Viking navigation and expansion
I can explain how the Vikings navigated over long distances to far away places.
Viking navigation and expansion
I can explain how the Vikings navigated over long distances to far away places.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Vikings used the sun, moon and stars to navigate, and also followed the path of birds and other animals.
- Some archaeologists have found wooden 'sun-shadow' boards that might have been used by the Vikings to navigate.
- The Vikings used these techniques to travel long distances.
- The Vikings sailed far down the rivers of Europe to trading ports and met with traders from the Middle East and Asia.
- They even travelled as far as Iceland, Greenland and North America.
Keywords
Archaeologist - an archaeologist digs up and studies objects from the past
Evidence - evidence is something that proves an idea or fact to be true
Stars - the stars are balls of gas in space that give off light and heat
Port - a port is a place where boats load and unload, and trade happens
Common misconception
Pupils may think that archaeologists only dig up bones, like dinosaurs or extinct creatures.
Archaeologists work with all sorts of objects from the past, many of the items in museums have been dug up by an archaeologist.
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: Viking navigation and expansion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: Viking navigation and expansion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 1 history lessons from the William Adams and Brunel unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.