Year 8 Humanities – The Vikings
Vicious Vandals or Explorers and Entrepreneurs?
RESEARCH PROJECT
 In this project, you will select and research one aspect of Viking society.
 First you will complete a research grid gathering information from three sources.
 Next you will complete the Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyse, Evaluate and Design Activities for
your research area, recording them as a draft into your workbook.
 Once your teacher has read through and corrected your draft, you will create a project about your
research area. How this project is to be presented needs to be negotiated with your teacher.
 The Rubric Criteria is included in this outline and your teacher will help you understand it.
 The grade for this project will appear on your Semester 1 Report.
Good Luck
Remember
Who were the
Vikings?
1.
2.
Where did the
Vikings come from?
Where does the
word Viking come
from?
Year 8 Humanities: Vikings
Vicious Vandals or Explorers and Entrepreneurs?
Understand
Apply
Analyse
Evaluate
Explain why ships were so
important to the Vikings.
Complete the Make your own
timeline worksheet arranging the
tabs in your workbook in order of
the time period.
Create a T – Chart in
your workbook.
On one side write 3
reasons why some
people might thinks
Vikings were
bloodthirsty vandals.
On the other side write
3 reasons the Vikings
should be seen as more
than vandals.
Imagine you are a
Viking chief giving a
feast. Create an
invitation which includes
information about the
entertainment you are
providing, and a menu
of the food and drink
your guests will enjoy.
Compare source 1.24
with source 1.1.3 on
page 5. List both the
similarities and
differences.
Design
Draw either a Viking
male or female.
Label pieces of
clothing and
jewellery they could
have worn.
Jacaranda SOSE
Pictures Page 7 & 5
Community Life
Vikings at home
& Family Life
Use a flow diagram to
explain the structure of
Viking society.
Jarls, karls, and thralls.
1.
Why do you think
Viking children did not
go to school? How did
they learn about the
history of their people,
or learn the skills they
needed to grow up?
2. Why were Viking
women such
independent and
capable people?
Write your answers in two
paragraphs to place on your
poster under Children and
Women
Imagine you are a Viking living in
the town of Jorvik. The circle
below represents a day. Fill in the
circle with what you thing would
happen during a busy day in
Viking times.
Now compare this with a day in
your life by writing down what you
have done today.
Beliefs &
Stories
Giants, gods
and creation
1.
Explain how the way
Christmas is often
celebrated today is a
mix of Christian and
pagan traditions.
2. Why did the Vikings
choose to cremate
their loved ones?
Write your answer in three
paragraphs to place on
your poster
1.
What was the
responsibility of the
Viking gods listed
below? Odin, Thor,
Loki, Freya, Balder.
2. With which of the gods
featured above would
the Vikings associate
the following events:
A sudden thunderstorm
The discovery of a seam of
amber in the Earth
An earthquake
A magical spell involving the
use of runes.
Create a Facebook page for Thor,
using the template provided by
your teacher.
Make sure you include as much
information as possible, about
Thor’s powers, where he lives, his
family etc.
Research what a ‘saga’
was in Viking times, and
why this form of storytelling was so popular.
How did Vikings pass
on stories before they
were written down?
What was a skald?
Write your answer in
one or two paragraphs
to place on your poster.
Using a Venn Diagram
compare Pagan Viking
beliefs about death or
modern Christian beliefs.
For example Both
Christians and Pagans
mark burial sites.
However modern
Christians use tomb
stones and Pagan
Vikings used cairns or
Runestones.
Vikings at Sea
Trade &
What was a Longship?
Explain why its design
made the Viking Longship
a good landing craft.
Imagine you are on a Viking
Longship. Using a Y Chart
write dot points about what it
would look like, sound/smell
Plan a Viking voyage. How was
the ship prepared? What stores
did the crew need to survive a
voyage from Denmark to England
The Vikings were
accomplished
navigators. Fill in a
Venn diagram to
Create your own Viking
cartoon strip about Leif
Eriksson, inspired by
events presented in the
In your own words
describe a Viking
“Things”. How is it similar
to how we make laws
today? You may wish to
use a Venn diagram to
illustrate this information.
Imagine that you are
a teenager captured
in Europe by Viking
raiders and brought
back to the Viking
homeland as a
Slave. Write a diary
entry to explain and
describe what you
see and experience
during your first day
as a member of the
Viking Community.
See your teacher for
a model of the Diary
Genre to work from
Write your own
Norse Myth
remember to include
some of the Gods
and the Hammer of
Thor.
See your teacher for
a model of the Myth
Genre to work from.
Design your own
model or drawing of
a Viking Ship.
Remember to
exploration
How did trading ships and
transport ships differ to
Longships?
Write your answer in two
paragraphs to place on
your poster.
like and feels.
– or even further perhaps, to
Greenland? What foods might
sailors have eaten during the
voyage? What possessions might
they have taken with them?
Now create a “voyage preparation
letter” (like a school camp letter)
The letter should include the
information about the trip, and
what to pack.
compare the similarities
and differences
between modern
navigation and Viking
navigation.
“Greenland Gossip” on
page 28 Humanities
Alive.
Viking Raiders
– Going
Berserk
What was the Danegeld?
How did Viking berserkers
behave in battle?
Why were the Viking
boats so effective as a
transport for raiding
parties?
Write your answer in two
paragraphs to place on
your poster.
Why did some monasteries
like Lindisfarne have
‘treasure for Vikings to
steal? What kinds of
treasure was it? Find
pictures of the Lindisfarne
monastery, then try drawing
a monastery to show the
different buildings it had and
the jobs the monks did.
Draw the weapons and amour
Vilkings used in battle next to
each drawing write a short
explanation of how they were
used in battle.
Write your own name as
a Runic message. Then
write a paragraph
explaining the runic
alphabet and how
runestones were used.
What happened
to the Vikings?
Who were the four
contenders for the English
throne in 1066? What
happened to them?
Create a timeline of events
leading up to the crowning of
William the Conqueror.
Think of as many reasons as you
can why the Norman army would
have had a military advantage
over Harold’s Saxon troops.
William’s forebears
were Vikings. Describe
in what ways his
appearance, as shown
in Source A Humanities
Alive page 42, is
different from that of
Viking men described or
portrayed in other parts
of this chapter.
1. As Vikings settled in
the lands they invaded
they brought with them
their customs and
language. In a two
paragraphs describe how
Norse Language has
influenced the English
language.
2. Draw a map of Britain
and mark on it as many
place names as you can
find with Norse word
endings.
Analyse a section of the
Bayeux tapestry.
include your own
design dragon head
for the front of the
ship. You will need
to label each part of
the model or
drawing. The labels
should also include
which type of wood
was used for each
part of the design.
Pretend that you are
an English ruler who
escaped dying in a
Viking raid. Write a
letter to your friend,
describing what you
saw when the
Viking’s attacked.
Research Grid Year 8 Humanities -The Vikings
Topic Area Chosen: Viking Community and Family Life
Question/Topic 1
Question/Topic 2
Question/Topic 3
Explain the structure of
Viking society
How did Viking Children
learn skills and their culture?
What were Viking women
like?
What types of activities
would a Viking living in a
town take part in?
Question/Topic 4
What food and
entertainments would be
provided at a Viking feast
Question/Topic 5
Explain what happened
at a Viking Thing
Facts from Source 1
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Facts from Source 2
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Facts from Source 3
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
Jarls were tribal chiefs –
rich and powerful
families.
 Karls – middle class,
merchants and farmers
 Thralls – lower class,
criminals or prisoners
Bibliography information
Easton, M. 2006, Jacaranda
Humanities Alive. John Wiley
& Sons Australia Ltd
How to fill in your Research Grid.
The purpose of a research grid is to allow you to gather and organise information from a number of primary and secondary sources. You will then use
this information to help you complete the activities related to your topic. You will be expected to attach this research to your poster.
1. Once you have decided on the topic you are going to Research (i.e.Viking Community and Family Life) You will need to write research
questions/topic areas from the assignment onto the Research Grid. In this example I have written the Research questions for Viking
Community and Family Life.
2. Next you will need to look for information to answer your questions from a number of different sources. (Sources include – the tub of books,
internet, encyclopaedias).
3. When you find some information that will help you answer one of your research questions write it in dot points in your own words into the
research grid, in the boxes under the question.
4. You then must place the bibliographical information (information on from which source you got these answers) into the box titled
“Bibliographical information”.
Bibliographical information is written as follows:
For information from a BOOK – Author’s name/s” surname first, then first name or initial. Year of publication. Title of book in italics or
underlined. Name of publisher and place of publication.
Eg Smith, Jane, 2001. Writing bibliographies, Macmillan, Melbourne.
For information from a Website – Author, Title of document in “quotation marks”, date of last update, Web address, date of access.
Eg. Smith, Jane, “Researching on the Internet” updated March 2001, (www.researchskills/smith.wantirna.edu.au). Date accessed June 2001.
For information from an Encyclopaedia – Date of publication, Title of the article in “quotation marks”. Name of Encyclopaedia in italics. Volume
number. Publisher, Place of Publication.
Eg “Plastics” Encyclopaedia of Australia (2001) vol 12, Macmillan, Melbourne.
Topic Area Chosen __________________
Research Grid Year 8 Humanities -The Vikings
Question/Topic 1
Question/Topic 2
Question/Topic 3
Question/Topic 4
Question/Topic 4
Facts from Source 1
Facts from Source 1
Facts from Source 1
Facts from Source 1
Facts from Source 1
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Facts from Source 2
Facts from Source 2
Facts from Source 2
Facts from Source 2
Facts from Source 2
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Facts from Source 3
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YEAR 8 Humanities
RESEARCH PROJECT
HIGH (3 MARKS)
H
You have included a range of specific and accurate facts
and information related to the topic.
You have shown understanding through using your own
accurate explanations and examples related to the topic
and reaching your own conclusion.
In your report you have referred to or used both primary
and secondary source evidence.
You have used one or more primary sources and two or
more secondary sources to provide explanation,
description or to tell a story.
You have developed useful research questions and used
suitable planning tools.
You have included all bibliographical information of the
books you have used in the correct order, Eg: Author,
Title, Publisher, Place Published, Date.
You have carefully proof read your final copy and
checked spelling, expression and punctuation. There are
no obvious errors
Your project is carefully presented. You have included
headings and sub-headings where needed. Illustrations,
maps, graphs or diagrams have been included for a
reason and are clearly and appropriately labelled.
MEDIUM (2 MARKS)
M
LOW (1 MARK)
1. HISTORICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE
You have included some specific and accurate facts
There are errors in facts or your information is
and information related to the topic.
very non specific.
2. EXPLANATION AND SUPPORT
You have shown understanding through rewording
You have shown understanding by rewording
explanations and examples from text books and
correct information and explanations from
attempting some of your own explanations.
textbooks.
3. USE OF EVIDENCE
You have referred to, or used, secondary source or
Your report tells the story of what happened
primary source evidence in your report.
and uses names and dates as evidence.
4. SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION
You have used two or more secondary sources to
You have used one secondary source to provide
provide explanation, description or to tell a story.
explanation, description or to tell a story.
5. RESEARCH SKILLS & REFERENCING
You have developed some research questions and
attempted to use planning tools.
You have written down the names of the authors
and titles of books you have used.
You have developed unsuitable research
questions and shown little or no use of planning
tools.
You have written down the names of the books
you have used.
6. EXPRESSION, PUNTUATION, SPELLING ETC
Your work has some errors in punctuation, spelling
There are many errors in spelling, expression of
and expression. You needed to be more careful
punctuation. You don’t appear to have proof
about proof reading your final copy.
read your final copy.
7. PRESENTATION
Your presentation could have been more careful.
Your information is difficult to follow or find.
Illustrations, diagrams, maps or graphs are not
Illustrations, maps etc are not labelled and the
always labelled or the reason they are included is
reason you have included them is not clear.
not clear. Information is not easy to locate, could
Headings are not clear or aren’t there.
have been presented in a more logical order.
A+
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
E+
E
UG
21
20-19
18-17
16-15
14-13
12-11
10-9
8-7
6-5
4
3-0
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NS(0)