Hello Class 5!
This week’s creative homework is focusing on Design and Technology (D.T.)!
In class we have been learning about how we know the Anglo-Saxons were really here in Britain. We are starting to gather evidence from the clues we have looked at so far. Another way we know the Anglo-Saxons really did come to Britain is because of items left behind from the Saxons which have been excavated. There are a variety of artefacts that help us to understand the Anglo-Saxons.
Lots of you have mentioned that you would like to find out about the different weapons that the Anglo-Saxons used.
Well… the Saxons were very proud of their shields. In fact, they were so proud of them that they often wished to be buried with their shield. The shield stood for loyalty, bravery and comradeship.
Unlike the Romans’ shields, the Saxon shields were round. They made them this way because they could run far more easily. The round shields also locked together to form a shield wall in battle. The Saxons were proud of this because it meant they were not only protecting themselves but also their neighbours. Round shields had spiked metal ‘bosses’ in the middle. This was so they could also be used as weapons, to injure an enemy or push him off-balance, making the shield a weapon as well as a defensive instrument.
There is some evidence to suggest that Anglo-Saxon shields were patterned and colourful. For example in old poems and stories such as Beowulf the shields are described as brightly coloured. The Bayeux tapestry shows some Saxon shields with sunwheels or crosses on them.
Your task is to design your very own Anglo-Saxon shield. Think carefully about the shape, size, colours and patterns you might use and why.
When you have drawn your design you might want to make your shield using materials around your home.
Don’t forget to label the parts of your shield and also to think about and label the following things:
– How will someone hold it?
– How thick will it be?
– What materials will it be made out of?
– How big will it be?
When you finish, send in a photograph of your design (and your finished shield if you make one). Then, write a short paragraph on this blog describing and explaining your design.
I can’t wait to see your designs!
P.S. – Remember to visit the Wednesday Word blog by clicking HERE. Write your reflections on the blog.
Hi Miss Lee,
Most Anglo Saxon shields were made from different types of wood, a material that was abundantly available in Britain. Ash, oak, maple, Alder, willow and popular wood there.
The size of shields varied, but most shields were between one foot six inches and two feet two inches in diameter.
Their thickness also varied, but most were between six millimeters and eight millmeters in width.
Some very detailed information, well done! I can’t wait to see your shield design!
A great design Elisa! You have clearly labelled each part of your shield! Are you going to try and make a model of it at home?
Hi Miss Lee,
I will draw my design in my homework book, And I might make a model too.
Great! I look forward to seeing it!
A wonderful design William! I love the nature theme! Will you be making a model too?
A brilliant shield design Martin! I like the bright colours and the decorative cross!
Anglo-Saxon shields were made of wood, often covered with leather and with an iron boss at the centre. Most shields are around 0.5 m. diameter and around 7 mm. thick. The shield was cut behind the boss, so it could be held with an iron grip.
I am sending my design by emai.
Hi Paolo!
Your shield looks fantastic!
You have also found out some wonderful facts about Saxon shields! Well done!
Viking shields were normally made out of strong, rigid wood. As you may know they are round unlike the Roman shields. However, not a lot of shields are present as they were made up of a single layer of planks of wood hammered together. Usually, the wood used was Linden.As the shield was not strapped to the arm, the wielder could easily change its angle.For hand protection, a metal boss was secured on the wooden part of the shield with the help of nails. The shields were fortified with Iron bands. The shields were also covered with leather to increase its strength. This strength lessened the chances of the splitting of the shield. This simple way of shield making made the shield durable but also made it heavier. The weight of such shields ranged between 7kg and 10 kg. As an alternative, linen was also sometimes used for strength.
These shields were also coated with oil for waterproofing. The oil prevented the water from soaking up which in turn prevented the shield from getting heavier.
The Viking warriors used these shields for defensive purposes. They were very effective at deflecting the attack. I know this for they conquered Britain with these. They were also used as weapons. The Vikings used them for binding the enemy’s weapon and to punch them with force. When a man is wounded on the battlefield, they would carry the man on the shields. Normally you would only bring a sword with you into battle to be able to hold your sword with to hands. It is believed that all the warriors carried the shield into the battle. This is because the rest of the armour, including the helmet and chainmail, was very expensive hence, making it their only means of defence.
They have lodes of different lovely patterns as zigzags, circles, waves, and all other types of those shapy patterns. The shields were also painted. The most common colors used were red and white, however, other colors such as black and yellow were also sometimes used.The Vikings also decorated their house walls with these shields.
Wow Stella! You have found out SO much information about shields! Well done!
I didn’t know the Vikings used to decorate their houses with their shields!
will send pic
Great I look forward to seeing it!
Hello Miss Lee,
I have done my shield; it was fun to make.
Thanks, Tijne ✨??
Hello Tijne!
That is great to hear! Will you send it a photo of it?
My shield :
– How will someone hold it?
The shield will have attached a handle made of metal at the back of the shield.
– How thick will it be? It will be 2cms in the center but it gets sharper and sharper until the edges of the shield are as sharp as a sword.
– What materials will it be made out of? Metal . The sword will be made out of obsidian.
– How big will it be? 70 cms of diameter. The shield will have a round shape.
This sounds like a good shield! Will it be colourful or plain?
My shield design has blue slightly curved stripes with red medium dots between them. I will hold it with a strong grip of my arms. The materials that I would use is probably wood and metal since that’s the material most Anglo Saxons would use. I’d probably say that my shield would be around 2 inches thick enough to protect me, followed by a boss (a circular disc which is mainly used to deflect blows from the centre of round shields, yet they also provided a place to mount the shields grip). The size of the shield would mostly cover my whole torso.
A wonderful design and some great ideas! Fantastic work Clare!