The Battle of Edington and the Treaty

Active learning helps students grasp the significance of the Battle of Edington because it brings a distant historical event into the classroom as a tangible experience. By simulating key moments and analyzing primary sources, students move beyond memorizing dates to understanding cause and consequence in a divided England.

• Year 5
• History
• 3 activities
• 25 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Evaluate the significance of the Battle of Edington as a turning point in Anglo-Saxon and Viking relations.
2. Explain the key terms and territorial divisions established by the Treaty of Wedmore.
3. Analyze the cultural and legal differences between the Danelaw and the Anglo-Saxon controlled regions.
4. Compare the military strategies employed by Alfred the Great and Guthrum at Edington.

Simulation Game

⏱ 40 min·Whole Class

Simulation Game: The Shield Wall

Use PE mats or cardboard shields to demonstrate the 'shield wall' tactic used at Edington. Students work in two groups (Saxons and Vikings) to see how difficult it is to break a solid line of shields. They then discuss why discipline and teamwork were more important than individual strength.

Prepare & details

Evaluate why the Battle of Edington was a turning point in English history.

Facilitation Tip: During the Shield Wall simulation, circulate with a stopwatch to ensure realistic timing and space constraints that mirror the chaos of medieval combat.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Treaty of Wedmore

Provide groups with a map of England and the 'terms' of the treaty (e.g., Guthrum must become Christian, the boundary will follow the old Roman road of Watling Street). Students draw the boundary on their maps and discuss who 'won' the treaty, Alfred or Guthrum.

Prepare & details

Explain the terms of the Treaty of Wedmore.

Facilitation Tip: For the Treaty of Wedmore investigation, assign roles (scribe, Viking chieftain, Wessex noble) to deepen engagement with primary sources and legal language.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Why did Guthrum agree to be baptised?

Students reflect on why a Viking leader would agree to change his religion after losing a battle. They discuss in pairs, considering reasons like making peace, gaining Alfred as a 'godfather', or political survival, and then share their ideas with the class.

Prepare & details

Analyze how the Danelaw divided the culture and laws of England.

Facilitation Tip: Use Think-Pair-Share to structure the baptism discussion so hesitant students can rehearse arguments with a partner before sharing with the class.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Start with the battle’s immediate effects before introducing the treaty, as this sequence mirrors how historians piece together events. Avoid presenting the Danelaw as a static boundary; instead, emphasize its fluid legal and cultural exchanges. Research shows that role-play and map-based activities improve spatial and analytical reasoning in medieval history, making abstract concepts more concrete.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining the battle’s strategic impact, the treaty’s terms, and the cultural divide of the Danelaw. They should use historical evidence to justify their reasoning and recognize how power dynamics shaped England’s future.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Shield Wall simulation, watch for students assuming the Vikings were permanently defeated and left England.

What to Teach Instead

Use the post-simulation reflection to point to the map of the Danelaw and ask students to locate where Viking control remained.

Common Misconception

During the Treaty of Wedmore investigation, watch for students interpreting the Danelaw as a physical wall like Hadrian’s Wall.

What to Teach Instead

Have students annotate the map with labels like "different laws" or "trade rules" to highlight its legal and cultural nature.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the diary entry activity, invite volunteers to read aloud their entries and highlight specific outcomes of the battle and treaty that ensured Wessex’s survival.

Quick Check

During the Danelaw boundary activity, collect students’ maps and ask them to orally explain one cultural or legal difference they labeled to a partner.

Peer Assessment

After creating the T-chart comparing Anglo-Saxon and Viking advantages and disadvantages, partners exchange charts to check for two distinct points in each category and add one suggestion for clarity.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask early finishers to write a dialogue between Alfred and Guthrum imagining their first meeting after the treaty, incorporating historical details about their goals.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters for the diary entry activity, such as "Because Guthrum agreed to be baptised, this meant..." to support reluctant writers.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research modern examples of divided regions (e.g., Korea, Cyprus) and compare their governance structures to the Danelaw.

Key Vocabulary

Danelaw	A historical region in England where Viking law and customs were dominant, established after the Treaty of Wedmore.
Treaty of Wedmore	An agreement made in AD 878 between Alfred the Great and Guthrum, which formally divided England and led to the creation of the Danelaw.
Viking Age	A period in European history, roughly from the late 8th to the mid-11th century, characterized by Norse exploration, raids, and settlement.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle	A collection of annals recording the history of the Anglo-Saxons, providing valuable contemporary accounts of events like the Battle of Edington.