Viking school visits for education. We provide a living history and reenactment service as historical interpreters focusing on the QCA Invaders and Settlers topic. As re-enactors, we use storytelling/Norse myths, songs, dance, writing using runes and artefacts such as toys and games, brooches, full viking raider kit etc. to bring the excitement of real history to your classroom.
Some of the locations we travel to for our Vikings workshops are:
East-Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire , Warwickshire, Leamington, Leicester Hinckley Nottingham Peterborough Coventry Birmingham, Tamworth, Derbyshire, Derby, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Swadlincote, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne, Nottinghamshire, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark, Leicestershire, Leicester, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Lutterworth, Rutland - Oakham, Uppingham. Cottesmore, Northampton, Peterborough, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, West-Midlands, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Coventry, Smethwick, West Bromwich, Solihull, Bedfordshire, Birmingham, Warwick, Nuneaton, Rugby, Solihull, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Invite the Norseman, Gregolf and his wife Leagrid into your school and be transported back in time to the year 1031AD. Gregolf is primarily a trader and Leagrid cares for the home and children.
The Viking school visit can be booked for one or several classes for a full day or a half day. We have worked with up to four classes before and have enough resources and activities even for a whole small school to be busy with Viking sessions all day. The costs quoted below usually cover both Gregolf and Leagrid to come into local schools (please see our Terms and Conditions) – unless the booking is particularly required on a day when one of us is already booked.
Here is an outline of the typical Viking school
visit:
Introduction
Summoning with horn-blowing. Gregolf and
Leagrid introduce themselves and provide
each child with their own Viking name for
the day. Their every day clothing, objects and way of life are discussed and children are invited to dress as Norsemen.
Trading Session
This session is a fantastic opportunity for children to handle many authentic objects most of which are of museum quality.
Raiders Session inc. dancing
Leagrid explains the reason why Gregolf used to
be a raider (and why he has a more peaceful
existence now) and shows the children his
weaponry. Children handle weaponry, make a
shield wall and learn how to attack one, using
shields offensively. Leagrid demonstrates
dances for groups to learn set to simple music
from one thousand years ago.
This session helps children to understand the reasons why Norsemen were raiders prior to settling and incorporates art/DT skills.
Brooch Making
This session incorporates art/DT.
Writing with Runes
Pastimes, games and toys
Children will have the opportunity to play old Norse games such as Kubb, Fivestones and Dice. We bring a class set of solid wood Nine Men's Morris boards for children to challenge each other. Optionally, children may also make their own Three Men's Morris game.
Norse Myths & Storytelling
We end the day with a myth told in oral tradition, combined with more interactive storytelling as a whole group. All of the children join in, playing simple parts in a light-hearted tale.
We, Greg and Lisa, work fully in role as Viking settlers. This means that we use our subject knowledge to respond to questions and talk as Vikings would do. To achieve this we use a medieval-flavoured pattern of speech to lend a realistic feel to our words whilst remaining clear enough for children to understand. This historical interpreter's commitment to authenticity is tempered with a teacher's sense of appropriateness though - so we do not swear or use profanities as some reenactors will in school, claiming that this was the way it was!
Our focus is on the educational experience for the children and what serves them best, so the sessions are interactive and involve everyone.The overall experience for children is then an immersive one where they feel they have truly met a Viking and gained a picture of Viking life. The sessions are interactive and involve all of the children.
SEN Schools
Greg and Lisa are experienced working with
children of a range of ages and abilities.
They understand the need for explorative
learning and incorporate sensory
opportunities. Our Viking visit into SEN
schools is less structured and will try to
meet the needs of the children. Please get
in touch to discuss your specific class and
their needs with us. If required, Greg and
Lisa can visit in costume but not in role (to
reduce confusion).
Pricing
The costs quoted below cover the service which can be delivered by one or two Specialists, dependent on your area and other factors (please see our Terms and Conditions).
Full Day
The full day rate is £175.00 plus petrol (50p per mile round trip from LE9 9HG)
I/2 day.
In our local area you are more than welcome to book half a day and incorporate some of the above sessions. The cost for ½ day is £100.00 (50p per mile round trip from LE9 9HG)
These rates are held for 2011-12 and there are no hidden costs.
Greg and Lisa McCarthy have many years of experience working with children. Greg is a teacher and Lisa a former Occupational Therapist in learning disabilities. Both have full CRB's and public liability insurance.
Resources are meticulously researched and authentic to the period. We will bring real animal hide and animal bone objects. We understand if anyone is sensitive to this (Lisa is a vegetarian in real life!) but please be prepared. Our bone replica artefacts really are made of bone - not plastic!
Some of the Raiders, Traders and Pastimes kit brought into school for a typical Specialists Viking booking.
Viking Visits for Schools
