Viking Workshop

We can accommodate up to 3 classes (90 children) for a full day's worth of highly-engaging, hands-on learning. How do we manage this? We provide two teacher-led sessions that are extremely immersive, and crucially...easy for teachers to deliver!

The highlight of the day has to be when up to 30 children at once, take part in battle formations and tactics. With 30 wooden, replica round shields and wooden spears, they learn about the famous Shield Wall and experience what it was like to go in to battle in Viking times.

A typical Viking Workshop looks like this:
The workshop begins with an introduction from a Viking warrior! The warrior will talk about the weapons, shields, helmets and armour they have with them. They will demonstrate how these were used during the Viking era.
The rest of the day is then mostly taken up with our incredible hands-on and highly-engaging sessions.
Battle Formations and Tactics – the workshop leader will train the children on how to fight like a Viking warrior and they will even get their own spear and round shield to use during the activity!
Viking Board Games – the children will get to play two of the most popular games of the Viking age, 9 Men’s Morris and Hnefatafl.
Archaeology – the children get to sift through sand trays to unearth real artefacts that have been buried in England! Some artefacts date as far back as Roman times!
A Viking Thing – a ‘Thing’ was the name of a Viking meeting, where all free people met to decide the fate of their settlement. The children will take part in their own Thing in this exciting Powerpoint-based session where their decisions will have consequences… Can they keep all three classes of Viking society happy? Will they make the right decisions?
Viking Artefact Investigation – the workshop leader will show the children a range of replica Viking artefacts and demonstrate/describe how they would be used. Children will see how fires were made, how clothing was made from animals, what the Vikings would drink out of, how they looked after their appearance and more. There may also be a chance for a couple of young Vikings to dress up!
Depending on timings and the number of classes taking part in the day, there may also be other talks/presentations, about things such as the Viking sagas (stories about the adventures of the Viking gods!)

Workshop leaders: Leigh, Adam B, Stevie, Richard

For example schedules based on 1, 2, or 3 classes, see below.

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'Leigh came to our school today to deliver the Anglo Saxon and Viking workshop. From start to end all the children were engaged. All the resources were excellent quality, including the ones we were given to lead. Leigh explained everything clearly and was amazing with the children. The day was summed up brilliantly when one child asked where Leigh was when they were taught Romans! Thank you for a fantastic day. We all loved every minute!'

Catherine Thompson

Rose Hill Primary School
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Stockport

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I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the workshop you delivered to our Year 5s. We all (staff included) thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and learnt so much in such a hands on and engaging way. The children have remembered so much which they are managing to sneak into lessons, and have been eager to use the weapons choreography in their PE dance unit! I'm sure as a year team we will be in contact again, and will definitely encourage the others to use you to bring their history to life.