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Year 5

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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New
New
Year 5

The Great Heathen Army

I can describe how the Vikings took over more and more of Britain in the 800s CE.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Viking raids increased in number throughout the 800s CE, and by 850 they had begun to make winter camps in Britain.
  2. In 865 CE, the biggest Viking army ever to have come to Britain arrived in East Anglia: The Great Heathen Army.
  3. By 869, the Vikings had won key battles against Northumbria and East Anglia while Mercia had bribed them not to attack.
  4. Only Wessex, which controlled most of southern Britain, remained in resistance to the Vikings.

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.

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

Emphasise to the pupils the skill of the Great Heathen Army in capturing large areas of Britain.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When did the first recorded Viking raids take place on Ireland?
Correct answer: 795 CE
794 CE
793 CE
792 CE
Q2.
What does the term 'fortified' mean?
a place providing religious importance
a place housing valuable objects
a place providing historical interest
Correct answer: a place providing defenses such as walls
Q3.
Which was one of the early fortified camps established by the Vikings?
Jarrow
Correct answer: Dublin
Ion
Q4.
Which words that describe Viking expansion?
Correct answer: raid
expand
Correct answer: trade
travel
Q5.
Which statements are correct about Viking expansion following Dublin?
Correct answer: they settled in Iceland from 870 CE
Correct answer: Eric the Reid setted in Greenland in 985 CE
Leif Erikson settled in Greenland in around 1000 CE
Correct answer: Leif Erikson discovered North America
Q6.
What is the correct definition of a 'saga'?
A saga is a musical instrument used in medieval Iceland.
Correct answer: A saga is a story of events in history in Old Norse or Old Icelandic
A saga is a type of Old Norse or Old Icelandic dance.
A saga is a traditional Icelandic dish made with fish and potatoes.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the name of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom to the correct location.
Correct Answer:East Anglia,an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the east of England

an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the east of England

Correct Answer:Northumbria,an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northeastern England

an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northeastern England

Correct Answer:Mercia,an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is the Midlands in England today

an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is the Midlands in England today

Correct Answer:Wessex,an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England

an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England

Q2.
Complete the sentence: A is a person who does not belong to a widely held religion.
Correct Answer: heathen, Heathen
Q3.
True or false: Viking raids increased in number throughout the 800s CE, and by 850 they had begun to make winter camps in Britain.
Correct answer: True
False
Q4.
Which statements about The Great Heathen Army are correct?
Correct answer: They were the biggest Viking army ever to have come to Britain.
They first travelled to south to Wessex.
Correct answer: They landed on the Isle of Thanet in Kent.
They wanted to join forces with the Anglo-Saxons
Q5.
When did The Great Heathen Army invade and capture York?
Correct answer: 1st November 866 CE
1st November 966 CE
1st November 868 CE
1st November 969 CE
Q6.
Which Anglo-Saxon kingdom bribed the Vikings not to attack them?
Wessex
Northumbria
East Anglia
Correct answer: Mercia

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