A School Visit from the Science Viking
In a Viking school visit Bjarni Thorvaldrson can come and show you what it was actually like to be a Viking. Warrior and trader, settler and farmer, he has seen it all. Bjarni will visit your school and tell tales of his experiences, and show you how people lived in the age of the Vikings, offering a hands-on approach to your pupils as he takes them back to life during the 8th-11th Century. Meanwhile, at the same time, he will also sneak in some physics, and maybe other sciences, without your pupils noticing. Until, of course, it comes to finding out what they have learned. The format of the day is a narrative, following the saga of Bjarni’s hero, Egil Skallagrimson, one of the greatest Vikings of all time.
If you’re needing an Anglo-Saxon instead, our AS day follows a very similar format with, mainly, a change in narrative following the adventures of Eoforwine of Hrafnsgeat, from the time of Hengist and Horsa all the way to the great battles in 1066.
Extensive feedback from schools has shown that bringing Bjarni in for a Viking or Anglo-Saxon school visit at the start of the topic can improve pupils’ motivation, quality of work, and retention of knowledge throughout the topic.
“Thank you for the fantastic Viking day that you provided. Your character is well developed and you are clearly very knowledgeable about your subject. You have provided a once in a lifetime opportunity to our children, which has enhanced their interests to a totally new height. The parents have commented, stating that their children loved the experience.
I hope to have you back again in future years.
Comments from Children
“The shield wall was fantastic!”
“I loved seeing the real life weapons!”
And my favourite. “Can Bjarni come back every day?””
Bjarni with a long lever in a school. Or is it a spear?
During a Viking school visit you can find out:
What was it like to be a warrior, or trader, or farmer?
Which gods were worshipped?
What sort of clothes did people wear?
What games did children play?
Where did Vikings travel to trade and raid?
Bjarni teaching the mathematics of the sword.
Where did the Vikings come from?
Were men and women treated equally?
Which kinds of food did people eat?
What was it like to fight in a battle?
What was it like to sail a Viking longship?
Bjarni will answer these questions, and many more. We operate within the national curriculum Key Stage Two ‘Invaders and Settlers’ framework, enhancing the learning experience for your pupils. During a Viking school visit communication and enquiry skills can develop better when your pupils can talk to a real live Viking, and touch and handle reproduction artifacts and weapons.
A Viking school visit offers cost-effectiveness for your school, compared to taking your pupils to visit external museums and specialist centres, and we can tailor our presentations to your schools’ specific requirements.