The Saxons School Trip

Welcome to Saxon England, the year is 870, and you are living in the powerful kingdom of Wessex under King Aethelred. 400 years ago, we settled, grew great Kingdoms, discovered great treasures and trades but the Vikings are on the march and danger is near. Your life as a Saxon is full of hard work, skill-building, and training for battle.

Will you be ready to defend your land? Join us as we dive into the world of Saxon warriors, farmers, and rulers, and see if you can help Wessex stand strong against the Viking threat!

The Saxons settled in Britain in the 5th century after the Romans left, eventually establishing many kingdoms. The kingdom of Wessex, located in the southwest of England, is the strongest of the Saxon kingdoms by the year 870.

However, the threat of Viking invasions looms large. This immersive experience takes children on a journey through Saxon life, from exploring where best to settle and survive, as well as preparing for the Viking threat. Activities range from preparing for battle to exploring cultural traditions, giving children insight into Saxon life while encouraging them to think about the contrasts between Saxons and Vikings.

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Saxons School Trip
Activity Options

Step into the shoes of a Saxon worker! Learn how to card wool, spin yarn, or weave a cloth for your village, or even try building a fence to protect your home. You’ll get to use real Saxon tools and understand why these skills were so important to life in Wessex. Will you be able to make your mark in the kingdom?

This activity highlights essential Saxon skills necessary for daily life, such as wool carding, spinning, weaving, and fire starting. These activities reinforce the importance of self-sufficiency and trade within the Saxon community. Children will also learn about the value of craftsmanship in Saxon society and how such skills helped build a prosperous, well-defended community.

What happens if you break the law in Saxon England? In this activity, you’ll take part in a Saxon trial, where you’ll act out crimes and their punishments. Will you face a fine, or something more serious? Find out how the Saxons used their laws and beliefs to keep order in their villages!

This session introduces the harsh realities of Saxon justice and punishment. Through role-playing, children explore the Saxons' moral beliefs and their system of law, which was strongly influenced by their religious views. Children will better understand how crime and punishment were intertwined with daily life in Saxon England, providing a vivid contrast to modern justice systems.

Get ready for battle! The Vikings are at the gates, and you must defend your Kingdom. As a Saxon warrior, you’ll learn how to fight and protect Wessex in this thrilling reenactment of the Saxon-Viking struggle. Will you stand strong, or will the Vikings take your land?

This activity helps children understand the historical context of the Saxon-Viking conflict and the importance of defense and battle strategies. The reenactment provides an opportunity to explore the leadership of Saxon kings and how the Vikings posed a serious threat to the Saxon way of life. It encourages teamwork, physical activity, and reflection on the consequences of war.

In Saxon England, a jewelery was an important display of status, often worn by warriors and nobles. Today, you’ll create your own brooches and pendants, learning a bit about metalworking along the way. Will you craft a beautiful piece of art that would impress the Saxon kings? Find out as you try your hand at this ancient craft!

The brooch-making activity introduces children to Saxon craftsmanship and the importance of jewellery in Saxon culture, particularly in signifying status and identity. Children will use basic metalworking techniques to create their own brooch, understanding its cultural significance. This is a great way to explore the intersection of art, culture, and society in the Saxon world

Get ready to become a Saxon hunter! In this activity, you’ll craft your own bow and arrow from natural materials, just like the Saxons did. Once your bow is ready, you’ll learn how to use it. Will you have the skills to hunt for boar or deer to feed your people and provide materials for important feasts?

This activity is an introduction to the role of hunting in Saxon society. Children will understand the skills required to craft bows and arrows, while also learning about the hunting practices that were essential for survival and trade. This practical task emphasises the connection between craftsmanship, nature, and the Saxon economy.

Can you trade to get what you need or want at the marketplace, using different Saxon artefacts and objects discover how to trade what you have for what you want. Across the 7 Kingdoms there are many crafts people can you use this to your advantage?

This activity highlights how important trade was across all 7 Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain. Children will discover and analyse many different objects, as their own characters they will determine what they have to trade, what they need and how to get it.

The Saxons didn't have matches, so how did they make fire? In this hands-on activity, you’ll learn the ancient technique of using flint and steel to start a fire, just like the Saxons did. Will you be able to light a spark and create a fire for your village? This is a vital skill to have for warmth, cooking, and survival!

This activity explores the survival skills that were crucial in Saxon life, particularly in the harsh winters. Children will engage in a practical skill-building experience, learning how fire was essential for warmth, cooking, and protection. This task also teaches patience and precision, key skills that the Saxons needed for survival.

This new land is ours, explore and choose where will be best to settle. In this activity you will explore your new land following signs and runes from the gods, discovering what is needed for your settlement and being on the look out for any possible enemies. Are you ready to uncover the secrets of the land?

This outdoor activity connects children to the Saxon landscape and helps them explore the significance of runes in Saxon culture. The runes tell stories and offer clues about Saxon religion, history, and daily life. Children will engage in teambuilding activities while also learning about the deep connection the Saxons had with their environment.

Archery was an essential skill for the Saxons, especially for hunting and defending their land. In this activity, you’ll learn how to shoot a real bow and arrow, and then test your aim in a fun and safe environment. Can you hit the target and prove you're a skilled Saxon archer?

This activity emphasises the importance of archery in Saxon society, particularly in hunting and warfare. Children will engage in a practical skill-building exercise, learning how to shoot a real bow and arrow on our archery range with a qualified instructor. This task connects the skills of the Saxons with their need to defend their land and provide for their community.

As the Vikings continue to try and settle in our land we must be ready to defend ourselves and attack back. Using a range of weapons, learn how we defend ourselves and our Kingdoms against treachery and attack.

This activity highlights how the strength of the Saxon army grew as the Kingdoms formed alliances, within this activity the children will experience how the Saxons fought and reflect on how this was influenced by the Romans and Germanic influences.

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.

The Saxons School Trip

Saxons School Trip Activity Options

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.

Important Information

Saxons School Trip
Activity Options