Stamford Bridge

In September 1066, Harald Hardrada landed in York with

Harold’s brother Tostig. He wasn’t leaving until the crown
was his!

Harold Godwinson is now Why should Harold be worried

King of England. He is in about Vikings?
London. What should he
do?

Who was Harald

Hardrada?

seize, invasion, Viking, berserker

Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy? 1
 Suggested teaching strategies
Connect the Learning Learning strategies

Discuss the questions 1. Set the scene using the map of England and Norway
and answer in exercise 2. One of the main tasks is to rate how powerful Harold’s army is as
books. Alternatively it ebbs and flows against Hardrada’s. Students will then be able to
use sticky notes on energise (or power) rate it at the end using the statements. This
the whiteboards. I is differentiated so to challenge students - they have to think
love the key word about which statements to put in themselves.
berserker - exactly as 3. Underneath they must give reasons for their top and bottom
it sounds when ratings.
fighting 4. There is also a brilliant video to accompany from the bbc. This
can be used to take notes from beforehand or just to understand
the narrative to come.

Plenary

True or false quiz is brilliant for AFL. Everyone can write down the numbers of which are true
first before you question the students

Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
 Hardrada attacks first

Who has the Key

advantage for question

the up and 1. 300 Longboats

coming battle. carry the Viking
army to England
Why?
4. On 25th September,
1066, King Harold
surprises Hardrada’s
troops as they rested
near an old bridge at
Stamford. The Vikings
couldn’t believe he could
travel that quickly!

2. As soon as the
York Vikings land, they
take control of York
3. King Harold’s army and seize control of
rush up north to the North of England
meet Hardrada and
Tostig. More soldiers
are collected on the
way to help fight the
Vikings 5. Meanwhile William
sat waiting in Normandy,
France. Storms have
Normandy
prevented his invasion
boats from sailing across
the Channel
Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
 Harold’s power indicator
Read the following information on the next slide.
Decide how much power Harold and his army have by
colour coding and rating the batteries after each event.
10 / 10
Very
Powerful

5 / 10
Quite
Powerful

1 / 10
Not very
Powerful

Challenge: Give three reasons why Harald Hardrada lost the battle of Stamford Bridge
Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
It is early The battle starts Hardrada’s men With no way After an hour, King
morning and badly for seem to be gaining over the bridge, Harold’s men try to
Hardrada’s army Hardrada’s men. control. One brave Hardrada’s army stop the warrior.
Viking blocks the They decide to go
is still asleep as Some have left bridge. He kills at
fight Harold’s underneath the
King Harold’s their armour least 40 men. men to a bridge and stab
army arrives. several miles standstill. the warrior from
away. below.

The /10
Viking /10 King
By midday, Harold’s brother
/10 /10 is
King Harold /10army is
Harold’s
warrior is killed Harold’s army is Tostig is soon the winner. exhausted and
and the English in control. found and cut to Hardrada’s bad news
stream across Harald Hardrada pieces. battered army arrives. William
the bridge. is killed. only need 24 of Normandy
ships to take has landed with
them home. Out his army on the
of respect, south coast of
Harold buries his England.
dead brother in
York.

/10 /10 /10 /10 /10

Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
Why did Harald Hardrada run out of energy?
Prioritise the major reasons why Hardrada lost with the biggest
failure at the bottom, using the underlined headings

A
B
C Challenge:
D Explain your top
and bottom
E
energy ratings
F
G

Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
 Why did Harald Hardrada run out of energy?

Viking failure: Prioritise the major reasons

why Hardrada lost with the
A. Harold’s army surprised the Vikings biggest failure at the bottom,
B. Hardrada was killed quite early in the battle using the underlined headings
C. The Vikings were caught unprepared and without
armour
D. Harold’s brother Tostig was killed and cut to pieces
E. The few Vikings still alive escaped in 24 ships
F. The Viking blocking the bridge was killed
G. Harold’s army was defending England. They had to
win

Challenge: Explain your top and bottom energy

ratings

Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
 True or False?
1. Tostig was Harold’s 2. The English used a 3. The battered Viking
cousin barrel to float under army fled back to
the bridge to kill the Norway in 25 ships
False: brother Viking
True False: 24 ships

4. The Viking on the 5. The Vikings took 6. 300 Longboats

bridge was only armed control of York and the carried the Viking army
with an axe surrounding area to England
True True True

7. William was 8. Harold’s army 9. There were about

prevented from collected soldiers as 9,000 bloodthirsty
crossing the Channel as they headed up north Vikings waiting for
some of his ships were to meet Hardrada Harold’s army
wreaked
False: Thein a storm
weather True False: 10,000!
Challenge: Can you correct the false statements

Key
question
Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
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Key
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Why did Harold Hardrada run out of energy?
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