The Viking Age: “Viking Life” Core Knowledge Grade 3 Domain 6 Lesson 3

What Have We Already Learned? You have been introduced to the character of Bjorn, a young Norse Boy. In which country did Bjorn and his family live? (Locate it on the map.) What area on the map is made up of the present-day countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark?

What Have We Already Learned? Bjorn will be leaving his family to travel to a new land. Where will his new home be? (Locate it on the map.) Who was the first known Viking to settle in Iceland?

What Have We Already Learned? Besides Bjorn, what other characters did you already hear about? Bjorn’s father What is the setting of the story? Bjorn’s hometown in Norway around 900 AD; yesterday, Bjorn was in the forge with his father Which point of view is the author using to tell this story? First-person point of view; remember: point of view is a literary tool or a way that the author tells a story Retell the events from “Home of the Vikings” using the image cards.

Essential Background Information Although you have heard about ferocious Viking warriors who traveled and raided, most men of the Viking Age were farmers and fishermen. Some had livestock, useful animals that are raised to be eaten or help with farm work. What kind of livestock do you think the people of the Viking Age cared for? What types of animals would have been useful for them to own? Was/is farming important in other civilizations? How so?

Purpose for Listening Listen carefully to hear more about Bjorn’s life as a young Norse boy and to learn more about how the people farmed during the Viking Age.

Presenting the Read-Aloud “Viking Life”

Bjorn’s Family by the Cauldron

Kitta Tending to the Chickens

Toli Talking to Bjorn

Bjorn and Toli in the Street

Harbor Scene

Discussing the Read-Aloud Describe Bjorn’s home. Why did Bjorn’s family raise livestock, or animals? What kind of livestock di Bjorn’s family keep? What did Bjorn and the other children do to take care of their livestock? Locate Iceland on the map. Who else in Bjorn’s family traveled to Iceland, and what did they do? Who have the main characters been so far in Bjorn’s story? Today, another main character was introduced; who is it? What adjectives would you use to describe this character? Why? To which Norse myth character was Toli’s behavior compared? Did the Viking people believe in one god or many gods?

Discussing the Read-Aloud Bjorn and Toli will travel to Iceland on a cargo ship. Why is cargo being taken to Iceland and other cargo being brought back to Norway? What parts of the read-aloud might be described as raucous or loud and wild? Be sure to support your answer with reason from the story. The other day, you learned of the skilled Viking Age blacksmiths. Today you heard the people of the Viking Age were skilled at another trade. What was it? What types of ships do Bjorn and Toli see at the wharf? Bjorn describes the longships as imposing. Do you think that is an accurate description? Why or why not?

Think-Pair-Share I am going to ask a question. I will give you a minute to think about the question, and then I will ask you to turn to your neighbor and discuss the question. Finally, I will call on several of you to share what you discussed with your partner.

Think-Pair-Share When Bjorn looks at the faces of his family members, he says he want to keep their faces imprinted in his memory forever. This is an expression that means he wants to remember their faces forever. What images have you wanted to imprint on your memory before? What made you want to remember those images forever?

Checking for Understanding After hearing today’s read-aloud and comprehension questions and answers, do you have any remaining questions?

Word Work: Imposing “Despite our fear of night spirits, we loved to go there in the evening and watch the ocean waves as they lapped back and forth against the imposing longships.” Imposing means impressive, grand, or magnificent. During his visit to New York City, Jack could not help but stare in awe at the imposing Statue of Liberty that stood tall in the sky. What part of speech is imposing? adjective Draw something that you think is imposing. Write a complete sentence or two about your picture. Be prepared to present your work to the class and explain why your illustration is imposing. Be sure to use the word imposing in your sentence.

Extensions: You Were There: Viking Age Town in Scandinavia (Instructional Master 3B-1) Pretend that you lived in Scandinavia during the time of the Vikings. Think about everything you would have seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched. Our five sense allow us to experience the world around us. Record your ideas. Write at least one complete sentence for each line. Try to use vocabulary words and adjectives to make your writing descriptive and interesting to read. On the back, illustrate your favorite description of one of the senses you described.

Glossary earthen: adj., made of clay, dirt, or mud imposing: adj., impressive; grand; magnificent planks: n., thick wooden boards or strips raucous: adj., wild, loud, and disorderly unison: n., the act of doing something the same way at the same time

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