P5 trip to Navan Fort

As we are learning all about Vikings in our World Around Us Topic, primary 5 travelled to Navan Fort in Armagh. We had a brilliant day out and history was definitely fun!

Room ten started our adventure by learning all about ancient runes and were all able to write our names in the ancient script. We then had a go with quills and ink as we pretended to be monks painstakingly writing writing on the tilted desks. The ink really does run fast! It was really messy work!

Next we moved on to meet a real live warrior! Our guide told us all about being a Norseman and what it was like in the Scandinavian countries. We learnt that Viking was actually a verb. "To Viking"- means the act of seaborne raiding or adventuring! Daniel B helped to demonstrate viking shields and fought off an attack! Luckily he was joined by Daniel F, Tom and Grainne who helped us understand how a viking shield wall works. 

Ollie, Clodagh and Joe were captured by the scary viking. Joe was voted best, most valuable slave and was offered up as an offering to appease the Gods! Thank goodness things have changed these days! Daire was an excellent archer showing some excellent bow skills! We'd all love to get a go at that skill! 

After our exciting time with with the Norseman, we headed into look a different artifacts and clothing worn by the vikings. Conaill is showing and early compass or was it a clock? Orla helped him out with a crystal to help magnify the suns rays. Danny showed us the chainmail that was worn by warriors. It was really heavy and had to be worn all day to help the warriors be prepared for when they went into battle. Daniel D made an excellent monk, wearing the scratchy robes! . They were very dull in colour! Leah got dressed as well to do viking- she had lovely colours dyed onto her clothes ans woven into the cuffs and neck of her costume. Paige was put to work with the wool to make the threads. Lots of strength was needed to separate the fibres. Finally, Eve modelled a lovely brooch with precious stones in it. Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Diamonds. Sadly, our trip came to an end and we had to return to school. I wonder what our next adventure will be...