Viking Day 2020

We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking Day yesterday. We participated in a Viking workshop where we: created a longship, found out about Viking runes and gods, discovered what the Vikings wore and ate, learnt how to fight using spears and shields and we even sang a Viking kenning as we sailed across the sea in our sail-steed (another word for longship). After learning how to be a successful warrior, we even had a battle, imagining what it would like to be a warrior. Some of us were sadly defeated in battle and were taken by the Valkyries to Valhalla to feast with the Viking god Odin. After our Viking workshop, we listened to a story about Loki whilst eating some delicious baked apples prepared by our rivals, the Vikings (Amazon class!) At the end of the day, we made mead (a sweet drink flavoured with lemons/oranges, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger)- it was delicious! Today, we have been learning all about Viking embroidery. We made bags to keep some rune stones in using a variety of sewing techniques. We learnt how to: sew on a button, how to thread a needle and learnt how to do a chain stitch, back stitch and over stitch. It was challenging but the end products look great! We ended the day by listening to a piece of music by Richard Wagner entitled ‘Ride of the Valkyries’. We could really visualise the valkyries riding into battle on their flying horses, taking the souls of dead warriors to Valhalla.