Vikings!
We visit the school in the guise of Ragnar Eriksson, raider at the time of the King Alfred the Great, and the formidable Helskegga Jomsdottir.
The children will meet Ragnar fully armed and armoured with helmet, shield, sword, two-handed axe, maille shirt, spear, seax, cloak and accessories. Very dramatic as he leaps into action, straight off the dragon boat! [We are in the process of constructing a large, realisitic longship!]
The children are each given a real Viking name for the day and learn how to write their new name using the Futhark (runes). There will be lots of dressing up, roleplay and a free lesson plan is included for you.
Then we discuss the known world with a period map drawn on leather, investigate local town and village names with Viking origins, trade goods with Viking lands, examine their diet, food and drink, do some object handling, compare and contrast lifestyles then and now, and have dressing up activities with military weapons and armour.
Activities that all the pupils can try include making butter, battle tactics, grinding corn, fire-lighting with flint and steel, and making a real Viking coin (one per child if budget allows).
Plus much more, including Viking games Kubb and Hnafetafl, and rune writing.
Children can learn some warrior battle tactics and pose in front of our great battle scene
Finish the day with Viking myths and legends including the Gods, Asgard, Midgard and the 9 Realms, Bifrost, and finally Ragnarok, when the Valkyries take the brave warriors off to Valhalla!