I have a free Norse Mythology unit study with loads of great hands-on ideas to turn it into a fun and memorable time. Too, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more unit study tips and ideas. And look at my page Vikings Lapbook Unit Study and Hands-on Activities.
If your family is fascinated by tales of mighty gods, unusual creatures, epic adventures, and legendary heroes, a Norse Mythology unit study is a wonderful way to explore history, literature, geography, and art together.
I have put together a family-style unit study that is designed for multiple ages. And it can be completed in as little as two weeks or stretched into a month-long exploration, with ideas and inspiration to follow those rabbit trails and encourage their interests.
Rather than give you a timeline, I am going to send you down the path with suggestions that can be explored for as little or as long as you like. They are easy to build on, and of course, I wouldn’t send you off on this adventure without plenty of resources and suggestions.
BOOKS ABOUT NORSE MYTHOLOGY FOR KIDS
First, look at these books about Norse mythology.
You may like to use one or two for a unit study spine or main text for your study. And when we can find them we prefer living books.
7 Norse Mythology Resources & Books for Multiple Ages
Grab some of these books and resources for multiple ages about Norse mythology.
The Caldecott medal-winning d'Aulaires once again captivate their young audience with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Norse legends, telling stories of Odin the All-father, Thor the Thunder-god and the theft of his hammer, Loki the mischievous god of the Jotun Race, and Ragnarokk, the destiny of the gods. Children meet Bragi, the god of poetry, and the famous Valkyrie maidens, among other gods, goddesses, heroes, and giants. Illustrations throughout depict the wondrous other world of Norse folklore and its fantastical Northern landscape.
With black-and-white drawings throughout, here are thirty-two classic myths that bring the pre-Christian Scandinavian world to life and bear witness to the courage, passion, and boundless spirit that were hallmarks of the Norse world. Gods, humans, and monstrous beasts engage in prodigious drinking bouts, contests of strength, greedy schemes for gold, and lusty encounters. Included are tales of Odin, the wisest and most fearsome of all the gods; Thor, the thundering powerhouse; and the exquisite mafic-wielding Freyja.
Introducing an instant classic―master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great Norse myths.
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales.
In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki―son of a giant―blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.
The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures. Loaded with superb color photographs of Viking ships and swords, clothes and shields, memorial stones and beautiful brooches, this revised and updated edition of Eyewitness: Viking offers a unique view into the lives of the Norse people and their outstanding achievements.
The newest book in the best-selling, award-winning A Child's Introduction series explores the popular and captivating world of Norse mythology. Organized into two parts, part one introduces characters like Odin, the leader of the Norse gods; Thor and his mighty hammer Mjollner; Frigg, weaver of the destinies of humans and gods; frost and fire giants; cunning dwarves like Brokk and Eitri; and many more. Part two tells the stories of the suspenseful myths themselves including The Creation of the Cosmos, The Aesir-Vanir War, Loki Bound, Thor's Hammer and many more.
Before time as we know it began, gods and goddesses lived in the city of Asgard. Odin All Father crossed the Rainbow Bridge to walk among men in Midgard. Thor defended Asgard with his mighty hammer. Mischievous Loki was constantly getting into trouble with the other gods, and dragons and giants walked free. This collection of Norse sagas retold by author Padraic Colum gives us a sense of that magical time when the world was filled with powers and wonders we can hardly imagine.
Scandinavians of the Viking Age explored the mysteries of life through their sagas. Folklorist Helen Adeline Guerber brings to life the gods and goddesses, giants and dwarves, and warriors and monsters of these stories in Tales of Norse Mythology. Ranging from the comic to the tragic, these legends tell of passion, love, friendship, pride, courage, strength, loyalty, and betrayal.
Norse mythology originated in Scandinavia (modern-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and parts of Finland) and was passed down through stories long before they were written down.
These myths helped explain the world around the Vikings and introduced unforgettable characters such as Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya, and the mighty wolf Fenrir.
INTRODUCTION TO NORSE MYTHOLOGY
Learn About the Vikings
Start by learning about the people who created and believed in these fascinating myths, spend a little time here, and get a better understanding.
- Who were the Vikings?
- Where did they live?
- What was daily life like in Scandinavia?
- Why did myths matter to ancient cultures?
Mapwork
Locate the following on a map:
- Norway
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Greenland
Talk about how the cold climate and rugged landscape may have influenced Viking culture and storytelling.
Next, turn your focus on the major figures of Norse mythology.
MEET THE GODS AND GODDESSES
To dive deeper into these figures, I have two ideas; you can choose one or the other, or do both.
You can also have them choose one god or goddess and write a journal entry from that character’s perspective for writing and grammar practice.
Norse Mythology Notebook
Create a Norse mythology notebook on each of the figures below…
- Odin- King of the gods, associated with wisdom and knowledge, sacrificed an eye for wisdom
- Thor- The God of Thunder, wields the hammer Mjölnir, defender of gods and humans.
- Loki- Trickster figure causes both problems and solutions.
- Freya- Goddess of love, beauty, and magic.
- Tyr- God of courage and justice.
Include:
- Character pages
- Maps
- Vocabulary
- Drawings
- Narrations and summaries
Discussion Questions
- Which god seems most heroic?
- Why do cultures create gods with human flaws?
- What lessons can we learn from these stories?
Character Trading Cards
Create character trading cards featuring:
- Name
- Powers
- Symbols
- Family members
- Fun facts
Younger children can simply draw pictures while older students research additional details.
CREATURES, REALMS, AND ADVENTURES
Next, explore the fantastic world of Norse mythology through creatures, magical realms, and incredible adventures.
The Nine Realms
- Asgard
- Midgard
- Jotunheim
- Niflheim
- Muspelheim
- Vanaheim
- Alfheim
- Svartalfheim
- Helheim
Mythical Creatures
- Fenrir the wolf
- Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent
- Valkyries
- Dwarves
- Giants
- Dragons
Write your own Norse myth.
Make a travel poster for each of the 9 realms.
Explain…
- Why thunder happens
- Why winter comes
- How a mountain was formed
- How the Northern Lights were created
- Why does thunder echo across the sky
- Why the sea is salty
- Why is winter longer in some places than others
- How rivers first appeared in Midgard
RAGNAROK
Finally, end your unit in Ragnarok
Older students especially enjoy learning about Ragnarok, the Norse vision of the end of the world. Compare Ragnarok to flood myths and creation stories from other cultures.
- What is Ragnarok?
- Which gods survive?
- How does the world begin again?
- Why do many cultures have end-of-the-world stories?
- What themes appear in myths from different civilizations? How do myths reflect a culture’s beliefs?
NORSE MYTHOLOGY UNIT STUDY RESOURCES
Videos
- Crash Course World Mythology: Norse Mythology
- National Geographic Viking documentaries
- Vikings For Kids PART 1 // History For Kids
- Bedtime History: The Vikings and Leif Erikson
Crafts and Activities
- Viking Runestones
- How To Build A Viking Ship For Kids Who Love History
- Design a board game based on Norse myths
- 10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid
- Make this Viking Bread Recipe
- Vikings Lapbook Unit Study and Hands-on Activities
YGGDRASIL, THE WORLD TREE
You will need:
- Large sheet of poster board
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Markers
First, draw or create a large tree trunk from construction paper or use brown shipping paper as I did here.
Add branches stretching across the poster.
Tear green construction paper into leaves and fill the top of the tree, securing them in place with glue.
Create strips to divide up the top, middle, and bottom levels, and glue them into place.
Write the names of the Nine Realms on a bright piece of paper, Nordic style; there are no curves to their letters, just angles. Cut them out in strips.
Glue into place on the proper level; we used this as a guide.
Finally, if desired, have your child write out who was believed to have inhabited each of the realms, they can also draw pictures to represent those beings.
This is a great piece to display throughout your study!
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