Our Viking and Norse Myths studies will provide opportunities for you and your students to engage in interesting conversations! To supplement the rich curriculum, we’ve put together some resources to enhance your understanding of this time period. Scroll below for a few topics that interest your family. We have guides about book, videos, and even culinary creations!
Book Guide:
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle, and The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw. They are awesome and you can even listen to them! While they are sort of a spin-off on fairy tales, they would fit in with Middle Ages time period. Fun for all ages!
The Lost Years of Merlin series for those who can’t get enough Merlin in The Sword in the Stone.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini. It’s pretty long for some readers, but if your reader loves it and can’t get enough, it’s thankfully part of a series!
Karen Cushman books: Matilda Bone, The Midwife’s Apprentice, and Katherine Called Birdy. The are great reads alongside the middle ages.
Of Nightingales That Weep by Katherine Patterson is a fun choice as it’s set in medieval Japan.
Looking for a fantasy read? Then you’re going to love The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. Packed with energetic black-and-white drawings and plenty of action, this book tells the boisterous tale of a young heir to a Viking chiefdom who must hunt down the fiercest dragon in the land but ends up with the smallest, most ornery dragon. Available in SLOCA’s bookstore on campus- The Den. Stop by or order ahead here.
In stock and available to purchase in The Den
Hands-on Guide:
Handmake a costume for an imaginative play time! Here’s instructions on how to create a Viking Helmet | Create your very own
Students into Word Searches? This word search is a favorite!
Want other Print-outs? Scroll far down to Downloads to find lots of Viking information and activity sheets such as Viking pictures, puzzles, and quizzes!
Video Guide Links:
*Parents, please preview for your students first.
The Vikings are known as masters of the sea, but what was Viking life like before these warriors began their raids? Learn more in this link, Life of a Viking.
Viking Trader | listen to an actor play the part of a Viking trader
Cooking Guide:
Indulge in the historical flavors in this collection of recipes you can make at home. These culinary creations will tide you over until the next Renaissance Fair!
You might think the best dishes and silverware would be used at a feast, but in the medieval era people didn’t use the same kinds of tableware that we do today. Instead of plates, diners each used what was called a trencher — a piece of stale bread. Diners chose food from a common platter using their fingers, and placed their morsels on their trencher. Here’s a recipe for your own treacher.
Movie Guide Suggestions:
Parents, please always preview first before sharing with your students.
- Camelot (1967) G | The three-hour musical many of you may remember | Description: A majestic romance set in the days of yore starring Richard Harris as King Arthur with Vanessa Redgrave as the beautiful Queen. Franco Nero co-stars as Lancelot, the classic knight in shining armor.
- Quest for Camelot (1998) G | Animated | Description: A strong-willed girl sets out on a dangerous quest to retrieve King Arthur’s magical sword, save Camelot, and earn her place among the Knights of the Round Table
- The Secret of the Kells (2009) TV-PG | Animated | Description: When Vikings attack an Irish abbey, the young nephew of an abbott must brave an enchanted forest to complete work on a legendary book. (May be scary for younger children.)
- The Knights of the Round Table (1953) NR | Description: The legend of King Arthur comes alive in this Oscar-nominated picture starring Ava Gardner as Lady Guinevere, Robert Taylor as Sir Lancelot and Mel Ferrer as the noble King Arthur.
- The Princess Bride (1987) PG | Definitely a favorite family movie to watch for this time period! | Description: Based on William Goldman’s novel of the same name, The Princess Bride is staged as a book read by grandfather (Peter Falk) to his ill grandson (Fred Savage). Falk’s character assures a romance-weary Savage that the book has much more to deliver than a simpering love story, including but not limited to fencing, fighting, torture, death, true love, giants, and pirates.
- Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) PG | Of course no collection of Middle Ages movies would be complete without this classic.
SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned websites, resources, businesses or organizations.
How did you supplement the Viking curriculum with resources that interest your family? In the Comment section below, tell us what guides helped you the most. Was it the one about books, videos, or culinary inspiration?
