Secondary
Anglo Saxon Workshops
Anglo Saxon workshops
Battle of Edington – workshop overview:
Alfred has lost his Kingdom of Wessex to the Vikings at the Battle of Chippenham. Can your pupils help King Alfred get his army ready for the Battle of Edington and save his kingdom?
Pupils begin with a quick introduction on the settlement of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain, the arrival of the Vikings at Lindisfarne in 793 AD and the later battles between the two peoples for land.
Your pupils will help King Alfred get ready for the Battle of Edington by working together to design a shield and create a class shield wall (which you can photograph to remind them of their visit to us).
At the end of the workshop, they find out the outcome of the Battle of Edington and about the signing of the Peace Treaty of Wedmore.
Archaeology – workshop overview:
Over a thousand years ago, Winchester was an important place to the Anglo-Saxons. It was the capital city of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex and a place of faith, learning and art. We also know that it had two magnificent buildings called Old Minster and New Minster which were made of stone at the very centre of the city.
But how do we know this?
Pupils begin by thinking about how the histories of peoples and places have been passed down through the centuries in the days before modern technology and literacy.
They learn about the important work of archaeologists and how the artifacts they find can shape our understanding of the past and how people lived.
They work in groups to find replica historical artifacts in trays of sand with a paintbrush.
The artifacts are then recorded on a worksheet by drawing, measuring and using their senses to find out as much information as possible about each object.
They also think about how the object was made, who made it, how it was used and why it ended up in the ground.
Was King Alfred Great? – workshop overview:
King Alfred is known as King Alfred “The Great” but why is he called that?
Why do we call him that over a thousand years after his death?
Was he really that great? Who decided he was great?
Pupils begin by thinking about how the histories of peoples and places have been passed down through the centuries in the days before modern technology and literacy.
They work in teams to study historical sources on King Alfred and are encouraged to question the sources they are given.
Each team will then prepare their arguments for or against the statement of “Was King Alfred great?” and present their arguments to each other.
Life in Anglo-Saxon Winchester workshop – workshop overview:
The Anglo-Saxons don’t write down their laws and there isn’t a set punishment for a crime. What will the punishments be for those who break the law in Anglo-Saxon Winchester?
Pupils begin with an introduction to crime and punishment in Anglo-Saxon Winchester and the introduction of written laws by King Alfred.
The pupils hear about scenarios that may have taken place in Anglo-Saxon Winchester and get to decide the options for punishment for those who broke the law.
In a time where a fine could be an option for those who broke the law, how much would they have been fined?
Coming in Autumn 2026 – *NEW* mortuary chest workshop