Multicultural York: The Vikings
Teachers' notes, activities and linked resources
Curriculum links:
KS2 History: Viking raids and invasion
KS2 English:
Writing narratives, creating characters and settings
Aims of resource:
This resources will help pupils to gain an understanding of the Viking world, by introducing them to characters and artefacts.Learning objectives:
Knowledge of different aspects of Viking life and culture
Understanding of the multicultural influences at work on Viking York
Skills to interpret historical artefacts
Discussion ideas:
- How do you think the Anglo-Saxon people felt about the Vikings settling in York?
- Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?
- What does the word multicultural mean?
- How do you think Viking York was multicultural?
- What symbols would you put on your coins if you were a Viking king or queen?
- Why do you think messages were placed on coins?
- Which artefacts in this resource most interest you and why? (Take a look at the images of the artefacts)
Activity ideas:
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Art & Design:
Pupils could design a coin, including symbols to express aspects of their lives or personalities. This might include their name and a few words, as well as symbols of things that are important to them.
Pupils could also be asked to draw a pattern around the edge. Viking coins used patterning so that it was easy to see if people had clipped bits of silver off the coin!
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Creative writing:
Inspired by Egill's 'Head Ransom' poem (download the poem text) and their own research into the Viking world, pupils could write their own poem attempting to persuade someone of something.
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English/Literacy:
Ask pupils to choose an object from this resource and create a character from Viking York who might have used or owned it. The character might be like them in some way - or completely different.
Pupils can read through the stories of Guthrun the weaver, Bjorn the beggar and Egill the poet for inspiration.
They can then draw a sketch to show what their character looks like and write a fact-file imagining:
- What job they do
- Where they live
- Who they live with
- What they are afraid of
- Their hopes or dreams
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