Viking Raiders and Settlers: An Introduction to Viking Life
Learning Objective: To understand who the Vikings were, where they came from, and why they travelled to Britain, identifying key aspects of their culture and impact.
About this resource
This comprehensive Year 5 history lesson plan introduces pupils to the fascinating world of Viking Raiders and Settlers, exploring their origins, motivations for travelling to Britain, and key aspects of their culture. Designed for KS2, it directly supports the National Curriculum by building historical knowledge and understanding of significant events, people, and changes in Britain from the Anglo-Saxon and Viking period. Teachers will find this resource invaluable for engaging students with a crucial period of British history.
Starter Activity: 'What do you know about Vikings?'
8 minutesBegin by displaying a striking image of a Viking longship or a Viking warrior (without giving away too much information). Ask the children to work in pairs for 2 minutes to brainstorm and jot down anything they already know or think they know about Vikings. Encourage them to consider what they've seen in books, films, or games. Bring the class back together and create a 'Knowledge Wall' on the board, noting down their ideas. Challenge any common misconceptions gently, e.g., 'Did all Vikings wear horned helmets?' (No, they didn't!). This activates prior knowledge and sparks curiosity.
Main Activity: The Viking Story - From Scandinavia to Britain
35 minutes- Geographical Context (5 minutes): Using a world map or an interactive whiteboard, show the children Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark). Explain that this is where the Vikings originated. Discuss the challenges of farming in these northern lands and the importance of the sea for travel and resources. Introduce the term 'Norsemen'.
- Why Travel? (5 minutes): Discuss the reasons for Viking expansion: a growing population, a desire for land, wealth (silver, gold, slaves), and new trade routes. Emphasise that not all Vikings were raiders; many were traders, farmers, and explorers.
- The Longship (5 minutes): Show images or a short video clip of a Viking longship. Discuss its design and how it allowed them to travel across oceans and up rivers, making them formidable explorers and warriors. Explain its importance for both raiding and trading.
- First Encounters: Lindisfarne (10 minutes): Introduce the story of the raid on Lindisfarne Monastery in AD 793. Explain that this event is often seen as the beginning of the 'Viking Age' in Britain. Discuss the impact of this raid on the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Use a simple timeline to place this event in context. Provide a short, age-appropriate narrative or a simplified primary source extract (e.g., from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) for children to analyse.
- Activity: 'Viking Journey Map' (10 minutes): Provide each child with a simple map of Britain and Scandinavia. Ask them to mark Scandinavia as the Viking homeland and draw arrows showing their journey to Britain, specifically highlighting Lindisfarne. They can add a small drawing of a longship or a Viking symbol. Discuss that Vikings eventually settled in areas like the Danelaw, which will be explored in future lessons.
Plenary: 'Viking Fact or Fiction?'
7 minutesRead out a series of statements about Vikings. Children give a thumbs up for 'fact' and thumbs down for 'fiction'. Examples:
- 'All Vikings wore horned helmets.' (Fiction)
- 'Vikings came from Scandinavia.' (Fact)
- 'Vikings only raided; they never traded.' (Fiction)
- 'Viking longships were very fast and could travel far.' (Fact)
- 'The first major Viking raid in Britain was on Lindisfarne.' (Fact)
Conclude by asking children to share one new thing they learned about Vikings today.
Assessment
Observe children's participation in discussions and their ability to answer questions about Viking origins and motivations. Review their 'Viking Journey Map' to check their understanding of Viking routes and key locations. Listen to their contributions during the 'Fact or Fiction' plenary.
Resources Needed
- Large world map or interactive whiteboard with maps of Scandinavia and Britain
- Images/short video clips of Viking longships and Viking warriors
- Whiteboard or large paper for 'Knowledge Wall'
- Simple timeline (optional, for visual aid)
- Prepared statements for 'Fact or Fiction' plenary
- Blank maps of Britain/Scandinavia for each child
- Coloured pencils/pens
Differentiation
SEN Support
Provide pre-labelled maps or partially completed maps for the 'Viking Journey Map' activity. Pair children with a supportive peer. Use visual aids extensively and simplify language. Provide a word bank of key vocabulary (e.g., Viking, Scandinavia, longship, raid, trade, Lindisfarne).
EAL Support
Pre-teach key vocabulary using flashcards with images (e.g., longship, raid, monastery, Scandinavia). Allow children to use bilingual dictionaries. Provide sentence starters for discussions (e.g., 'I think Vikings came from...', 'A longship was used for...'). Encourage drawing and non-verbal responses.
Gifted & Talented
Challenge them to research and present one additional fact about Viking life (e.g., their gods, runes, daily life). Ask them to consider the Anglo-Saxon perspective of the Viking raids. Encourage them to label their 'Viking Journey Map' with additional details or draw more complex illustrations related to Viking culture. They could also research other significant Viking settlements or explorations (e.g., Greenland, North America). They could write a short diary entry from the perspective of a monk at Lindisfarne or a Viking raider/trader.
Key Vocabulary
Assessment Criteria
- Children can identify Scandinavia as the Viking homeland.
- Children can state at least two reasons why Vikings travelled to Britain.
- Children can locate Lindisfarne on a map and explain its significance.
- Children can describe a key feature of a Viking longship.