hands on history

Beautiful American History Living Books & Sign Of The Beaver Craft

August 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Teaching American history living books brings the past to life in a way that dry textbooks never can.

Also, you’ll love my free Native American Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning.

Rather than memorizing dates and facts, children encounter real people, gripping stories, and moral dilemmas.

By grounding your American history studies in living books, your homeschool will foster curiosity, empathy, and a lasting love of history.

Beautiful American History Living Books & Sign Of The Beaver Craft

Whether you choose to go in chronological order or follow your child’s interests, these titles can anchor your year in story-rich exploration.

Below I’m guiding you through the major periods of American history with recommended living books for each.

Many of these books are perfect for reading aloud or independent reading in upper elementary through high school.

Then I’m sharing a mini woven basket craft that you can make with just a few supplies as a nod to the Penobscot Indians. They were in the region where The Sign of The Beaver was set in Maine

5 PENOBSCOT INDIANS FACTS

Penobscot comes from Panawahpskek, which means “the place where the rocks open out.” This was the name of an important Penobscot village.
Historically, Penobscot men were the ones that hunted and waged war, while women farmed, cooked, and cared for children. Both genders took part in storytelling, art, music, and traditional medicine. While chiefs were traditionally male, in modern tribes, women can now also be chief.
The Penobscot people sustained themselves by fishing in the Penobscot River, hunting deer and moose, cultivating corn and beans, gathering berries, and producing maple syrup from tree sap.
The Penobscot were part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, which was formed to protect against attack by the Iroquois, and also included the Algonquian peoples the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Passamaquoddy.
They lived in cone-shaped huts, and teepees which they moved to different locations during the different seasons.

A favorite resource of mine for gathering wonderful living books is Beautiful Feet Books, from gorgeous picture books to riveting chapter books.

AMERICAN HISTORY LIVING BOOKS

Pre-Colonial and Native American Cultures (before 1492)

Age of Exploration and Colonization (1492–1763)

American Revolution (1763–1789)

The Early Republic and Westward Expansion (1789–1850)

Civil War Era (1850–1877)

Reconstruction and the Gilded Age (1877–1900)

Dragon’s Gate by Laurence Yep
Locomotive by Brian Floca

Progressive Era and World War I (1900–1920)

The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (1920–1939)

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Bright April by Marguerite de Angeli
Sweet Home Alaska

World War II (1939–1945)

Post-War America and the Cold War (1945–1980s)

Modern America (1990s–Present)

In addition to beautiful American history living books, hands-on activities turn a simple book into a study whether it’s a mini unit or you decide to dig deeper.

MORE AMERICAN HISTORY RESOURCES

One thing the Penobscot Indians were known for was their basket weaving.

The baskets were functional but they also used different colored materials like barks and glasses that created beautiful patterns.

PAPER BAG BASKET WEAVING

Of course, I thought a simple basket weaving craft would be perfect to go along with this book and not only make a cute craft but work on fine motor skills at the same time.

You will need:

3 brown paper bags
Scissors
Glue stick

Cut the top half the bag off, fold it over in half and press a firm crease all the way around.

Continue folding and creasing until the width is roughly 1”.

Cut one of the loops.

Glue between each layer, this gives you a sturdy handle for the basket, set aside for now.

Open up the second bag and cut 1” strips from the top to just the bottom edge of the bag.

Lay the bottom of the bag flat and spread out the strips.

Glue the handle inside the bag.

The final step before weaving is to take the third bag and cut 1” strips from it, you will want at least 8.

When opened they are one big loop, cut on just one end to make a long strip.

Begin weaving your basket by going over and under each of the cut strips of the main bag, raising the sides as you go, secure with glue at the start and end.

Start your next strip in a different corner each time to make it sturdier.

Repeat these 3 to 4 times around the basket.

Cut the strips so they are 1” above where you stop, fold each one over whatever side it ends on and glue it in place to finish the edge of the basket.

Allow it to dry.

While your basket won’t hold too much weight you can put a few light things in it like flowers or leaves.

How To Make A LEGO Map Of The Mesopotamian Civilization

July 30, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

A LEGO map of the Mesopotamian civilization is a fantastic use of creativity for a kid who loves building but maybe not so much history. Also, look at my page Ancient Mesopotamia Fun Facts For Kids Who Love History for more hands-on history ideas.

too, look at my Ancient Civilizations page and my page From Simple to Spectacular: Easy LEGO Ideas for Everyone for more LEGO ideas.

Combining hands-on play with history lessons is one of the best ways to make learning come alive in your homeschool. This project works well for a wide range of ages.

How To Make A LEGO Map Of The Mesopotamian Civilization

Younger kids will love simply building rivers and stacking bricks into temples.

Older kids can research major cities, recreate specific buildings (like ziggurats), or add historical labels and write-ups to go with their map.

It’s a great addition to any ancient history curriculum, or even as a stand-alone unit study.

Instead of just reading about it, your kids can build the region.

And bring it to life, and better understand the geography, culture, and innovations of the people who lived there thousands of years ago. They will probably remember building LEGO maps with you for years to come.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at a few books I’ve rounded up for your study of Ancient Mesopotamia.

7 Books to Read About Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a region situated within the Tigris–Euphrates River system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia occupies modern Iraq. In the broader sense, the historical region included present-day Iraq and parts of present-day Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.

Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy)

Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help.

The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure

5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia during a terrible drought, Jomar and Zefa's father must send his children away to the city of Ur because he can no longer feed them. At fourteen, Jomar is old enough to apprentice with Sidah, a master goldsmith for the temple of the moongod, but there is no place for Zefa in Sidah's household. Zefa, a talented but untrained musician, is forced to play her music and sing for alms on the streets of Ur.

Science in Ancient Mesopotamia

Describes the enormous accomplishments of the Sumerians and Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia in every scientific area, a heritage which affects our own everyday lives

Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, And Assyrians

Explores Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures, discussing social structure, lifestyles, and the military in these societies.

Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War: An Epic Tale From Ancient Iraq

Lugalbanda woke with a jolt. He opened his eyes and what did he see but the terrible Anzu bird beating its wings in its nest high above. . . . Did he quake? Did he quail? No. Lugalbanda the Brave sat and stared, and into his head came a brilliant idea.

Mesopotamia (A True Book)

Presents the history of ancient Mesopotamia, describing the different groups of people who lived there, and their government, cities, everyday life, religion, and writing.

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!

Invites readers them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history.

Now let’s jump right into this ancient history lesson. Mesopotamia, meaning “land between the rivers,” was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now modern-day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey.

It’s where humans first formed cities, developed written language, built temples, and created legal codes.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

Mesopotamia wasn’t just “the place between rivers”, it was a place of innovation, culture, and power that shaped the course of human history.

Let’s explore what made this region so important and what life might have looked like thousands of years ago.

Water was important to civilization here. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded each year, depositing rich silt that made the land incredibly fertile. This allowed people to grow barley, wheat, dates, onions, and more.

But too much water, or not enough, could ruin everything. That’s why Mesopotamians invented irrigation systems with canals, ditches, and levees to control water flow.

These early engineering feats turned dry land into farmland and allowed cities to flourish.

Instead of one big country, Mesopotamia was made up of city-states—independent cities with their own rulers and gods. Each city-state had a ziggurat (a step-like temple), its own military, and farmland.

Some of the most famous Mesopotamian city-states include:

Ur – An important Sumerian city
Uruk – Known for the legendary King Gilgamesh
Lagash and Eridu – Among the earliest settlements

As cities grew, so did the need for leadership and order. Kings were seen as representatives of the gods and were responsible for keeping the gods happy through temple building and offerings.

One of the most famous rulers was Hammurabi, who created a written legal code known as Hammurabi’s Code. It included over 200 laws, many starting with, “If a man…”

LEARNING MADE EASY: ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA UNIT STUDY OUTLINE

Additionally, grab my unit study outline to guide you in your study.

Learning Made Easy: Ancient Mesopotamia Unit Study Outline
$2.75 Add to cart

My Mesopotamia Unit Study Outline is a handy tool to help you teach or for child led learning.

There are many advantages to a unit study outline instead of a fully fleshed out study.

For example, look at the topics covered in this outline.

Introduction
Geography and Environment
Ancient Mesopotamian Civilizations
Agriculture and Irrigation
Writing and Communication
Religion and Beliefs
Science and Technology
Trade and Commerce
Arts and Crafts
Exploration and Legacy
Culminating Activity

Next, look at these other activities.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN ACTIVITIES

Ancient Mesopotamian Ziggurat Activity
How to Make Unleavened Bread Ancient Mesopotamia Bread Recipe
Some fabulous Ancient Mesopotamia STEM Ideas!
The creativity in this Hands-on Ancient Babylon: Hanging Gardens Fun Activity will appeal to kids who love to make things with their own hands.
Here are some fun and free Ancient Mesopotamian Cards you can use in many ways beyond learning facts like using it as a memory game.
Find out more about Ancient Mesopotamia (Hands-on History): and Cook Sebetu Rolls.
Create this Hands-on Ancient Mesopotamia: Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map

HOW TO MAKE A LEGO MAP OF THE MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION

You will need:

LEGO baseplate -green or tan
Assorted LEGO bricks (greens, blues, browns, tans, grays)
A printed or digital map of Ancient Mesopotamia for reference

Start with a green baseplate for the fertile areas.

Then, use blue bricks or pieces to create the Nile River, Tigris, and Euphrates, the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea.

Use flat pieces if you have them and leave space for placing deserts, farmland,etc…

Use beige bricks to show the surrounding deserts. This highlights how the Fertile Crescent stood out from the dry land around it.

Layer dark brown bricks in a small mountain form to represent the Zagros Mountains.

Add in farmland with brown tiles and LEGO greenery.

Build ziggurats by stacking tan pieces, the Mesopotamia version of a pyramid.

Finally, use sticky notes or cardstock to create handwritten labels for the rivers, cities, and modern-day countries.

You can also include:

Boats on the rivers
Minifigures or plastic ancient Egypt figures
Farms and irrigation canals
Brick pyramids or ziggurats
Animals like sheep and goats

How To Make A Tundra Biome Diorama With Free Printables

July 27, 2025 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a tundra biome diorama hands-on activity with free printables.Too, you’ll love my Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-on Ideas and my Arctic Region pages.

And creating a tundra diorama isn’t just a fun arts-and-crafts activity, but an educational experience.

The tundra biome is a unique ecosystem characterized by freezing temperatures.

How To Make A Tundra Biome Diorama With Free Printables

Too, doing this tundra biome diorama brings science to life. Instead of only reading about this amazing geographical area, your child learns hands-on about the animals and plants that live there.

In addition, your child can use my printables or use part of them and create the rest of the environment in a creative way.

However, before your child builds this diorama they need to learn about this area first.

Look at these books.

BOOKS ABOUT THE TUNDRA

We prefer to use living books when we can find them.

Books About the Tundra

Look at some of these books, resources, and fun things to add to your study of the tundra.

A Walk in the Tundra (Biomes of North America)

Take a walk on the tundra. In this cold, harsh biome on the top of the world, summer is short. How do plants and animals of the tundra live? Discover how they depend on each other for survival as you travel through this fascinating land.

Mini Arctic 10PCS Polar Animal Figurines Includes Polar Bear Seal Reindeer Wolf Rabbit Arctic Fox Igloo

Included-10 arctic animal toy set including 1 polar bear, 1 reindeer, 1 arctic hare, 1 arctic wolf, 1 walrus, 1 beluga, 1 killer whale, 1 arctic fox, 1 arctic seal , 1 igloo model.

Arctic Tundra

It’s a land of riddles, where a winter night can last for weeks and where the ground is full of water though it rarely rains or snows. Bears, hares, wolves, and foxes roam the ice-crusted earth, as flowers follow the sun as it moves across the sky. Young readers may never come to the Arctic tundra, but now it can come to them―in a book chock full of fun-to-do experiments and activities for children ages 6 and up that help them to solve some of the mysteries of this strange and forbidding world. Arctic Tundra includes a picture field guide, a glossary-index, and a resource list.

Then look at more activities about the tundra.

TUNDRA ACTIVITIES

Then, look to see what is included in the download.

You will need:

Free Printable Diorama (add your email to the link at the end of this post and get the freebie instantly. no waiting)
Glue
Scissors
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Print out all of the diorama pages onto thick sturdy cardstock.

Encourage your child to color the pieces or leave them as they are.

I included a photo in the download to show you were to place the pieces.

Also, here are more diorama ideas.

MORE DIORAMA IDEAS

Finally, look at how to get this fun tundra printable diorama.

HOW TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE TUNDRA BIOME DIORAMA

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Paper Crafts For Kindergarten | How To Make A Zebra Papercraft

July 26, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Paper crafts for kindergarten are a great and inexpensive way to have fun while learning. Also, look at my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas.

Too, I’m sharing a fun zebra papercraft with a free template that you download at the bottom. Also, look at my Free Africa Unit Study for more hands-on ideas.

Paper crafts encourage kids to think outside the box.

Paper Crafts For Kindergarten | How To Make A Zebra Papercraft

And one of my favorite things about paper crafts for kindergarten is that fine motor skills are strengthened in a fun way.

So any paper or paper scrap can be turned into beautiful artwork that stirs the imagination. In addition, kids learn to follow steps and paper crafts build confidence.

Besides, paper crafts can create lasting keepsakes.

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT ZEBRAS

Next, look at these books about zebras which may become your children’s favorites too.

5 Zebra Books

Zebras can be fun to learn about. Add one of these books to your reading day.

Shanti the Zebra

When a herd of zebras flees from a hungry lioness, Shanti can't keep up with the others and is soon left behind. Desperately looking for her friends, she asks the other animals for help. But a mysterious old snake makes a strange prediction.

Zella, Zack, and Zodiac

Zella the zebra helps Zack the ostrich when he is young and helpless. When he grows up Zack returns the favor by saving Zella's young offspring from a lion.

A Zebra's Day (National Geographic Kids Readers, Pre-Reader)

Zebras are one of Africa's most interesting animals, and in this pre-reader, young readers will learn all about here they live, what they eat, and how they survive in the herd. Perfect for beginning and young readers, National Geographic Pre-readers include simple, expert-vetted text and large, engaging photos on every page. A vocabulary tree at the beginning of the book introduces kids to key words in concept groups, helping them make connections between words. Plus, a wrap-up activity gives kids a chance to use what they've learned, while expanding their knowledge of the world.

Zee

Zee brews a pot of coffee to wake his parents so he can climb into bed with them, but after spilling two full mugs he has too little coffee left to do the job unless he can think of a new plan.

The Zebra's Stripes: And Other African Animal Tales

The craft I’m showing you today is an adorable zebra but first look at these other paper crafts.

PAPER CRAFTS FOR KINDERGARTEN

Next, look at how to make this adorable papercraft zebra.

PAPERCRAFT ZEBRA FOR KIDS

List of Supplies

Colored craft papers
Scissors
Pencil
Craft glue
Sharpies
Zebra template (download below by adding your email and you get it instantly)

Instructions:

Step 1:

Select black, grey, white and pink colored craft papers for the zebra craft. Print and prepare the template patterns.

The template includes patterns for the head, lower body, inner ear parts, and mouth part, tail, tail tip, mane strips and mane base.

Use a pencil to trace the template patterns on the selected colored craft papers and use scissors to cut the traced patterns neatly.

Step 2:

Glue the tail tip to an open end of the tail cutout. Glue the inner ear parts to the ear parts and the mouth part to the front part of the head cutout.

Step 3:

Glue the tail pattern to the backside of the lower body cutout.

Step 4:

Take the mane base cutout and glue the mane strips to the base along the top side.

Step 5:

Glue the open end of a strip to its inner end, on the base. Do not make any fold in the middle of the strip, simple draw the strip to its other end and glue them.

Step 6:

Join all the strips similarly.

Step 7:

Glue the mane base to the backside of the head pattern, keeping the mane part placed along the top side of the head.

Step 8:

Glue the head pattern to the top, front side of the lower body base (opposite side of the tail).

Step 9:

Use a pencil to draw the face and strip outlines on the papercraft zebra.

Step 10:

Use a black sharpie to fill the traced outlines neatly and allow the ink to dry completely.

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE ZEBRA PAPER CRAFT TEMPLATE

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Explore Viking Activities | How To Make A Chess Hnefatafl Game

July 20, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

Explore Viking Activities | How To Make A Chess Hnefatafl Game

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.

Viking Adventure

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.

Guts & Glory: The Vikings (Guts & Glory, 2)

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.

Viking: Discover the Story of the Vikings―Their Ships, Weapons, Legends, and Saga of War

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.

LEGO Creator Viking Ship

Kids can experience thrilling adventures on land and sea with this 3in1 set featuring a toy Viking ship, Viking house and Fenris wolf figure

A Child's Introduction to Norse Mythology: Odin, Thor, Loki, and Other Viking Gods, Goddesses, Giants, and Monsters

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.

Renegade Game Studios Raiders of The North Sea,Multi-colored

Play Raiders of The North Sea, a worker-placement board game where players work to assemble a crew and outfit a longboat to raid settlements for gold and fame.(For 2-4 players)

Odd and the Frost Giants

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…

Image for Viking Quest Series Set of 5 Volumes Including Raiders From the Sea, Mystery of the Silver Coins, the Invisible Friend, Heart of Courage, and the Raider's Promise

Viking Quest Series Set of 5 Volumes Including Raiders From the Sea, Mystery of the Silver Coins, the Invisible Friend, Heart of Courage, and the Raider's Promise

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.

Black Fox of Lorne

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.

Make This Viking Settlement (Usborne Cut-Out Models)

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.

Who Were the Vikings Internet-Linked (Starting Point History)

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.

Viking Ships At Sunrise (Magic Tree House, No. 15)

"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.

hands on history

5 PENOBSCOT INDIANS FACTS

AMERICAN HISTORY LIVING BOOKS

Pre-Colonial and Native American Cultures (before 1492)

Age of Exploration and Colonization (1492–1763)

American Revolution (1763–1789)

The Early Republic and Westward Expansion (1789–1850)

Civil War Era (1850–1877)

Reconstruction and the Gilded Age (1877–1900)

Progressive Era and World War I (1900–1920)

The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (1920–1939)

World War II (1939–1945)

Post-War America and the Cold War (1945–1980s)

Modern America (1990s–Present)

MORE AMERICAN HISTORY RESOURCES

PAPER BAG BASKET WEAVING

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA BOOKS FOR KIDS

HISTORY OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

LEARNING MADE EASY: ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA UNIT STUDY OUTLINE

Learning Made Easy: Ancient Mesopotamia Unit Study Outline

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN ACTIVITIES

HOW TO MAKE A LEGO MAP OF THE MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION

BOOKS ABOUT THE TUNDRA

TUNDRA ACTIVITIES

MORE DIORAMA IDEAS

HOW TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE TUNDRA BIOME DIORAMA

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT ZEBRAS

PAPER CRAFTS FOR KINDERGARTEN

PAPERCRAFT ZEBRA FOR KIDS

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE ZEBRA PAPER CRAFT TEMPLATE

BOOKS ABOUT VIKINGS FOR KIDS

VIKING ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES TO EXPLORE FURTHER

LEARN TO PLAY HNEFATAFL (VIKING CHESS)

HOW TO MAKE A CHESS HNEFATAFL GAME

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