Our resources for this week include a lot of fun! Use this blog to enhance you and your student’s interest about Vikings and how culture represents them. Scroll down to see information about visiting a local Danish museum, peruse copious links and lists to inspire and enhance your homeschooling days.
As always, parents, please preview for your students first.
Fun Day Trip Idea
If you’re willing to take a little day trip, there’s a local-ish a museum that’s a great fit for our studies. The museum is located in Solvang, California. It’s called Elverhøj Museum of History and Art. The name “Elverhøj” is pronounced “Elverhoy” (as spelled in its English version). It was taken from the first Danish national play, “Elverhøj,” written in 1828. The curators are warm and knowledgeable, and can answer any question you may have about Danish and Viking culture. The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 11 am to 5 pm. There’s no charge for admission, although a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated.
Some SLOCA students already visited the museum this Trimester!
Short Videos:
Vikings | 10 Interesting Facts
A Viking Village | Take a virtual tour through a computer reconstruction
Did Viking play games? Let’s investigate! Viking Board Game
Resource Links:
If your kids are interested in swords they might enjoy this one. NOVA’s Secrets of the Viking Sword (2012) NR. Description: The most formidable Viking weapon was an Ulfberht sword. But details of their creation and their maker remained secret for more than 1,000 years.
5 Fun Facts and Top 10 Facts about Alfred the Great
Photo of the actual Alfred Jewel and a BBC Bitesize video
Ottonian Art | See pieces created by Ottonian artists
Viking Timeline | Click on the longship for key events
In Viking times – find out what life was like for Ordinary People
See the different types of longships and trading ships
Viking Ship Museum | With photos of ships and other artifacts
Viking Traders and Explorers | Go on a trading trip and click on each Viking to find out more
Viking Weapons | Photographs and facts about Viking weapons
Medieval Movies :
Last week on our Instagram stories @sloclassicalacademy we asked you what your favorite Medieval movies are, so we collected a list of your favorites! Bonus fact: many of these are available on your favorite streaming service.
The Sword in the Stone (1963) G – Animated. Description: A humble young squire named Wart allies himself with the powerful magician Merlin and discovers his destiny as England’s next king.
Camelot (1999) NR – Animated. Description: Venture back through the mists of time to the glorious lost age of King Arthur, the sorcerer Merlin and the valiant Knights of the Round Table. Enter into the magical and timeless realm of Camelot.
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 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.)
Knights of the Round Table (1954) NR – You can rent this on YouTube or purchase it on Amazon. 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.
Camelot (1968) 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.
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 their 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. Here is the entire movie broken into parts on YouTube, but parents, you might want to just search for specific funny scenes you remember to show younger kids.
SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned websites, businesses or organizations.
Parents, as always, we suggest you preview the information for your children.
We blog three times a week—every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for your viewing and reading pleasure! Come back to the Down Home blog next Monday when we’ll share about Mesoamerica during The Middle Ages!
