Drama and simulation exemplar: The Thing and Viking migration

This example comes from a Viking unit with a Year 3 class. Our aim was for the children to develop an understanding of why the Vikings left home and settled abroad.

The strategy we chose was a dramatic simulation. We presented the situation which the pupils would react to as Viking families. The class would represent the Thing, deciding what to do in the face of Harald Finehair's threat.

This is rather long so we have presented it as a download (attached below)

Based on p44-6 of History 7-11 "Developing primary teaching skills" by Jon Nichol with Jacqui Dean. Routledge, 1997.