York's importance to the Vikings
I can explain why York was important to the Vikings.
York's importance to the Vikings
I can explain why York was important to the Vikings.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- York, a major settlement in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, was captured by the Vikings in 866 CE.
- It was an important strategic location between the Ouse and Foss rivers, making it easy to defend and good for trade.
- The Vikings restored the old Roman walls and it quickly became the main Viking city in Britain.
- The Vikings called it Jorvik, which was also the name they used for their kingdom in Britain.
Keywords
Strategic - if something is strategic it is important for success in war or defence
Invasion - invasion means to enter a country armed and capture it
Jorvik - the Vikings renamed York when they captured it to Jorvik
Common misconception
Pupils may think York was only strategically important because the rivers acted as a natural defence.
York was strategically important because the rivers were a natural defence, but they were also key routes for trade.
To help you plan your year 6 history lesson on: York's importance to the Vikings, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 history lesson on: York's importance to the Vikings, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Vikings: how do we know so much about Viking York? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
finding archaeological sites that are only visible from the air
finding artefacts brought to the surface through farming
finding underground archaeological sites
Exit quiz
6 Questions
something that is important for success in war or defence
means to enter a country armed and capture it
the name given to York by the Vikings