The Vikings Web Quest

Using the key questions designed for each topic, in pairs or individually, students are to research and present their findings on ONE aspect of VIKING SOCIETY by creating a PowerPoint Presentation with at least 5 slides. Findings from all pairs will be compiled and distributed to all class members. Pairs will also present their topic to the class in a brief presentation no longer than 5 minutes, using their PowerPoint Presentation and any other relevant visual aids. You are encouraged to be as creative as possible!

Have Fun!!!

TOPIC 1: Viking Warriors

  • Vikings are often portrayed as crazy and ruthless barbarians. What evidence is there to suggest that the reality was very different? (ONE PARAGRAPH) Use pictures or the words of experts to support your ideas.
  • Find an image of at least one Viking warrior and label their protective armour.
  • Describe the fighting life of a Viking warrior.
  • What were some of the techniques Vikings used in battle/raids and the differences on land and at sea.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 2: Law and Order

  • What was the Viking word for government/court?
  • How were facts established in a Viking court? How is it different to a modern day Australian court?
  • How many people could stand on a jury? What was the “law-sayers” job?
  • What types of punishments or compensations were made for crimes like murder, wounding, family feuds and theft?
  • What was one Viking way of solving disputes?
  • What two ways could a person prove his or her innocence using hot irons?
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 3: What not to wear!

  • Locate 5 images of different Viking clothing and create a descriptive caption for each, explaining main features
  • Explain the clothing differences for men, women, children and different Viking pairs, the seasons.
  • Find out the following information about Viking clothing:
-Materials used
-Popular colour dyes
-Techniques used to make the clothes
-Accessories (style and use)
  • Do you think we show our occupation or status in our clothing? How?
  • How do you think it would feel to wear Viking clothing?
  • Find out some information about popular hairstyles and grooming routines.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool stuff

TOPIC 4: TRADE

  • Use the Internet to locate a map showing Viking trade routes. You can modify this map on your PowerPoint presentation using arrows and text boxes to label and explain.
  • Why did the Vikings want to trade with others?
  • List and illustrate four things the Vikings received in trade from other countries.
  • What items have been discovered in Viking graves?
  • What tools were essential to Viking trading?
  • What type of currency was used by Viking traders and their foreign customers?
  • Why did the Vikings want to trade with others?
  • List and find pictures for 4 things the Vikings received in trade from other countries.
  • Explore some Viking sites that have been excavated and list the foreign items discovered in Viking graves that suggest trade.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 5: Women

  • Could women be ‘Vikings’?
  • Research 3 famous females ‘Vikings’ Oseberg 'queen', Astrid, Ingirun, Queen Emma, any others)
-What were some of her achievements?
-Why was she so influential?
-Any other interesting information!
  • What were the main duties of women in Viking communities?
  • How were women treated in Viking society?
  • What was the procedure for getting a divorce?
  • Find out 3 facts about Viking marriages
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 6: Weapons

  • Locate images of 3 weapons used by Viking Warriors and provide a detailed description for each including:
-purpose
-strengths and weaknesses
-materials used
-which Vikings used them
-historical period they were used in (approximately)
-any other interesting information
  • Who was responsible for making weapons in Viking communities?
  • Did the Vikings have any “secret” weapons they used that did not involve an actual object (i.e. certain parts of their body, gestures, attacking strategies)
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

Topic 7: Occupations

  • Vikings were much more than ruthless barbarians. Make a list of the different occupations in Viking society. In brackets, state which pairs could do that job (i.e. women, earl etc)
  • Pick one of the occupations and locate 5 different historical sources (use the Internet so you can put into your PowerPoint presentation).
  • Complete source analyses for each of the sources you located.
  • Write a report as if you were this person. What does the job involve? What is the daily routine? What materials or special skills are needed for this job? What would you enjoy about this job. What would you find difficult about this job. Include anything else you find interesting about this job.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 8: Out to sea

  • Locate images and describe the main features and functions of at least 3 different types of Viking ships.
  • What were the materials used in ship construction during the Viking Age?
  • Explain how Viking journeys were navigated.
  • Research one sea battle and find out when and where it took place and the outcome (what happened & who won).
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 9: Family Ties

  • What were the living arrangements of Vikings? What are some of the reasons behind these arrangements?
  • Find a picture of a typical Viking house and label the main features.
  • What did a ‘family’ consist of?
  • Outline the different roles of family members.
  • Explain the meaning of a ‘family feud’.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

Topic 10:Viking cuisine
  • Create a diagram to explain the daily eating patterns of Vikings
  • What did the Viking diet consist of?
  • What do we know about cooking equipment and cooking methods??
  • List 5 ways to preserve food.
  • Why did Vikings hold feasts and banquets?
  • Imagine you are the head chef of a Viking village and must prepare a menu for a Viking banquet. Create a menu for the feast listing which foods and drinks will be consumed and in which order. You made you a combination of English words, images and runes to prepare your menu
  • OR
  • Find out how Vikings made bread. Write up a recipe with clear instructions of the correct procedure.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 11: Entertainment

  • What was ‘hnefatafl’? See if you can find the rules and an image of it on the Internet.
  • Name and describe the main features of 3 forms of Viking entertainment
  • Locate and analyse 3 sources of evidence for learning about Viking entertainment using the Internet. (If you find a source in a book, look it up on the Web using your research skills!) After describing the source, remember the important questions were should always ask when analysing historical sources.
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 10: Viking Religion

  • Explain the importance of:
-Asgard
-Valhalla
-Niflheim
  • Retell the Viking version of the story of creation
  • What was a ‘soothsayer’?
  • Research at least 4 important Viking gods (Thor, Odin, Freya Hugin, Loki, Tyr, Munin). For each god find:
-their main characteristics
-purpose/function
-an image using the Internet
  • Outline Viking burial traditions. What happened when Vikings died? Where there any class differences?
  • Gods aside, what other creatures did Vikings believe in?
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

TOPIC 11: Homes

  • Use the Internet to find a picture of a Viking long-house
  • List some reasons why all the families of Viking communities would want to live in a long-house.
  • Describe in one paragraph, what it was like to live in a long-house.
  • Provide definitions for each of the following words:
-turf
-hearth
-community
-grain
-weaving
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

Topic 12: Leif Erikson

  • Use the Internet to locate 4 different sources (images or ancient texts) about Leif Erikson? What do they suggest about this Viking hero? Conduct a source analysis for each (refer to the ‘Analysing sources’ guides).
  • Why was he famous?
  • What did Erik the Red discover just west of Iceland?
  • How did Leif Eriksson get the nickname “the Lucky”?
  • Find out about 2 sagas featuring Erik the Red as the main character. What kind of things did he do?
  • How do we know?
  • Cool Stuff

Free Topic

*Please check with me before start your Free Topic*
  • After doing some research using the Internet and books, you may complete a PowerPoint project on a topic of your choice that is not already being researched by other pairs. Some ideas:
  • Pretend you are a museum curator and create an “Evidence Collection” to display in the Viking Room with images and source analyses for each. Don’t be afraid to question what other people have said about these sources… you are a historian so your ideas are important too!
  • Investigate a specific archaeological site of a Viking community. Create some slides that show the main findings, how it was discovered, digging techniques used and any other interesting facts.
  • Focus on a specific element of Viking mythology
  • Do some research on modern-day Vikings and present your findings on the main characteristics of this group, where they are located, hobbies, rituals and any other interesting information you can find.
  • Anything else you can think of!