Viking activities are a fabulous way to teach your child about the exciting world of seafaring raiders..Also, I have this Vikings Lapbook Unit Study and Hands-on Activities.
The Vikings are one of the most fascinating groups in history—seafaring warriors, skilled craftsmen, daring explorers, and clever traders.
For homeschoolers in elementary through middle school, studying the Vikings is an exciting way to explore history, geography, culture, and even strategy games.
The Vikings were Norse people from what we now call Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
From about 793 to 1066 AD, they sailed across Europe, raided villages, traded goods, and settled new lands like Iceland, Greenland, and even parts of North America (long before Columbus!).
The word “Viking” actually refers to the activity of raiding or exploring by sea.
BOOKS ABOUT VIKINGS FOR KIDS
Next, look at these books about Vikings to add as reading.
12 Viking Resources & Books for Multiple Ages
Grab some of these books and resources for multiple ages about Vikings.
Sigurd, a Viking boy, cannot see the value of learning to read and write. All he can think of is adventure. But then he has an adventure that he cannot help but tell. And to do that, he decides, he must learn to write. A fine story for young readers.
From battle-axe-wielding tribes plundering the greatest cities of Europe to powerful kings and queens ruling their dominions with iron fists, the Vikings were some of the most feared and fearless figures in European history. Find the bravest heroes, the most menacing villains, and unbelievably awesome facts and myths inside this action-packed overview that will amaze kids with tales of a people so incredible...it's hard to believe they were real.
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.
Kids can experience thrilling adventures on land and sea with this 3in1 set featuring a toy Viking ship, Viking house and Fenris wolf figure
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.
Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid. In his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear…and then Odd's destiny begins to change.
The eagle, bear, and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giant who has conquered Asgard, the city of the gods. Now our hero must reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods…
Raiders from the Sea: Viking raiders capture Bree and her brother Devin and take them from their home in Ireland. After the young Viking prince Mikkel sets Devin free on the Irish coast far from home, Bree and Devin embark on separate journeys to courage. Readers will be captivated by the unfolding drama as Bree sails to Norway on the Viking ship and Devin travels the dangerous road home.
Set in 1005 AD, twins Brus and Jan go a-Viking with their father Harald Redbeard and all their household. They plan to settle in England with Danish relatives there. But, their ships are caught in a fierce gale on the North Sea, and they are taken far off course to the western shore of Scotland. Held captive by a cunning Scottish Laird, Jan and Brus must navigate the political intrigue of chieftain, clan, and king without the help of their father, who has been killed and their mother, who is believed lost at sea. They follow adventure after adventure until they earn their freedom and find a home in Scotland at last.
Printed on stiff card, this book contains templates to cut out and construct a model of a Viking settlement crammed with authentic detail. The base of the completed model measures 61 x 46cm, and includes 16 houses with doors and windows that open to reveal the details inside, and two Viking trading ships. It contains over 40 cut-out figures including merchants, traders and towns people to recreate scenes of everyday life in a bustling riverside settlement.
Answers questions about the everyday life of the Vikings, including clothing, homes, religion, medical care, food, entertainment, ships, shops and towns, government, warfare, and the travels of the Northmen in Asia and the North Atlantic.
"Beware of Vikings!" warns Morgan. Then Jack and Annie are whisked back to ancient Ireland. They land on a cliff on a misty island. How will they find the story they are looking for? It will take a Viking invasion, the help of a jolly monk, and a lot of courage for Jack and Annie to succeed in Viking Ships at Sunrise.
Though Vikings are often portrayed as fierce warriors in horned helmets (which they didn’t actually wear), they were also farmers, blacksmiths, weavers, shipbuilders, and traders.
Families lived in longhouses, kept animals, and followed Norse mythology, which included gods like Odin, Thor, and Freya.
They were also excellent storytellers. Much of what we know about their beliefs and adventures comes from sagas—long stories that were told aloud and eventually written down.
With hands-on activities, historical games, and exciting tales, a Viking unit is a fun and meaningful way to bring ancient history alive.
Whether you’re sailing longships or writing in runes, the spirit of discovery and adventure will inspire your homeschooler’s imagination.
VIKING ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES TO EXPLORE FURTHER
Next, look at these other activities to learn more about Vikings.
- 10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid
- Try a simple Viking meal using ingredients they might have used- oatcakes or flatbread, stew with root vegetables, dried fruits and nuts.
- Cardboard box Viking shield. – This Crafty Family – Crafts for kids
- The Vikings wrote using runes, a symbolic alphabet called the Elder Futhark. Teach students a few basic runes and let them write secret messages or even their names by learning how to Make Viking Runestones.
- STEM and Geography: How to Build an Ancient Viking Ship
- Have your student choose a Norse god or legend and turn it into a Norse comic strip or short graphic novel. For example, the story of Thor losing his hammer or Odin trading his eye for wisdom.
- The BEST Viking Unit Study for Homeschooled Kids
- Using a blank map of Europe and the North Atlantic to mark Viking homelands (Norway, Denmark, Sweden), trace Viking routes to England, France, Iceland, Greenland, and North America, and Identify where major raids or settlements occurred.
- The Best Free Viking Lapbook and Hands-on Ideas
- Bring It all together by ending your unit with a viking day- dress up in DIY tunics and belts, present the comics or longship models you made, serve viking food, tell a long story around a fake fire.
Then learn how to play this fun Viking game.
LEARN TO PLAY HNEFATAFL (VIKING CHESS)
Hnefatafl (pronounced nef-ah-tah-fel) was a strategic board game played by the Viking. It is similar to chess but with different rules and goals.
The game involves a king trying to escape attackers.
How to Play:
- The board is a grid (11×11 or 13×13).
- One player is the attacker, with more pieces.
- The other is the defender, with fewer pieces and a king in the center.
- The goal is for the king to escape to the corner squares, while attackers try to trap him.
Printable boards and pieces can be found online.
Or you can make your own using a checkerboard and small objects (like coins, buttons, or LEGO pieces).
But today we are going to create a replica of Hnefatafl using air dry clay, paint, and an inexpensive board. Continue all the way to the bottom of this post for those directions.
Here is a great video I found on YouTube giving directions for Hnefatafl game play.
Then look at how to make Hnefatafl.
HOW TO MAKE A CHESS HNEFATAFL GAME
You will need:
- Air dry clay
- Craft paint
- 12×12 wood board
- Cup of water
- Paintbrushes
- Paint pen
First, roll air dry clay into long snakes, about 1/2” thick.
Cut into 24, 1” pieces-opposing forces.
Wet your fingers and smooth out and shape each piece into a barrel shape, pressing to flatten the bottom so that it stands on its own.
Repeat to make another 12 but this time you will wet your finger and shape the top into a point-kings guard. Again press the bottoms flat so they will stand well.
Finally take one last piece of clay and make a slightly thicker and taller shape, we tried to give ours a crown shaped top to create a king.
Allow clay to dry for 24 to 72 hours until completely dry.
Paint the painted shapes and the king one color and the barrel shapes another color.
Once the paint dries you can use a paint marker to draw runes on your pieces if you like.
While the clay is drying you can create your board. Start by marking off 11 spaces slightly larger than 1” on all sides with a ruler.
Use the straight edge of the ruler and a pencil to draw lines vertically and horizontally on the board to create an 11×11 grid.
Now go over your lines with a paint pen or permanent marker to darken them.
Mark off the 4 corners with an X or a rune, these are the spots only the king can go.
Finally place your prepared pieces like this, king in the center, king’s gourd around the king, and opposing forces on the 4 sides, 5 in back and one centered in the front.
