Homework Extension Ideas.
As we have already discussed, if you wish to extend your
child’s learning there are many different ways of achieving
this. Often, engaging beyond the primary curriculum can
bring many valuable rewards for your child in their long
term learning and development.
Topic Ideas

Write an Anglo Saxon play. This could be performed
and videoed for the class to enjoy.

With permission, watch a film or TV program with an
Anglo Saxon theme (e.g. Beowulf, Monty Python, The
Sword In The Stone or the BBC’s Merlin) Write a
review including your feelings on how historically
accurate it is. This is probably only worth doing once
you feel that you have a good understanding of Anglo
Saxon life, so that you can spot excellent details and
unfortunate mistakes.

Read a book with an Anglo Saxon theme (Beowulf, King
Arthur…) and write a review. I have book review
sheets. Who would you recommend the book to? Viking
novels will also give an excellent sense of the times
(e.g. Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece & Jeremy
Strong’s books, as well as Terry Gilliam’s “Erik the
Viking”)

With a helper conduct an interview with an Anglo
Saxon leader. Before the interview carefully put
together the list of questions you might ask them.
Perhaps think about what you want to know about their
life, the decisions they’ve had to make, how they feel
about Briton and its people, and their plans for the
future. You could be either the interviewer or the
interviewee. Record the interview on paper, as sound,
or even as video!

Create a piece of writing in Old English. It could be a
poem, a short story, a description or even a shopping
list! Provide a translation on another sheet of paper.

Find an Anglo Saxon recipe. Create this recipe and
take a photo to show your creation (Write the recipe
to go with your photo in case others would like to have
a try).

Create a mini encyclopaedia of Anglo Saxon gods,
including drawings and information such as:
descriptions, personalities, background stories,
festivals & feasts.
Science
This is a great opportunity for pupils to apply their
knowledge & understanding of simple circuits to control
technology.
They can make objects or a place that require a higher
level of circuits eg traffic lights, lighthouses, fridge
doors, burglar alarms or similar. Let your imagination
run wild......together with your knowledge!
Other really valuable activities to do with your child or
as a family.
Visit a museum or art gallery. Think about what you saw
and what your might have learnt or found interesting.
Go to a concert of live music or see a play in a theatre.
When walking in the countryside, look around. Think
about the local history it might show together with any
scientific and geographical information.
Cook something for your family.
Grow a plant/crop or flowers in your garden.
Topic websites
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/young_explorers1.aspx
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/vikings.htm (Runes)
www.pbs.org/gab/nova/vikings/ (Short films)
BBC Viking Quest Simulation
www.bbc.co.uk/history/games/
Travel back in time to 793 AD. Can you build a ship, cross the seas,
loot a monastery and return home safely to claim a prize from your
chief?

Explore this Anglo-Saxon village.

Make Anglo-Saxon style, plaited friendship bracelets

Write in Anglo-Saxon runes

Find out about trade in Anglo-Saxon times by taking an
online journey and raising money to fight the Vikings

Identify the Anglo-Saxon coins

Turn the pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels, a famous Christian
manuscript

Cook like the Anglo-Saxons with period videos and recipes
for mushroom soup and sweet bean cakes