How the Vikings changed Britain
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the different ways in which Britain changed because of Viking invasion and settlement.
Key learning points
- Viking invasions caused huge amounts of conflict in Britain for over 200 years.
- Viking trade brought valuable foreign goods to Britain and Viking settlement created new towns with Viking place names.
- In areas of Viking settlement, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings often married, creating new generations with a mixed identity.
- The threat of the Vikings led to the Anglo-Saxons fortifying towns and gradually uniting their kingdoms to survive.
- A good description of the ways in which Britain changed due to the Vikings will use knowledge from across this unit.
Keywords
Settlement - a settlement is a place where people establish a community
Generation - a generation refers to people born and living at the same time
Unite - to unite means to bring together to form a whole
Common misconception
Pupils may think that Britain only changed for the worse because of the Vikings.
Britain changed in multiple positive ways because of Viking invasion and settlement through trade, changing place names, creating a new generation and even creating the England we know today.
Teacher tip
Write down the different changes and explore the concept of change with the pupils. Discuss whether any change was more important than any other and explore what the pupils think may have happened if one change did not happen.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How many Anglo-Saxon kings followed Athelstan's rule?
Q2.When did Viking raids begin during Ethelred's rule?
Q3.Order these events chronologically:
Q4.Who contested the throne after Ethelred died?
Q5.Canute became king of ...
Q6.Who was the last Danish king of England?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How did the Vikings change Britain through trade?
Q2.The Vikings changed the place names they found difficult to
Q3.Match the keyword to the definition
a place where people establish a community
people born and living at the same time
to bring together to form a whole
Q4.Athelstan was the first .
Q5.How many Viking kings ruled England?
Q6.Who do historians believe was the most successful Viking king?
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: How the Vikings changed Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: How the Vikings changed Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Vikings: how did Viking settlement change Britain? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.