Activity 01
Classroom Archaeology Dig
Create a 'dig box' using a large tub filled with sand. Bury replica Viking artefacts (e.g., coins, beads, pottery shards, a model comb) for pupils to excavate carefully with brushes and trowels. They must then record and draw their findings on a worksheet, hypothesising what each object was used for.
Identify three towns in Ireland that were founded by the Vikings.
Facilitation TipEncourage pupils to think about how the position and depth of an object might tell a story.
What to look forThink-Pair-Share: Pupils discuss in pairs what a specific artefact (e.g., a glass bead) tells us about Viking life, before sharing with the class. This allows the teacher to gauge understanding.
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Activity 02
Viking Craftsperson's Workshop
Assign pairs a specific Viking craft, such as comb-making from antler, blacksmithing, or leatherworking. Using provided information sheets or child-safe websites, they create a poster or a short presentation explaining the craft, the materials used, and the skills needed.
Explain the difference between a Viking raid and a Viking settlement.
Facilitation TipProvide images of real artefacts for each craft to make the research more concrete.
What to look forVenn Diagram Comparison: Pupils complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast daily life, housing, and jobs in Viking Dublin versus an Irish ringfort.
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Activity 03
A Day in the Life Diary
Pupils write a diary entry from the perspective of a child their age living in either Viking Dublin or a rural Irish ringfort. They should include details about their home, daily chores, food, and something interesting that happened, based on what they have learned.
Analyse the importance of these new towns for trade and life in Ireland.
Facilitation TipCreate a word bank on the board with key vocabulary to help scaffold the writing task.
What to look forTraffic Light Check: Pupils use red, orange, or green cards or drawings to indicate their confidence in explaining what an archaeologist does.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Start by challenging the 'raiders and horned helmets' stereotype with images of real artefacts like combs, keys, and jewellery. Use a 'See, Think, Wonder' routine to encourage close observation and questioning of these objects. A simple T-chart is a great way to organise comparisons between the Viking town and the rural ringfort.
By exploring archaeological evidence, your pupils will be able to describe the homes, crafts, and daily lives of the people who lived in this new type of settlement.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
All Vikings wore horned helmets.
This is a popular myth that likely started with 19th-century paintings and operas. Archaeologists have never found a real Viking helmet with horns; their helmets were typically simple metal or leather bowls.
Vikings were just violent raiders who only came to steal.
While raiding was part of their activity, many Vikings came to Ireland to trade and settle. They were skilled farmers, craftspeople, and sailors who built permanent towns like Dublin, Waterford, and Limerick, which became major centres of trade.
Viking houses were just primitive, dirty huts.
Archaeological digs show that Viking houses in Dublin were well-built rectangular structures made of wattle and daub, with organised hearths and sometimes even wooden floors. The settlements had planned layouts with property boundaries and wooden pathways.
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