The Viking Invasion: Exploring Why Vikings Came to Britain

The Viking Invasion: Exploring Why Vikings Came to Britain

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand why Vikings came to Britain.

Start the lesson by discussing the learning objective with the students.

What do you already know about the reasons why Vikings came to Britain?

Who were the Vikings?

The Vikings were skilled seafarers and warriors from Scandinavia.

Introduce the concept of the Vikings and their background.

Viking Expansion

The Vikings began expanding their territories in the late 8th century AD.

Explain the timeline of Viking expansion and their impact on various regions.

Viking Raids

Viking raids were a common way for Vikings to acquire wealth and resources.

Discuss the motivations behind Viking raids and their targets.

Land Shortages

Overpopulation and limited arable land in Scandinavia were factors that pushed Vikings to seek new territories.

Explain the environmental factors that influenced Viking migration.

Trade and Commerce

Vikings sought new trade routes and opportunities in foreign lands.

Highlight the economic motivations behind Viking exploration and trade.

Political Instability

Internal conflicts and power struggles in Scandinavia led some Vikings to seek safer havens.

Discuss the political climate in Scandinavia and its impact on Viking migration.

Cultural Curiosity

Vikings were curious about other cultures, leading them to explore and settle in new lands.

Emphasize the cultural and intellectual motivations for Viking expeditions.

Conclusion

The Vikings came to Britain for various reasons, including raids, land shortages, trade, political instability, and cultural curiosity.

Summarize the key points and encourage students to reflect on the reasons discussed.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.