Seafaring Vikings
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how Viking raids on the British Isles were part of a bigger story of seafaring and expansion.
Key learning points
- The Vikings also began to raid monasteries in Ireland, founding Dublin in the 9th century.
- The Norse were seafarers who travelled and settled widely across Europe, as far away as Byzantium.
- In the 9th century, they settled in Iceland, and in the 10th century Erik the Red is said to have reached Greenland.
- Erik’s oldest son, Leif Erikson, travelled as far as North America, calling the land he discovered Vinland.
Keywords
Fortified - fortified means to provide a place with defenses, such as walls, to protect it against attack
Expansion - expansion often means becoming more permanent and larger in size
Seafaring - seafaring means regularly travelling by sea
Saga - a saga is a story of achievements or events in the history in Old Norse or Old Icelandic
Common misconception
Pupils may think the Vikings only raided places and left.
Vikings expansion involved sailing to explore new places which they often raided for goods. The Vikings then began to settle and trade in these places.
Teacher tip
Take time to look at maps to show how far the Vikings explored.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the sentence. A is a rapid, surprise attack which normally involves stealing something.
Q2.What is a building lived in by a community who follow religious vows called?
Q3.What is the correct historical name for a book or document written by hand?
Q4.In what year did the Vikings raid Lindisfarne Priory?
Q5.What was the name given to the boats that Vikings used to raid the priories?
Q6.Which statements are correct about where and why Viking raids happened?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the sentence: The correct word for a place with defences, such as walls, to protect it against attack is .
Q2.Order the events of Viking expansion, starting with the earliest.
Q3.Where does evidence of Viking expansion often come from?
Q4.Which statements about the Vikings expansion are correct?
Q5.What is the name given to the accounts about the Vikings early settlement in Iceland, written 200 years later?
Q6.Match the dates to the correct description of events in the expansion of the Vikings.
The Vikings arrived in Iceland.
Erik the Red discovered Greenland.
Leif Erikson discovered Vinland.
To help you plan your 5 history lesson on: Seafaring Vikings, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 history lesson on: Seafaring Vikings, 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: why did they come to the British Isles? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.