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The Vikings Mini Unit Study
The Vikings - the name alone conjures up frightening images of war-like
Norseman in elaborate longboats striking terror into the hearts
of townsman and villagers who lived along the coasts and riverbanks
throughout Europe. The Viking raids are believed to have begun in
the 800's as a response to overpopulation and scarcity of lands
in the North (present-day Norway, Sweden and Denmark) and continued,
along with the establishment of Viking trade and trade routes, as
a quest to gain material wealth.
By 1050 AD, the Viking
raids had come to an end. A number of factors contributed to the
end of the Viking-era raids - chief amongst them was the conversion
of the Nordic rulers and their peoples to Christianity, along with
the established settlement of the Norseman in lands throughout Western
Europe.
In this mini unit study,
you can: take a fantastic seven-part voyage throughout the lands
of the Norseman, learn Viking facts, read a medieval Norse saga,
find out how, when and why the Vikings came to North America, hear
a first-hand account of a Viking raid, tour a Viking town and farmhouse,
take a scientific look at Britain's Viking past, write your name
in Runes, play the Viking Quest game, plan a complete Viking lesson
and make a Viking costume.
Reading
Take this seven-part voyage and learn about the archaeological finds
regarding Viking life, read about Norse history, hear the sagas
that poetically tell the stories, and understand how their environment
may have influenced the Vikings:
The
Viking Voyage
For younger kids, here
are some concise, easy-to-read facts about the Vikings:
Viking
facts
Read The Life and
Death of Cormac the Skald, a medieval Norse saga:
Norse
Saga
The Vikings in North America
North
America
Primary
Sources
Read eyewitness accounts of Viking raids:
Viking
raids
Multimedia
Explore a real Viking village near modern-day Stockholm, Sweden:
Explore
a Viking village
Take a virtual tour of
a Viking farmhouse in Britain:
Viking
farmhouse
Explore the scientific
evidence of Britain's Viking past:
Scientific
evidence
Write your names in Runes:
Runes
Play the Viking Quest
game
Play
game
Lesson
Plan
A super five-part complete lesson plan on the Vikings from Ireland.
It has good discussion questions, more activity suggestions and
some primary source material is included:
Lesson
plan
Projects
Make a complete Viking costume out of household items:
Viking
costume
Recommended
Resource
Odin's Family: Myths of the Vikings
Continuing along with the subject of mythology from last months's
newsletter issue, we now turn our attention to the mythology of
the Vikings - Norse mythology.
Although there are many books about Norse mythology for children
on the market, I think this volume of fifteen myths adapted from
the Icelandic Edda Prose (Snorri Sturluson - 1179-1241)
is the smartest and has a captivating visual appeal for both children
and parents alike. The book also includes background information
on the Edda Prose, as well a list of gods and goddesses
in the Norse pantheon.
Book (Hardcover)
Authors: Neil Philip, Maryclare Foa
Lists at: $19.95, Amazon Price: $13.97
Read
more about the book on Amazon
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