This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow History scheme of work. In this lesson, you will explore how Anglo-Saxon houses were built and compare them to Iron Age homes to see what stayed the same. One key building method that continued was wattle and daub. Wattle is a frame made from woven wooden strips, and daub is a mixture of straw and mud that fills the gaps. It made strong, thick walls that kept houses warm and quiet, and it could take weeks to dry.

In the activity, you will use lollipop sticks, pipe cleaners, clay, and straw to create your own wattle and daub panel. You will weave the pipe cleaners through the sticks to make the wattle, then use your hands to apply the daub mixture evenly. Just like in the past, it will take time to dry. Afterwards, you will discuss the benefits, such as cheap materials, and the drawbacks, like how much effort and time it took to build these walls in the British climate.

The video is designed to be shown to pupils as part of History, key stage 2, Year 4, British history 3: What changed in Britain after the Anglo-Saxon invasion? Lesson 2: What did Anglo-Saxon settlements look like?