Although shields were primarily used for defence in the early medieval period, they were also a symbol of a warrior and the comradeship of the shield wall, where each warrior fought for and protected his neighbour. In this activity, the children will: 1.consider the military uses of a shield and its greater significance 2.view high quality images of shield components and consider how they were constructed 3.design and make their own shield 4.review archaeological evidence for the construction and status the shield.

Across the areas of Viking settlement in the UK we see part of their legacy in the names of our places. In this activity the children will: 1.consider how places get their names 2.learn about elements of Viking place names 3.create place names for their own Viking settlement 4.explore your locality for evidence of Viking settlements

This activity is suitable for KS2 children. As we focus on celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, we must not forget the Surety Barons. These 25 barons from amongst the many rebel barons were elected to ensure that the king kept to his agreement. They were elected and for the first time, the king had a greater power to answer to. Many argue that they pave the way for parliament. In the activity, the children will consider the role of the surety barons and then look at their 'arms'. They will design their own arms and take their place amongst the powerful nobles of the 13th century.

Runes are the symbols used for writing before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. The Vikings carved runes onto large rune stones, which commemorate notable events. In this activity the children will: 1.Consider the difference between runes and our letters 2.Learn about runic inscriptions at Maeshowe and on everyday items 3.Look at high quality images to develop understanding of rune stones. 4.Create their own runic inscription.

In the early medieval period, the textiles available to the large majority of people, regardless of status were linen and wool. The process of weaving these fabrics was significantly more labour intensive than today. In this activity the children will: 1.Consider their own clothes, purchase of new clothes and repair 2.Explore the stage of fabric preparation using high quality images 3.Consider the clothing of rich and poor 4.Review tablet weaving designs and create their own

The ways in which the Anglo-Saxons used their sparse free-time was very different to ours. The children will consider the differences in technology and daily lives which made a game such as 9 Men’s Morris popular. In this activity the children will: 1.learn how to play the game 2.develop their own versions of it 3.consider the similarities and differences with modern pastimes

The period of the Anglo-Saxon settlement of England has had the most long-lasting and visible effect on the names in our landscape, more so than any other wave of settlement. In this activity the children will: 1.consider how places get their names 2.learn about elements of Anglo-Saxon place names 3.create place names for their own Anglo-Saxon Settlement 4.explore your locality for evidence of Anglo-Saxon settlements

This game is designed to be played by a whole class . It is suitable for KS1 and lower KS2. This year we mark 800 years since the writing of the Magna Carta. For the first time a king agreed that the law was more powerful than him . When schools are thinking about 'British Values', enabling children to understand how England was the first nation to enshrine personal liberty and the power of the law will allow a long view of these now widely held values. During the game, the children will learn about 13th century agriculture, its inherent difficulties and the ways in which King John’s actions made it even more challenging. They will become involved in the running of their manor and will experience these difficulties firsthand. If you discover after purchase that you prefer to use the more complex version, please get in touch for a free copy.

This interactive game/resource is designed to be played by the whole class simultaneously. In the early medieval period, overseas travel was a much rarer and riskier business than today. It required significant planning and determination and was often a one way journey for settlement purposes. In this extended role-play game, the children work in families to produce and trade goods which they will need for their journey. At the end of the game those with sufficient provisions will see if their voyage is successful. Three different variations of the game are included, depending on the time you would like to spend on it.

The ways in which the Vikings used their sparse free-time was very different to ours. The children will consider the differences in technology and daily lives which made a game such as Hnefertafl/Hnefatafl popular. The children will: 1.learn how to play the game 2.consider the similarities and differences with modern pastimes

This game is designed to be played by a whole class . It may be adapted to various levels of difficulty -KS2/3 . This year we mark 800 years since the writing of the Magna Carta. For the first time a king agreed that the law was more powerful than him . When schools are thinking about 'British Values', enabling children to understand how England was the first nation to enshrine personal liberty and the power of the law will allow a long view of these now widely held values. During the game, the children will learn about 13th century agriculture, its inherent difficulties and the ways in which King John’s actions made it even more challenging. They will become involved in the running of their manor and will experience these difficulties firsthand. If you discover after purchase that you prefer to use the KS1 version, please get in touch for a free copy.

Our nation is shaped in many ways by its Christian heritage. The arrival of Christianity to these shores through a combination of religious devotion and political expediency makes an interesting topic of study. This unit of work allows teacher to select between 2-4 hours of teaching/activities according to the needs of the children. This pack allows you to deliver part of the KS2 History Curriculum 2014 as part of topic on Anglo Saxons 425-792AD. In this activity children will: 1. discover the Christian legacy left by the Romans and how the arrival of the pagan Anglo-Saxons changed this 2. learn the stories of the monks who brought Celtic and Roman Christianity to Britain and chart progress using a coloured map 3. review examples and then design their own early Saxon cross 4. create a model of a Celtic 'preaching cross'.

The raid on Lindisfarne is an iconic event, which for most people heralds the start of the Viking Age in Britain. In this activity, the children will: 1.Read a series of historical accounts of the raid on Lindisfarne 2.Establish the factual nature of these accounts and the subtext of their authors. 3.Recount their own version of events and, using high quality images as stimulus, design one of the ‘lost treasures of Lindisfarne’.