The End of Rome and the Anglo-Saxon Arrival · Spring Term

Who Were the Anglo-Saxons?

Identifying the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes and their reasons for migration to Britain.

About This Topic

The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons was a complex process of migration and settlement that reshaped the identity of Britain. For Year 4 students, this topic identifies the three main groups, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, who came from modern-day Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. It moves beyond the 'invader' stereotype to explore the reasons why they came, including flooding in their homelands and the search for better farming land.

Students will compare the Anglo-Saxon way of life with the Roman one, noting the shift from stone towns to wooden villages and from Christianity back to paganism. This topic is fundamental to the KS2 History unit on 'Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots'. It encourages students to see history as a story of movement and change. This topic benefits from active learning where students can map migrations and use 'think-pair-share' to contrast different cultural values.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the geographical origins of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
• Explain the push and pull factors that motivated the Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain.
• Compare and contrast the religious beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons with those of Roman Christians in Britain.
• Differentiate between the historical interpretations of the Anglo-Saxons as invaders versus settlers.

Before You Start

Roman Britain

Why: Students need a basic understanding of Roman presence and influence in Britain to compare it with the subsequent Anglo-Saxon period.

Basic Map Skills

Why: Students must be able to locate countries and interpret simple geographical information to understand migration routes.

Key Vocabulary

Angles	One of the main Germanic tribes who migrated to Britain from the area of modern-day Denmark.
Saxons	Another major Germanic tribe, originating from areas of modern-day northern Germany, who settled in Britain.
Jutes	A Germanic tribe that, along with the Angles and Saxons, migrated to Britain from the Jutland peninsula.
Migration	The movement of people from one place to another with the intention of settling, temporarily or permanently.
Paganism	A religion that does not belong to one of the main world religions, often involving worship of many gods or nature spirits.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Why did they move?

In small groups, students look at 'clues' (e.g., a picture of a flooded field, a map of crowded land, a Roman letter asking for mercenaries). They must categorise these into 'Push' factors (reasons to leave) and 'Pull' factors (reasons to come to Britain).

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

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Gallery Walk: Roman vs. Saxon

Place images of Roman stone villas and Saxon wooden longhouses around the room. Students move in pairs to identify three major differences in materials, size, and how the buildings were used.

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

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Think-Pair-Share: Invaders or Settlers?

Students discuss whether they think the Anglo-Saxons were mostly 'invaders' (coming to fight) or 'settlers' (coming to live). They must provide one piece of evidence for each side of the argument.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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Real-World Connections

Archaeologists at sites like Sutton Hoo in Suffolk use artifacts to reconstruct the lives and beliefs of Anglo-Saxon leaders, informing our understanding of their society.

Modern place names across England, such as those ending in '-ing' (meaning 'people of') or '-ton' (meaning 'settlement'), are direct linguistic legacies of Anglo-Saxon settlement.

Historians at the British Museum analyze primary sources, like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, to piece together narratives of this period, debating the balance between invasion and settlement.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Anglo-Saxons were one single group of people.

What to Teach Instead

They were actually many different tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians) who only later became known as 'the English'. Using a map of their different homelands helps students see this diversity.

Common Misconception

They 'wiped out' all the British people.

What to Teach Instead

Most historians now believe the British people stayed and eventually mixed with the Anglo-Saxons. Peer discussion about 'DNA and language' helps students understand that the two groups merged over time.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a map of Northern Europe and Britain. Ask them to draw arrows showing the likely migration routes of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, and label at least two reasons for their journey.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Were the Anglo-Saxons primarily invaders or settlers?' Ask students to provide evidence from their learning to support their viewpoint, encouraging them to consider different perspectives.

Quick Check

Present students with a T-chart. On one side, list characteristics of Roman Britain (e.g., stone buildings, Christianity). On the other, list characteristics of early Anglo-Saxon life (e.g., wooden villages, paganism). Ask students to fill in the similarities and differences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

They came from northern Europe, specifically what is now northern Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. They crossed the North Sea in wooden boats to reach the eastern and southern coasts of Britain.

Why are they called 'Anglo-Saxons'?

The name comes from the two largest tribes: the Angles (who gave their name to 'England') and the Saxons. Over time, these groups, along with the Jutes, mixed together and began to see themselves as one people with a shared language, which we now call Old English.

How can active learning help students understand Anglo-Saxon migration?

By categorising 'Push and Pull' factors in a collaborative investigation, students see migration as a logical response to real-world problems like flooding or overpopulation. It moves the topic away from a simple 'war' story and into a more human story of families looking for a better life, which is much easier for children to relate to.

What was the main difference between Romans and Anglo-Saxons?

The Romans loved big stone cities, central government, and written laws. The Anglo-Saxons preferred living in small wooden villages, were ruled by local lords, and for a long time, they didn't write things down, preferring to tell stories and keep their laws in their heads.