Discovering the Vikings: North West Sutherland Primary Schools

How the project achieved the sections of the award

Plan:

The three schools in the North Sutherland Cluster have been studying the Vikings as their Topic in Term 1. In October they invited Andrew Newton – Heritage education Volunteer to visit each of their primary schools for a Viking morning / afternoon. At the beginning of the session the class briefly described what they had already learned and what they wanted to learn – This was used as the ice-breaker for the interactive Viking session

What the students already learned (a selection):

• They had ships called long ships
• They originally came from Scandinavia
• We think they believed in dragons
• They had round shields
• They had weapons including swords and axes
• The did not have horns on their helmets

A brief synopsis of some of the statements of “we want to know”:

• What did they eat?
• What did they make?
• Where did they travel to?
• What did they wear?
• What games did they play?
• How do we know things about the Vikings?

Investigate & Engage

During the interactive Viking session, the class participated in class-based discussions, including object handling. They also took part in an exercise involving ‘excavating a Viking grave’ – they then looked at how archaeologists use evidence to understand the life story of individuals from the past. The class also participated in an exercise on Viking Trading – and learnt how the Vikings used their ship building skills to trade throughout Europe and beyond. Students also learned how to play a Viking Game.

Inspire

The schools Viking Topic inspired the creation of a range Viking artwork including making Viking Ships and it also led to the completion of a literacy task (Writing a Viking Saga). The Children also learned how to play a Viking Game – and print at home versions of this were distributed electronically so that the children could teach their families how to play too. Photographs of the interactive Viking Session were published on the NWSS Cluster Facebook page – eliciting positive comments and feedback from local community families who were positive about the fact that local school students had been learning about a part of history which is so very relevant to the area.

The benefit of Using the Heritage Hero Awards

As a Volunteer Heritage Educator who works with several museums across the Highlands, I find the Heritage Hero’s Award Scheme a really positive way of promoting engagement with schools – especially in an outreach education capacity. Encouraging schools to welcome outreach visits based on Heritage and Archaeology is a really vital way of facilitating Museums going to Schools – something that is essential in remote areas (where many children rarely get the opportunity to travel to visit museums).

Quotes From teachers (as featured on the NWSS Facebook Page)

“NWSS primaries have had a very interesting start to the term with a visit from Andrew Newton who volunteers with an archaeological education group. He came as his Viking character, Laeknir Ulfrson, and brought a skeleton for us to investigate. We became archaeologists and used our powers of deduction to work out how the Viking had lived by studying the artefacts that were found with him. After our investigation we got to handle some realistic Viking artefacts. We tried on chain mail, held weapons, and wore Viking helmets. It was exciting to imagine what life must have been like for real Vikings. Andrew visited all three of our primary schools.”

Case study compiled by Dr Andrew Newton FSA Scot FRGS – Volunteer Heritage Educator. With thanks to North West Sutherland Schools Cluster.