Pinfold Primary School Podcast
In another excellent recording of our Game Changer Podcast, we spoke with the brilliant Year 4 students from Pinfold Primary School. While some students had the opportunity to visit York on a field trip to learn all about the Vikings, we tapped into the knowledge of those students back in Walsall. Together, we explored the big question: Were the Vikings better or worse for the planet than we are today?
“When they ate, they used to eat every single bit of what they had, we sometimes waste food, but back then they had to catch it so they ate everything” Archie
This is true. Animals were used very thoroughly: meat was eaten fresh, dried, smoked, or salted, bones could be boiled for broth or tools and skins became clothing or leather goods. Today the average UK household wastes 3.2Kg of food per week, this is because food is abundant and convenient, whereas in the Viking age they had to be lee wasteful with food in order to survive.
“They used to use the animal leather for armour and clothes” Oliver
"They would use animal skins to make big fluffy coats" Jaxon
Correct! Vikings used leather for belts, shoes. straps, shields and bags. The fur was used for warmth and they used animals like sheep, reindeer, wolf, fox, bear and beaver. Today we still use leather and wool but fur farming has been banned in the UK since 2000, many people don't like the fur industry because they think it is cruel. We now make clothes from synthetic materials that are made from chemicals, that usually comes from oil.
“We cause more pollution than the Vikings when we travel” Jayden
"When you want to travel, instead of going in a vehicle that has an engine you can cycle" Tameem
Yes, you are both correct. The Vikings travelled mainly by rowing, sailing, walking and riding horses, this produced very little air pollution compared to modern transport.
“The pollution destroys nature and we need plants and nature for oxygen” Musaf
Musaf is correct, plants and trees use photosynthesis (a chemical reaction) to make their own food and this releases Oxygen into the atmosphere.
“The Vikings houses were insulated, they had grass and hay to make the house insulated” Tameem
Absolutely right. Viking longhouses used natural insulating materials to help trap heat, these are more environmentally friendly than modern insulation materials.
“They didn't have electricity back then” Tia
"They had to make stuff (games and toys) from wood" Oliver
We hope they continue to spread their knowledge and inspiring advice.
The future of the planet is looking bright with these young voices leading the way.
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