Anglo-Saxon Craft Activities for Kids - Living Like An Anglo-Saxon
Updated: May 30, 2023
The Anglo-Saxons were a mix of tribes that came from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. Historians believe that in the 5th Century these tribes were stuggling to farm and grow food in their homelands because of flooding. So three of these tribes decided to find somewhere new to settle. These tribes were the Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons.
In 410AD the Romans had conquered Britain but their Empire was struggling. Soon the Roman Army abandoned Britain and left it's people to fend for themselves. This was perfect for the Anglo-Saxon tribes who sailed across the North Sea, invaded Britain and settled in Kent (the Jutes), East Anglia (the Angles) and Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Middlesex (the Saxons).
Check out the fun craft activities below to learn more about Anglo-Saxon settlements and the way they lived:
Anglo-Saxon Houses:
The Anglo-Saxons lived in small villages built in areas with good natural resources, such as rivers for drinking and bathing, good farmland for crops and animals and trees to build houses and fences from wood. They would build a large fence around their settlements to protect their farm animals from predators (and themselves from their enemies!).
Anglo-Saxon houses were very basic. They consisted of a a small hut made from wood with a straw roof. They only had one room with a small fire in the centre where the whole family would eat, sleep and live. They rarely had windows but would occasionally have a small hole in the roof to allow smoke from the fire to escape.
Activity:
Build your own Anglo-Saxon model house using craft resources. Use a cardboard box as the base structure, add lollypop sticks for the wooden planks and wool or straw for the roof. Or why not go outside and choose some sticks from the garden to use as your building materials?
Need some inspiration? Check out Hugo's Anglo-Saxon House model from Family Makes.
Anglo-Saxon Weaving:
Weaving is a process where you interlace threads together to make fabric. The Anglo-Saxons used weaving to make their clothes, sails for their ships, decorations for their houses, blankets, bags and more. It was a lengthy process that started with sheering the sheep for their wool. The wool was then washed, combed and spun into long strands called yarn. The yarn was then dyed using a mixture of plants and natural resources before being weaved into fabric on a loom.
Activity:
Learn how to weave your own fabric using a cardboard loom and different coloured yarns. This simple under/over method from I.K. Tolbert is practical for all ages and abilities and teaches you the basics of weaving.
Find the full guide on Primary Weaving here.
Anglo-Saxon Brooches:
Both men and women would have worn jewellery in Anglo-Saxon times. They made necklaces and bracelets with glass beads and gemstones such as amber or amethyst. But their greatest skill was in intricate metalwork which they included in many of their accessories. After all, what better way to show off your wealth by draping yourself in gold jewellery? Their metalworkers were highly respected for their work, which included inlaying precious stones into metal, colouring metal with enamel, gilding and metal plating. The most popular metal accessories were belt buckles and brooches for holding together items of clothing.
Activity:
We got crafty and created these exciting Anglo-Saxon-style brooches at home.
Discover how to make your own brooches using just yoghurt pot lids, string, tin foil and sequins. With step-by-step instructions, photo guidance and lots of historical facts for inspiration.
Find the full directions on our blog here: Make An Anglo-Saxon Brooch.
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