Medieval Europe - Anglo-Saxons

Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman
The Venerable Bede
Sutton Hoo Slideshow

Discussion:
Anglo-Saxon origins - Sutton Hoo artifacts
Bede and Alfred the Great
Viking influences

Activity:
History journal
Picture study

Medieval Europe - Charlemagne

Charlemagne and the Early Middle Ages by Miriam Greenblatt
Einhard and Notker the Stammerer, Two Lives of Charlemagne

Discussion:
Unifying Europe
Changing the nature of the Holy Roman Emperor
Fighting the Vikings

Activity:
History journal
Map activity: Tracing Charlemagne's influence, journeys
Picture study: Charlemagne's throne in Aachen

Medieval Europe - The Vikings - Colonization

The Real Vikings by Melvin and Gilda Berger
The Vikings by Virginia Schomp
D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths [read-aloud]

Discussion:
Iceland
Greenland and the Americas
End of the Viking era - minor ice age

Activity:
History journal
Map study: oceanic journeys
Picture study: colonies discovered in the Americas

Medieval Europe - Vikings - Sea-Faring and Raiding

Mythical Viking Sunstone is Real

The Real Vikings by Melvin and Gilda Berger
The Vikings by Virginia Schomp
D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths [read-aloud]

Discussion:
Navigational equipment, sea-faring - long journeys; colonization, boat-building
Why did Vikings raid?
Locations of major raids
Warriors - equipment, fighting methods

Activity:
History journal
Map study: Viking raids and journeys
Build a model Viking ship

Medieval Europe - Vikings - Social Structures and Lifestyle

The Real Vikings by Melvin and Gilda Berger
The Vikings by Virginia Schomp
D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths [read-aloud]

Discussion:
Life on a Viking farmstead
Family life and values
Men's and women's roles, children and childhood
Foods

Activity:
History journal
Viking feast!

Medieval Europe - Vikings - Religious Beliefs

The Real Vikings by Melvin and Gilda Berger
The Vikings by Virginia Schomp
D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths [read-aloud]

Discussion:
"Mortal" gods, monsters
Geography of the spiritual world
Loki and Odin - evil and good struggle

Activity:
History journal
Re-enact Loki and Odin's blood brother story

Medieval Europe - Vikings - Geography

The Real Vikings by Melvin and Gilda Berger
The Vikings by Virginia Schomp
D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths [read-aloud]

Discussion:
Base locations of Vikings
Use of waterways

Activity:
History journal
Map Study - major waterways of Europe, Viking territories and routes using this blank European map