Crime and Punishment Anglo Saxons pack. KS2

Crime and Punishment Anglo Saxons resource pack. KS2
The pack is based around a fictional short story called ‘The False Oath’ set in AD 964 at the time of the reign of the last Viking king of Northumbria, Eric Bloodaxe. The description of crime and punishment in the story is based upon historical sources. A significant feature of Saxon law relied upon people telling the truth and behaving honourably. Men swore an oath of loyalty to a lord, part of which was a promise to obey the law. Oath breaking was a very serious offence. Swearing an oath on the bible was solemn and binding and if broken, people believed they would be condemned to persecution in the afterlife.
‘The false oath’ focuses on a young boy and his family find themselves at the centre of a feud over land with their Norse neighbours. Their actions see the family and their neighbour face Saxon justice in the Witan with far reaching consequences for everyone.
The story includes a historical context and notes.
I wrote the story myself after being unable to find resources which helped pupils understand the concepts, beliefs, ideas of democracy and justice, fairness and motivation surrounding the Saxon justice system rather than the punishments themselves.
The resource pack includes:
• Short story and historical notes.
• Historical information power-point about the Anglo Saxon justice system.
6 pupil resources:
• Pupil worksheet to summarise the historical context of the story.
• Glossary Activity
• Glossary cards
• Witan drama activity and thinking worksheet for pupils.
• Pupil activity about the importance of people (in the story) and their place in the ‘pecking order’.
• Anglo Saxon punishment factsheet.