History · 5th Year

Active learning ideas

The First Raids on Ireland

Picture a peaceful community, rich with art and treasure, suddenly facing terrifying warriors from the sea. This topic uncovers the dramatic story of the first Viking raids on Ireland.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA History: Early People and Ancient Societies - The Vikings

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Document Mystery
• 30 min · Pairs

Mapping the First Raids

Pupils use a map of Ireland and Britain to plot the locations of the first recorded Viking raids, such as Lambay Island, Iona, and Rathlin Island. They can draw the sea routes from Norway to show where the raiders came from.

Identify the first recorded Viking raid in Ireland.

Facilitation Tip

Provide a list of key sites with their dates to help guide the pupils' mapping work.

What to look for

Observe and listen to group discussions during the 'Why Raid a Monastery?' activity, noting pupils' ability to use evidence to form conclusions.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Document Mystery
• 45 min · Individual

A Monk's Diary Entry

Pupils write a diary entry from the perspective of a monk living in a coastal monastery during the first Viking attack. This encourages historical empathy and creative writing, focusing on the shock and fear of the event.

Explain why monasteries were attractive targets for Viking raiders.

Facilitation Tip

Before writing, brainstorm as a class the potential sights, sounds, and feelings a monk might have experienced.

What to look for

Pupils draw a 'before and after' picture of an Irish monastery, showing it as a peaceful centre of learning and then during or after a Viking raid, with labels explaining the changes.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Document Mystery
• 40 min · Small Groups

Why Raid a Monastery? Investigation

In small groups, pupils examine images of monastic treasures (e.g., the Ardagh Chalice) and a simplified map showing monasteries near the coast. They complete a worksheet to list all the reasons these sites were attractive targets.

Analyse the immediate impact of these raids on Irish monastic life.

Facilitation Tip

Use a 'think, pair, share' approach to encourage discussion before groups write down their final ideas.

What to look for

Pupils complete an 'exit ticket' where they answer the question: 'What are the two most important things you learned about the first Viking raids today?'

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start by building a clear picture of a pre-Viking monastery as a bustling centre of wealth and learning, not just a quiet place to pray. Use a map to trace the Vikings' journey, making the threat feel real and immediate. Frame the key question from the raiders' point of view: if you wanted treasure, where would you go?

By the end of this topic, pupils will be able to explain exactly why Irish monasteries were the first and most attractive targets for the Viking raiders.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• All Vikings wore horned helmets.

  There is no historical or archaeological evidence that Vikings wore horned helmets in battle. This is a popular myth that likely came from costumes designed for 19th-century operas.

• The Vikings were just mindless barbarians who only wanted to destroy things.

  While their raids were brutal, the Vikings were strategic. They targeted monasteries because they were centres of portable wealth. They were also skilled traders, explorers, and craftspeople.

• The Vikings arrived and immediately took over all of Ireland.

  The first phase of the Viking Age in Ireland consisted of quick 'hit-and-run' raids on coastal targets. It was only decades later that they began to build settlements, like Dublin, and have a more permanent influence.

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Methods used in this brief

• Document Mystery