Year Level

Year 8

Duration

70 minutes

Class Size

4 students

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Unit Context

This is lesson 2 of 3 in the unit "Exploring Viking Heritage." This lesson builds on students’ developing understanding of Viking society by focusing on exploration and trade, in alignment with the Australian Curriculum for History Years 7-10, specifically Year 8 content descriptions relating to continuity, change, and historical knowledge and concepts.

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Australian Curriculum Alignment

• Content Descriptions:

• History Year 8:

• Explain a significant event, development or turning point related to empire and/or expansion, including Viking trade routes and cultural impacts.

• Create descriptions, explanations and historical arguments using historical knowledge and concepts with reference to evidence from sources.

• Describe causes, effects, continuities and changes in history.

• Identify and describe the usefulness and accuracy of primary and secondary sources.

• Develop historical inquiry questions.

• General Capabilities:

• Critical and creative thinking.

• Literacy (historical terms, source analysis).

• ICT capability (digital presentations).

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• WALT map Viking exploration routes using historical evidence.
• WALT engage in a simulation of Viking trade to understand cultural and economic impacts.
• WALT create a digital presentation showcasing exploration and trade findings.

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Success Criteria

• I can identify and map key Viking exploration and trade routes using evidence.
• I can participate in a role-play trade simulation to demonstrate understanding of Viking trading systems.
• I can collaboratively create a clear, engaging digital presentation showing Viking exploration and trade and its cultural impacts.
• I can use historical terms appropriately and reference evidence to support explanations.

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Resources Needed

• Printed or digital maps of Viking world (Europe, Russian rivers, Mediterranean).
• Historical source extracts (maps, trade goods images, Viking artefacts).
• Access to digital presentation tools (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides).
• Trade simulation cards/items representing Viking trade goods.
• Dyslexia-friendly reading materials prepared with simplified fonts (e.g., OpenDyslexic) and clear layouts.
• Whiteboard and markers.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction and Engagement (10 minutes)

• Quick recap discussion: What do we already know about Vikings from Lesson 1?
• Introduce today's focus: Mapping Viking exploration and experiencing their trade.
• Present the WALT and success criteria visually on the board.
• Dyslexia-friendly reading: Provide a short, clear passage on Viking voyages with visuals.
• Differentiation: Pair reading support for students needing assistance (intervention).

2. Mapping Viking Explorations (20 minutes)

• Activity: Students use historical maps and sources to plot Viking routes on blank maps.
• Provide varying complexity:
• For students needing support, starter routes with labels to trace.
• For advanced learners, challenge to identify lesser-known routes and trade hubs.
• Students annotate maps with key trade items and cultural contacts.
• Teacher circulates to prompt discussion, check for understanding, and support mapping.
• Discuss briefly how exploration linked to cultural exchange and trade.

3. Viking Trade Simulation (20 minutes)

• Students are divided into pairs or work individually due to class size (4 students total).
• Each student receives “trade cards” representing different Viking goods (e.g., furs, weapons, amber, slaves, silver).
• Simulation objective:
• Students “trade” with each other following historical Viking trading patterns.
• Use maps to determine where goods might be found or desired.
• Reflection prompt:
• How did trade influence Viking culture and relationships with other societies?
• Differentiation: Visual aids and role cards with key phrases and historical facts support participation.
• Extension: Advanced learners create hypothetical new trade routes or goods based on Viking skills.

4. Digital Presentation Planning and Creation (15 minutes)

• Using their maps and trade simulation insights, students plan a short digital presentation (approximately 3-4 slides).
• Encourage them to include:
• A map showing Viking voyages and trade routes.
• Examples of traded goods.
• Explanation of cultural impacts based on their findings.
• Dyslexia-friendly fonts and break information into bullet points.
• Teacher supports technology use and prompts historical linkages.
• Students collaborate and assign slideshow roles.

5. Lesson Wrap-up and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Students share one interesting thing they learned or found surprising.
• Teacher revisits success criteria; students self-assess their learning.
• Provide feedback on the presentations to be completed or refined in Lesson 3.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide dyslexia-friendly reading passages with appropriate fonts and clear layouts.
• Offer oral explanations and small-group discussions for students needing language support.
• Scaffold map activities with templates and partial labels.
• Use role-play cards that provide sentence starters and factual prompts.
• Allow advanced learners to research and hypothesise additional Viking trade impacts.
• Individual intervention supported by teacher during activities as needed.

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Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Research less commonly known Viking exploration routes, such as Greenland or Vinland (North America).
• Examine the impact of Viking trade on modern European languages or cultures.
• Create a more detailed digital presentation including multimedia (videos/images).
• Write a persuasive argument on the significance of Viking trade versus conquest.

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This lesson plan supports literacy and numeracy development through map skills and interpreting historical evidence, aligns with Australian Curriculum History standards for Year 8, and integrates digital technology to engage diverse learners effectively. It encourages active, hands-on learning while fostering historical inquiry and critical thinking through a culturally significant topic.

Teaching with Impact: Let the Vikings sail across your classroom maps and into your students’ imaginations!