As part of their Viking Art pupils have been learning about the Northern Lights – what causes them and what the Vikings thought they were.

The northern lights are caused by electrons being blown out by the solar wind. These tiny electrons mix with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, which makes them glow.

The Vikings believed that the lights were the reflection of the shields and armour of the female warriors — also known as the Valkyrie — who were immortal, or that it was the Bifröst Bridge that led those who fell in battle to their final resting place in Valhalla.