HASS · Year 8 · The Viking Age · Term 1

Viking Exploration: Iceland and Greenland

Students will trace the Viking voyages to Iceland and Greenland, examining the challenges and motivations for settlement in these harsh environments.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9H8K02

About This Topic

The Viking Legacy explores how this era shaped the modern world, particularly in Europe and the English-speaking world. Students look at the linguistic impact (words like 'sky', 'window', and 'law'), the establishment of major cities like Dublin and York, and the influence on legal systems. The topic also covers the Norman Conquest of 1066, which was led by descendants of Vikings settled in France.

This topic is vital for Australian students as it explains the roots of the English language and many Western legal traditions. It encourages students to see history as a process of cultural blending rather than just a series of battles. By the end of this unit, students should understand how the 'Viking Age' ended not with a disappearance, but with integration into the emerging kingdoms of Europe.

This topic comes alive when students can trace linguistic and cultural connections through collaborative word-mapping and peer discussion.

Key Questions

1. Explain the environmental and social factors that drove Viking settlement in Iceland and Greenland.
2. Analyze the challenges faced by Viking settlers in establishing communities in new lands.
3. Compare the settlement patterns in Iceland and Greenland with those in other Viking territories.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the environmental and social factors that motivated Viking voyages to Iceland and Greenland.
• Analyze the specific challenges faced by Viking settlers in establishing communities in Iceland and Greenland.
• Compare the settlement patterns and survival strategies in Iceland and Greenland with those in other Viking territories.
• Evaluate the impact of geography on Viking exploration and settlement decisions.

Before You Start

Viking Society and Culture

Why: Students need a basic understanding of Viking social structures, beliefs, and daily life to comprehend their motivations for exploration and settlement.

Basic Map Skills and Geography

Why: Familiarity with reading maps, identifying continents and oceans, and understanding basic geographical terms is essential for tracing voyages and understanding settlement locations.

Key Vocabulary

Longship	A type of warship and cargo ship developed and used by the Vikings. Its shallow draft allowed for river navigation and beach landings, crucial for exploration.
Saga	Medieval prose narratives, often recounting the history of Icelandic families or famous Viking voyages. They provide primary source material for understanding Viking life and exploration.
Althing	The national parliament of Iceland, established by Viking settlers around 930 AD. It represents one of the world's oldest surviving parliamentary institutions.
Glacier	A large, persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation (melting and sublimation). Glaciers presented significant obstacles to Viking exploration and settlement.
Permafrost	Ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years. Its presence in Greenland made agriculture extremely difficult for Viking settlers.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Vikings were 'wiped out' at the end of the era.

What to Teach Instead

The Vikings didn't disappear; they integrated into the cultures they had settled in, becoming the Normans, the Rus, and the modern Scandinavians. A 'Think-Pair-Share' on the year 1066 helps students understand this transition.

Common Misconception

Viking influence is only found in Scandinavia.

What to Teach Instead

Their influence is deeply embedded in the English language, British geography, and Russian history. A word hunt activity helps students see how widespread their cultural footprint actually is.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Viking Word Hunt

Students are given a list of common English words and must use etymology tools to find which ones have Old Norse origins. They then create a 'Viking Tree' showing how these words branched into modern English.

30 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Viking Influence Today

Stations feature modern logos (like Bluetooth), place names in England (ending in -by or -thorpe), and legal concepts. Students move around to identify the 'hidden' Viking legacy in the 21st century.

30 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The End of an Age

Students discuss why 1066 is considered the end of the Viking Age. They consider whether the Vikings 'lost' or simply changed into something else, like the Normans or the Christianized Scandinavians.

20 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Geologists studying ice cores from Greenland can analyze trapped air bubbles to reconstruct past climates, providing insights into the environmental conditions faced by early settlers.
• Modern-day farmers in Iceland utilize geothermal energy, a direct consequence of the volcanic activity that also shaped the island, to heat greenhouses and grow crops in a challenging climate.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a map showing Iceland and Greenland. Ask them to label three geographical features that would have presented challenges to Viking settlers and write one sentence explaining why each was difficult.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are a Viking explorer deciding whether to settle in Iceland or Greenland. What are the top two reasons you would choose one over the other, and what is your biggest fear about settling there?' Allow students to share their reasoning in small groups.

Quick Check

Present students with a list of factors (e.g., fertile land, access to timber, harsh winters, political stability). Ask them to categorize each factor as either a 'pull' factor (encouraging settlement) or a 'push' factor (driving people away) for Iceland and Greenland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What English words come from the Vikings?

Many common words like 'cake', 'egg', 'knife', 'husband', 'sky', and 'window' come from Old Norse. Even the days of the week, like Thursday (Thor's Day), reflect their linguistic legacy.

How did the Vikings influence modern law?

The word 'law' itself is Old Norse. They introduced the idea of a jury of peers and the concept of 'outlawry,' where someone who broke the law lost the protection of the community.

How can active learning help students understand the Viking legacy?

Using a 'Linguistic Detective' activity, where students actively trace word origins, makes the abstract concept of cultural influence tangible. It allows them to see history as something that lives in their own speech every day, rather than just something that happened in the distant past.

Who were the Normans?

The Normans were descendants of Viking raiders who were given land in northern France (Normandy) in exchange for protecting the French king. They eventually conquered England in 1066.