Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Medium · about 32 min
⛵ Vikings & Anglo-Saxons
Pupils practise curiosity through "Vikings & Anglo-Saxons": Raiders, traders and settlers.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the ⛵ mission title and read the opening: "Vikings came from…". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Vikings & Anglo-Saxons", and why?
- Vikings came from… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Alfred the Great was king of… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Vikings travelled in… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: History: chronology, sources and significant people and events
- National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
- National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
- PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information
Pupil sheet
⛵ Vikings & Anglo-Saxons
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Vikings came from…
☐ Egypt
☐ Italy
☐ Scandinavia
2. Alfred the Great was king of…
☐ Rome
☐ Scotland
☐ Wessex
3. Vikings travelled in…
☐ Cars
☐ Longships
☐ Trains
4. Were Vikings only raiders? Give evidence they were traders too.