Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand the basic geography of Viking settlements and their impact on history.

Materials and Prep

• World map or globe
• Printed pictures or illustrations of Viking ships, warriors, and settlements
• Blank paper and coloring materials
• Access to online resources (optional)

Activities

• Create a Viking Map: Provide the student with a blank piece of paper and ask them to draw a map of a fictional Viking settlement. Encourage them to include important features like houses, a harbor for ships, and farmland. They can also add mountains, rivers, or other geographical elements.
• Color a Viking Ship: Show the student pictures or illustrations of Viking ships and explain their significance in Viking history. Give them a printed picture of a Viking ship and let them color it using their imagination.
• Research Viking Settlements: With adult supervision, guide the student to explore online resources or books about Viking settlements. Encourage them to find information about where Vikings lived and why they chose those locations.
• Identify Viking Locations: Using a world map or globe, point out different regions where Vikings settled, such as Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, and parts of the British Isles. Discuss the geographical features of these areas and how they may have influenced Viking life.

Talking Points

• "Vikings were explorers and warriors who lived a long time ago."
• "They traveled on big boats called Viking ships."
• "Vikings built settlements in different parts of the world."
• "They liked to live near water, like rivers or the ocean, so they could use their ships."
• "Vikings settled in places like Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, and parts of the British Isles."
• "They chose these locations because they had resources they needed, like fertile land for farming and access to fish."
• "The geography of an area, like mountains or rivers, also affected where Vikings settled."