Title: Archaeologists Discover Viking Parliament Under Parking Lot
Date: 26 Oct. 2013
Grade: 3 - 6
Subject: History
URL: http://www.newsy.com/videos/archaeologists-discover-viking-parliament-underparking-lot/
Teacher Information: This Newsy.com video can
serve as the springboard to discussions on Viking
raids, Viking culture, and Viking exploration of
the New World.
This lesson can be completed in one 50-minute
class period.
Archaeologists Discover Viking Parlaiment
Under Parking Lot
October 26, 2013
by Elizabeth Hagedorn
Phase
Preparation
Watch
Re-watch
and answer
Group Work
Discussion
NOTE: Some of the discussion questions in this
lesson plan were inspired by Discovery
Education’s The Vikings: Sea Raiders, Land
Raiders lesson plan. A link to that webpage can
be found in the related resources on the second
page of this lesson plan.
Task(s)
Time
Write on the board before students enter the room: “Who were the Vikings, and why is
learning about their culture important?” Brainstorm to review the following terms:
“Archaeologist,” “Scandinavia,” “Norsemen,” “Longship,” “Raids,” “Parliament,” and
“Thing Site.”
As a class, watch the Newsy.com video Archaeologists Discover Viking Parliament
Under Parking Lot at: http://www.newsy.com/videos/archaeologists-discover-vikingparliament-under-parking-lot/
Re-watch the video in pairs and complete the worksheet located at the end of this
lesson plan.
Form into larger groups of four or five students and discuss the following questions:
 Who are some famous Vikings and what are they known for?
 Given that the Vikings were from Scandinavia, which is cold and mountainous,
why might they have raided other areas of their wealth?
 Many of the sites that the Vikings raided were owned by the Church. How
might this have aided in establishing the Vikings’ notorious reputations?
 Besides raiding the coasts of Northern Europe and the British Isles, what are
some other of the Vikings’ accomplishments?
 Why did the Vikings abandon their settlements in Greenland and
Newfoundland?
Full class discussion on the topic and share ideas with the rest of the class.
Archaeologists Discover Viking Parliament Under Parking Lot
5 min
1:21 min
13 min
20 min
10 min
Title: Archaeologists Discover Viking Parliament Under Parking Lot
Extended Learning Activities – Optional
Parent Involvement
Reflection
Research
Report
Have students share the ideas discussed in class with
their parents. What are their parents’ feelings on the
topic? Have them share their parents’ ideas with the rest
of the class.
Students can reflect on life as a Viking, or their victims.
Using the knowledge they have acquired in this lesson,
students can write a journal entry from one of these two
points of view.
Students can research the Viking exploration and
settlement of Canada and Greenland and report on their
findings.
Have students choose a source from this webcast, find
the article or newscast in its entirety, and report back to
the class a summary of the article/newscast.
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Looking for related resources? Check out…
National Museum of Natural History | Smithsonian
Tour a virtual exhibit and learn about the Vikings, see Viking artifacts, and more.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/start.html
Nova | PBS
This site includes lots of Vikings-related activities. Watch a video, spell your name with runes, or make a tree-ring
timeline.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vikings/
Discovery Education
Here is a lesson plan that teachers can use to further explore the history of the Vikings.
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/the-vikings-sea-raiders-land-raiders.cfm
Hurstwic
This site includes an essay which describes the Viking practice of raiding in great detail.
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/raids.htm
Vikings | eThemes | eMINTS (grades 3 – 6)
These sites are about Vikings and their history, voyages, and ships. Take an interactive tour of a Viking village,
participate in an online Viking voyage, and learn how to write your name using Viking symbols. Includes lesson
plans and activity ideas. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on barbarian invasions.
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/621
Archaeologists Discover Viking Parliament Under Parking Lot
Archaeologists Discover Viking Parliament Under Parking Lot