way to reinforce the date (March 15)
The design features Roman imagery tied to Caesar and the Senate, making it more than just decorative, it gives you something visual to reference while you explain the event.
It works especially well for:
- Upper elementary
- Middle school
- Homeschool history units
- March classroom activities
Sometimes a five-minute coloring break actually helps the information stick.
A Few Interesting Facts to Share While They Color
Instead of listing generic trivia, here are a few details kids actually react to:
- Caesar was reportedly warned multiple times before entering the Senate.
- His wife, Calpurnia, had disturbing dreams the night before.
- The famous phrase “Et tu, Brute?” may never have been said.
- The assassination didn’t restore democracy — it sped up the shift toward empire.
Those small twists make the story feel less like a textbook paragraph and more like real human drama.
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Activities to Celebrate With Kids
If you’re already using the Ides of March coloring page, you don’t need to overcomplicate the day. A few simple additions make it feel intentional.
Reading a short, adapted scene from Julius Caesar works better than assigning the full play. Even just the warning from the soothsayer or the Senate scene gives context while students color.
For younger kids, focus less on the assassination and more on ancient Rome itself. Talk about how Romans organized their government, what senators did, or how the calendar worked. The date becomes less dramatic and more historical.
If you’re teaching older students, this is a good moment to discuss big ideas:
Was Caesar a tyrant or a reformer?
Did the senators save the Republic, or destroy it faster?
Those debates usually get more engagement than a lecture ever does.
You could also keep it light with a simple “Roman-inspired” snack, bread, grapes, olives, while you explain why March 15 was originally just a financial deadline.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate. The goal is to make March 15 feel like more than a random quote students half remember.
Links to Resources
If you’re exploring this with kids or teens, a DIY Roman shield craft is a hands-on way to make the era feel less abstract. Designing one helps bring Roman military life into focus.
The Ides of March (the novel) dives into the political tension leading up to Caesar’s death and reads more like a thriller than a textbook.
And if Shakespeare feels intimidating, there are great guides on introducing him to kids that break down the language and make the story far more accessible than most people expect.
Related Holidays
If you’re interested in other observances that mix history, curiosity, or a bit of perspective-shifting, these are worth exploring.
- Everything You Think is Wrong Day (March 15) shares the same date but focuses on questioning assumptions rather than ancient history, a modern twist on perspective.
- National Puzzle Day (January 29th) celebrates logic and problem-solving, which feels fitting given the political strategy and intrigue surrounding Caesar’s final days.
- Tolkien Reading Day (March 25th) honors epic storytelling and themes of power and betrayal, ideas that echo through both fiction and Roman history.
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