LKS1 Topic: Invaders and Settlers: Anglo-Saxons Block D: Beliefs

Learn about Anglo-Saxon beliefs. Research pagan beliefs as well as the rise of Christianity during Anglo-Saxon times. Investigate writing and find out about contemporary documents. Paint gods and goddesses, write in runes, make amulets, design images and role-play some of the key religious stories. Curate an exhibition about Anglo-Saxon beliefs.

Block D: Anglo-Saxons
Beliefs
[5 sessions] / Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: English and Art and Design
By the end of this block you will have achieved the following outcomes: / ·  Understand how people’s lives have shaped Britain.
·  Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, and cause and consequence.
·  Gain historical perspective by understanding the connections between local and national history, and between short- and long-term timescales.
·  Understand how Britain has been influenced by the wider world.
·  Retrieve and record information from non-fiction.
·  In non-narrative material, use simple organisational devices, e.g. headings, labels.
·  Participate in role play and performances.
·  Select and use appropriate registers for effective communication.
·  Speak audibly and fluently.
·  Discuss writing similar to that which they are planning to write.
·  Discuss ideas.
·  Organise paragraphs around a theme.
·  Assess the effectiveness of others’ writing and suggest improvements.
·  Know about great artists and designers in history.
·  Improve their art and design techniques.
Session 1: History/ English/ Art and Design
Pagan Gods
Learn about the pagan beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons, paint a god or goddess and make a lucky amulet. / Children will
·  Explain that the Anglo-Saxons were pagans when they first invaded Britannia.
·  Understand that the Romans had introduced Christianity to Britannia.
·  Research and describe an Anglo-Saxon god or goddess.
·  Make an Anglo-Saxon amulet.
Session 2: History/ English
Christianity
Develop your knowledge of the rise and fall of Christianity during the Anglo-Saxon times and role-play some of the key historical events. / Children will
·  Discuss the fall and rise of Christianity during Anglo-Saxon times.
·  Use role-play to gain understanding of historical events.
·  Describe how pagan customs were linked to Cristian celebrations to encourage the people to take part.
Session 3: History/Art and Design
Writing
Learn about writing using runes, and about the Anglo-Saxon books written by monks. Write a message with runes and design your own Anglo-Saxon image. / Children will
·  Explain that early Anglo-Saxon writing used runes.
·  Describe two examples of Anglo-Saxon books written by monks in Latin.
·  Colour in or design and colour an illustrated image from the Lindisfarne Gospels or The Book of Kells.
Session 4: History/ English
Anglo-Saxon Chronicles
Learn about Bede’s ‘Ecclesiastical History of the English People’ & ‘The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles’. Write your own Anglo-Saxon Chronicle page. / Children will
·  Describe two important sources of history of Anglo-Saxon times.
·  Understand the importance of these sources to our understanding of the history of Britain.
·  Write their own page for an Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
Session 5: History/ English
Visit our Anglo-Saxon Exhibition
Consolidate all you have learned in this block by organising an exhibition about Anglo-Saxon beliefs. / Children will
·  Have some empathy with what the beliefs were in the time of the Anglo-Saxons.
·  Be confident in their knowledge of Anglo-Saxon beliefs through presenting to others.

Resources

Session 1

Provided: Photographs of Anglo-Saxon amulets; List of Anglo-Saxon gods and goddesses.

You will need: Pencils; Crayons; Paints; Brushes; Air-drying clay; Beads; Wool (natural dye colours, e.g. yellow, dull reds, green, browns).

Session 2

Provided: Maps of the Islands of Mull and Iona; Map locating Lindisfarne; Information on St Cuthbert.

You will need:

Session 3

Provided: List of runes and photographs of runic inscriptions; Inscription on the Franks Casket with translation; Photographs of The Lindisfarne Gospels and The Book of Kells and outlines to colour in.

You will need: WBs & pens; Crayons; The Lindisfarne Painting Book by Aidan Meehan, ISBN: 9780500281840 (optional); My Book of Kells Colouring Book, O’Brien, ISBN: 9781847172747 (optional).

Session 4

Provided: Bede’s autobiography; Pages from different manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles; Historian by John Kitching.

You will need: Berol medium italic handwriting pens or similar (optional).

Session 5

Provided: Chart on possible exhibition areas.

You will need: Pictures: amulets, designs, rune messages and photographs from previous sessions; Card and paint for props; Material for cloaks.

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