This week, Year 5 have been focusing on Viking beliefs, as well as their gods and goddesses. During the introduction to the topic, the children were encouraged to think about their own beliefs, both religious and non-religious. Each class spent time discussing the beliefs of the class and if there were any similarities or differences to the Vikings' beliefs. It was wonderful hearing the children talk so passionately about their religious or non-religious beliefs, practices and traditions. It was interesting to hear the variations in beliefs within the same religion, which really highlighted how personal a journey religion is. We were all proud of how the children dealt with such a sensitive topic and all the pupils were respectful when asking questions to gain clarity or understanding. 

In terms of the Viking gods and goddesses, the children really enjoyed hearing the different mythological stories and learning more about individual gods. Many of them already had some prior knowledge which they were able to share with the rest of the class, becoming mini-experts. The children were given the opportunity to do some individual research on a god or goddess of their choice, and it was interesting to see which they chose. Many chose to research some of the lesser-known gods and goddesses, instead of the most well-known ones such as Odin, Loki and Thor. It is inspiring to see how the whole Viking topic has captured their attention and piqued their curiosity to learn more.