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The Viking Age

Students will learn about the Viking Age in Scandinavian history and create a Viking longship.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Craft Sticks
  • Heavy Paper
  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Vikings were Scandinavian seafaring traders, warriors, and pirates who colonized large areas of Europe from the late 700s to the 1000s. Have students learn about the Vikings and this period of history. From what countries did they originate? How far east did they go? How far west did they get? Who was Erik the Red? Who was Leif Erikson? What was their motivation for expansion? In what did they travel? 

  • Step 2

    Have students look at images of Viking longships, which were often adorned with a carved dragon or serpent head at the bow. Then ask them to use these images as inspiration as they create a Viking longship. They can cut the ship out of heavy paper, then embellish it with symbolic images such as the dragon or serpent head and the circular shields on the sides. Craft sticks can be used as the oars and also as the mast for the flag.

  • Step 3

    When their longship is complete have them present it to the class and discuss some of the information they learned about the Viking age.

Standards

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

SS: Global Connections: Become aware of how things that happen in one part of the world impact other parts of the world and the global connections within basic issues and concerns. 

Adaptations

Have students learn about L'Anse aux Meadows, the Norse archaeological site on the island of Newfoundland in Canada. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only undisputed site that proves the trans-oceanic contact of Europeans with the Americas before Columbus. 

Have students learn about Scandinavian festivals and cuisine. Examples might include Midsommar (Midsummer) in Sweden, Hans Christian Andersen Festival (Denmark), Bergen International Festival  (Norway), or any others. Foods might include gravlax, lutefisk, lingonberries, etc.