Get Free Access for 10 Days!
Lesson Plan

The Sun Compass of the Vikings

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This The Sun Compass of the Vikings lesson plan also includes:

Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars then build their own sundial using a gnomon. 

70 Views 50 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable
Concepts
the earth, navigation, countries, astronomy, world geography, the sun, the equator, latitude and longitude, the prime meridian, the vikings, the four seasons, sundials, cardinal directions
Show More Show Less
Additional Tags
science
Show More Show Less
Instructional Ideas
  • Discuss why a magnetic compass wouldn't have helped the Vikings
Classroom Considerations
  • Assumes prior knowledge of how to use latitude and longitude to define a position
  • Activity must be completed outside on a clear day, and it lasts all day long
Pros
  • Contains answers to all written questions as well as the discussion questions
  • Includes cross-curricular connections to history, geography, culture, science, and math
Cons
  • None