The Viking Age: Sagas in Stone

Materials for KS2 National Curriculum History: Vikings.
These are the first two in a ground-breaking series of video-rich Powerpoints providing lessons that have been trialled in five schools in Cumbria, Lancashire and Camden. Learners use computers or tablets to explore important Viking Age sculptures using 3D scans made specially for this project, including Professor Dominic Powlesland’s model of the spectacular Gosforth Cross. The testing formed part of a Masters Research thesis, supervised by Professor Howard Williams at the University of Chester.

The lessons promote collaborative talk and creative learning and the testing phase involved a form of Lesson Study methodology that ensured Yr5 and Yr6 teachers and learners helped shape the resulting materials.

They address the English National Curriculum requirements for upper Key Stage 2 History; putting pupils in virtual contact with primary sources, enabling them to develop history skills and providing teachers with an engaging way to meet the need to undertake a ‘depth study’.

The PowerPoints can be used as-is, or adapted by the teacher - or pupils.