Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand the basics of Viking geography, including their homeland, exploration routes, and key geographical features.

Materials and Prep

• World map or globe
• Printed or digital images of Viking ships and artifacts
• Writing materials (paper, pencils, crayons)

Activities

• Create a Viking Map: Have the student draw a map of the Viking homeland (Scandinavia) and mark important Viking settlements, such as Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.
• Exploring Viking Routes: Show the student images of Viking ships and explain how Vikings were skilled sailors. Discuss their exploration routes, such as the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and even reaching North America. Encourage the student to trace these routes on their map.
• Discover Viking Geography: Introduce the student to key geographical features in Viking lands, such as fjords, rivers, and mountains. Show pictures and ask the student to identify these features on their map.
• Design a Viking Ship: Provide the student with pictures of Viking ships and encourage them to design their own Viking ship using their imagination. They can draw and color their ship, adding details like sails and dragon heads.

Talking Points

• "Vikings were brave explorers who lived a long time ago in a place called Scandinavia, which is where Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are today."
• "They were excellent sailors and used their strong ships to travel to many different places."
• "Vikings sailed across the North Atlantic Ocean to places like Iceland, Greenland, and even North America, which they called Vinland."
• "Their ships were designed to be able to sail in shallow rivers and through narrow fjords, which are long, narrow inlets with steep sides."
• "Viking ships were often decorated with carvings and had dragon heads at the front to scare away enemies."
• "Let's mark the Viking homeland, Scandinavia, on our map. Can you find Norway, Sweden, and Denmark?"
• "Now let's trace the routes Vikings took on their journeys. Can you draw a line from Scandinavia to Iceland, Greenland, and North America?"
• "Vikings were very skilled at navigating the waters and they used the stars and the sun to find their way."
• "Can you find and mark the fjords, rivers, and mountains on our map? These are important features in Viking lands."
• "Now it's time to use our imagination! Let's design our own Viking ship. What colors will you use? How many sails will it have? Will it have a dragon head?"