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Saxons

During your school trip, the group follows the peaceful lives of the Saxon and how they go about their everyday lives. Then we hear about the Viking invasion and how the Saxons repelled them from Wessex. Children learn that the Saxons didn’t always lose!

Our historical narrative will allow your children to experience Saxon life and culture. Your children will experience drama and fun in the activities that they do with us, all of which promote historical understanding, teamwork and problem solving.

Activity Options

Saxon Skills 

Experience key skills needed to support life – carding, spinning, wattle fences and using a flint and steel

Saxon willow weaving

Experience a key skill needed to support life – willow weaving – and make a tray to take away

Saxon torc
Grounds exploration- Rune Trail

Create your own Saxon torc, learning some metal work skills along the way, to take away

Saxon crime and punishment

Take part in a Saxon court case to learn how criminals were dealt with

The Raid of 787AD

RESIDENTIAL ONLY

Explore the grounds to discover how we use the world around us to survive

Archery

RESIDENTIAL ONLY

The surrounding forests are excellent hunting grounds for boar and deer – especially necessary for a successful banquet! The furs are also valuable for clothing.

Saxon Superstition- Nine Herb Charm

Re-enact the earliest date for a Viking Raid on Wessex when Norsemen arrived at Portland, Dorset

SEASONAL (May-September)

Discover how charms could protect against the plague or a swarm of bees

Saxon artefacts
Saxon games

Investigate a range of Saxon objects. What materials are used and why?

RESIDENTIAL ONLY

Study Saxon life in terms of their leisure pursuits – try your hand at some games

Saxon fire lighting

RESIDENTIAL ONLY

Experience an element of Saxon life by trying to start a fire using ancient techniques

Hunting- bow making

Learn how to make your own bow and arrow set from natural materials to take away

Saxon Tales

RESIDENTIAL ONLY

Re-enact the story of Beowulf and how he defeated Grendel the monster

Battle of Reading

Re-enact the story of the Battle of Reading. Learn how King Alfred outwitted the Vikings in Wessex

Life on the farm

Experience elements of Saxon farming through milking, grinding grain and interacting with animals

Saxon Banquet

RESIDENTIAL ONLY 

 Take part in a Saxon feast, telling riddles and perform the Egg Dance.

Our narrative follows the peaceful lives of the Saxons in Reading and how they go about their everyday lives. Then we hear about the Viking invasion and how the Saxons repelled them from Wessex. Children learn that the Saxons didn’t always lose!

Saxons kids in helmets.jpg
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