The Great Heathen Army
I can describe how the Vikings took over more and more of Britain in the 800s CE.
The Great Heathen Army
I can describe how the Vikings took over more and more of Britain in the 800s CE.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Viking raids increased in number throughout the 800s CE, and by 850 they had begun to make winter camps in Britain.
- In 865 CE, the biggest Viking army ever to have come to Britain arrived in East Anglia: The Great Heathen Army.
- By 869, the Vikings had won key battles against Northumbria and East Anglia while Mercia had bribed them not to attack.
- Only Wessex, which controlled most of southern Britain, remained in resistance to the Vikings.
Keywords
Heathen - a heathen is a person who does not belong to a widely held religion
East Anglia - East Anglia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the east of England
Northumbria - Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northeastern England
Mercia - Mercia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is the Midlands in England today
Wessex - Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England
Common misconception
Pupils may not understand that Britain was formed of separate Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
At this time, Britain was formed of four separate kingdoms: East Anglia, Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex.
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The Great Heathen Army, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The Great Heathen Army, 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Vikings: why did they come to the British Isles? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
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Adult supervision required
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the east of England
an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northeastern England
an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is the Midlands in England today
an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England