The Power of Retrieval Practice

Lesson: History

Class: Badgers (Years 5/6) Year: 2025 - 2026

📜 As historians, Badgers Class have been learning all about the Vikings. ⚔️

Last week, the children explored the lives of two important Anglo‑Saxon kings: Alfred the Great and Athelstan.

🧠 At the start of every lesson, the children take part in a retrieval practice task to help them recall their previous learning. This week’s challenge was a fun and practical one! Working with a partner, the children imagined that King Alfred the Great and King Athelstan had come back from the dead. One child took on the role of Alfred, the other Athelstan, and they debated who was the greatest king.

🏰 Most children decided that Athelstan was the greatest because he ruled over more land. However, some made a strong case for Alfred, arguing that without his leadership and defence against the Vikings, Athelstan would never have been able to reunite much of England.

✨ This lively discussion helped the children recall key historical facts, explain their thinking, and listen carefully to different viewpoints. By talking, debating, and acting in role, the children revisited their learning in an enjoyable way – helping to embed their knowledge into long‑term memory while developing confidence and historical reasoning skills.