1. The Viking Age: Home of the Vikings
Core Knowledge
Grade 3
Domain 6
Lesson 7

2. What Have We Already Learned?
Retell the plot of what happened in the previous story, “Sagas and Swords”. Use sequencing words such as first, next, then, etc. Use domain vocabulary when possible.
Where will Bjorn and Toli be traveling to? Why are they leaving their homeland? Will Toli and Bjorn travel in a cargo ship or a longship?

3. Making Predictions about the Read-Aloud
The title of today’s story is “Saying Goodbye”. How do you think Bjorn will feel today when he has to say goodbye?

4. Purpose for Listening
Listen carefully to learn if your predictions are correct about how Bjorn will react to saying goodbye to his family.

5. Presenting the Read-Aloud: “Saying Goodbye”

6. Bjorn Waking Up

7. Family Breakfast

8. At the Wharf

9. On the Cargo Ship

10. Discussing the Read-Aloud
Were your predictions correct about how Bjorn felt when he said goodbye? Why or why not?
What color is the edge of Toli’s tunic? Why is that color chosen for him? What Viking warrior did you learn about that was given a nickname to match his hair color and temper?
How does Kitta feel about Toli and Bjorn leaving? What makes you think so?
Why do Bjorn and Toli think and talk about gods like Odin and Thor?
Why is Bjorn leaving his homeland even though he would rather stay with his family?
Were the Viking warships/longships and cargo ships indistinguishable? Why or why not? What is the difference between a warship and a cargo ship? Why are Bjorn and Toli traveling on a cargo ship rather than a warship?
When Bjorn’s father gives him a sheath that his grandfather made for his sword, it almost makes Bjorn cry. Why do you think this kind act makes him feel like crying?

11. 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.

12. Think-Pair-Share
Bjorn and Toli watch the waves lap against the ship and talk to one another as the cargo ship leaves their homeland. How do you think Toli is feeling? How do you think Bjorn is feeling?

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

14. Word Work: exclaimed
“We ate in silence until Kitta suddenly exclaimed, ‘I don’t know what to name my chicks! Would it be okay if I named one Bjorn and one Toli?’ she asked with a serious look on her face.”
Exclaimed means said something in a loud and excited manner.
When you want to express something loudly or excitedly, use an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence instead of a period.
When Mr. Chang finally realized the answer to the riddle, he exclaimed, “I got it!”
What part of speech is exclaimed?
verb (past tense)
What are some synonyms, or words that have a similar meaning as exclaimed?
shouted, cried out, called out, etc.
What are some words or phrases that are antonyms, or opposites, of exclaimed?
whispered, listened, hushed, etc.

15. Extensions: Sayings and Phrases “The Last Straw”
An idiom is an expression whose meaning goes beyond the literal meaning of its individual words.
Idioms have been passed down orally or quoted in literature and other printed text.
Idioms often use figurative language, meaning that what is stated is not literally taking place. It is important to help students understand the difference between literal meanings of the words and their implied or figurative meanings.
Have you ever heard someone say that something is the “last straw.”?
This idiom refers to the final incident in a string of difficult things that have happened, and the final incident is what causes a person to break down or give up.
This idiom comes from the proverb “It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.” According to legend, a man put many pieces of straw onto a camel’s back until the “last straw” proved to be too much; the weight of the straws broke the camel’s back.
We know Bjorn has been sad about having to leave his family to go to Iceland. For example, when Bjorn makes his sword, his sweat streams down his face along with his tears. Bjorn’s grandfather making him a sheath for the sword is the last difficult thing that Bjorn thinks he can take; this act of kindness shows that his family loves him, and he does not want to leave his home.
Have you ever had an experience where the phrase “last straw” applies. Have you ever been through a series of difficult events where you finally lost your temper or started to cry
Listen for times where this phrase is appropriate as we continue listening to the story.

16. Extensions: Writing Prompt: Out at Sea
Imagine that you are on a knarr, or cargo ship, traveling to a faraway land just like Bjorn. You are surrounded by items from your homeland of Scandinavia, hoping to trade with others. There are many other Norse people aboard the knarr.
Write a half to a full page describing what it would be like on the knarr.
Consider the following:
What items might surround you on the ship to export?
What items are you hoping to bring back with you to import? Why?
Is there a Norse god you would have asked to help you in some way on this voyage?
How do you feel about being out at sea?
What do you see from the cargo ship?
Use descriptive language in their writing, and if possible, domain-related vocabulary.
You should also draw an illustration to accompany your paragraph.
Be prepared to share your writing with a partner or with the class.

17. Glossary exclaimed: verb, cried out; yelled
indistinguishable: adjective, impossible to understand, perceive, or tell apart
lap: verb, to splash
mast: noun, an upright pole in a ship that supports a sail
sheath: noun, a covering for a sword or dagger

18. Attribution
This work is based on an original work of the Core Knowledge® Foundation made available through licensing under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. This does not in any way imply that the Core Knowledge Foundation endorses this work.