Vikings

AREA SETUP

(Open thematic poster-Vikings) Print, laminate, and display all kinds of posters. Collect different pictures and illustrations of Vikings, Viking ships, shields, etc. Present them to your group to introduce your theme. Dress up as a Viking to greet children as they arrive in the morning.

Educa-theme-Vikings
(Open educa-theme-Vikings) Print and laminate the items that represent the theme. Use them to present your theme to your group (and parents) while decorating a corner of your daycare.

Educa-decorate-Vikings
(Open educa-decorate-Vikings) Print, laminate, and cut out the various items. Use them to decorate your daycare and set the mood for the theme.

Garland-Vikings
(Open models-Vikings) Print and let children decorate the garland. Cut it out and hang it within your daycare or near your daycare entrance.

SPECIAL TOOL

This special tool was created in response to a special request received. (Open group identification-Vikings) Print and laminate. Use the items to identify children's belongings, cubbyholes, etc.

CIRCLE TIME

Poni discovers and presents-Vikings
(Open Poni discovers and presents-Vikings) Print, laminate, and cut out the cards. Use a Poni puppet or any other puppet children are familiar with to present the pictures to your group.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with your group. Use them to decorate your daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Vikings) Print, laminate, and store the pictures in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bin.

Memory game
(Open picture game-Vikings) Print each picture twice and use them for a memory game.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

(Open activity sheets-Vikings) Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions.

Educa-nuudles-Vikings

(Open educa-nuudles-Vikings) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don't have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles

WRITING ACTIVITIES

(Open writing activities-V like Viking) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Stationery-Vikings
(Open stationery-Vikings) Print. You may use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards

Use the cards to spark a conversation with your group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Vikings) (Open giant word flashcards-Vikings) Print. Viking, Viking ship, voyage, shield, Viking helmet, fur, beard, oar, explorer, map, sail, sea

Let's chat
(Open word flashcards-Vikings) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Encourage each child to pick one and present the item (example: beard) to the group. Invite children to share what they know about each item with their friends. Ask children questions.

Associating words and pictures
(Open giant word flashcards-Vikings) Print, laminate, and display the word flashcards on a wall, in your circle time area or on a large piece of cardboard that can be moved around. Name a word and invite children to identify the corresponding word flashcard.

Felt board game-Vikings
(Open felt board game-Vikings) Print. Glue four pieces of felt on a large piece of cardboard to create your felt board and hang it on a wall. Have children help you trace the pieces of the felt board game on different colors of felt. They will be surprised to see how well they stick to your felt board.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Viking path
(Open transition games-Vikings) Print, laminate, and secure the illustrations on the floor to create a path which leads to areas frequently visited by children such as the bathroom or cloakroom. If you prefer, the illustrations may also be used to delimit your various workshops.

This is my spot-Vikings
(Open transition games-Vikings) Print two copies. Laminate and cut out the cards. Glue one copy of each card on the table using adhesive paper. Drop the other copies in a bag. Children take turns picking a card to determine their spot at the table for the day. You may also use the cards to determine naptime spots or for your task train.

ACTIVITIES INVOLVING PARENTS

Invite parents to read a story about Vikings to their child. You can let children choose among the Viking books available in your reading corner. The next day, encourage children to share details about the story they read with the group.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Viking ship race
Fill a kiddie pool with water. Give each child a drinking straw and a plastic boat. Organize races where children propel their boat by blowing through their straw in or above the water.

Viking obstacle course
Begin by creating a maze in your daycare. Add several obstacles such as a rope hung between two chairs. Children can crawl under the rope or jump over it. Set a bucket filled with water on a chair. Children can crawl under the chair, doing their best not to spill the bucket. Use whatever you have on hand. Organize your obstacle course so that children have to move about in a variety of different ways (crawl, hop, walk on a rope, spin around, etc.).

Who will conquer the Viking?
Use colourful adhesive tape to draw a large square on the floor. Have two children stand inside the square and give each one a sword (foam swimming pool noodle). Let them battle it out by hitting each other's swords. Be sure to clearly explain the rules prior to this activity. Close supervision is required.

Viking hunt
(Open miniature Vikings) Print and laminate. Hide Vikings throughout your daycare and invite children to search for them. The child who finds the most Vikings can hide them for the next round.

The red Vikings against the blue Vikings
Divide your group into two teams: the red Vikings and the blue Vikings. Have the red Vikings stand facing the wall, at one end of the daycare. The blue Vikings must slowly advance towards the red Vikings until you shout, "Watch out for the blue Vikings!" As soon as the red Vikings hear your warning, they must run away and try to avoid being captured by the blue Vikings.

The Viking says...
Just like in "Simon says...", give children instructions. They must execute them only if you say, "The Viking says..." first. Otherwise, they must remain perfectly still.

Viking hide-and-seek
Provide different types of boxes in a variety of sizes. Designate a child who will play the role of the Viking. The other children must hide among the boxes. The first child who is found by the Viking becomes the Viking for the next round.

Viking race
(Open picture game-Vikings) Print and set the pictures on the floor throughout your daycare. If there are nine children in your group, use eight illustrations. To the sound of music, children walk around the daycare. As soon as the music stops, they must race to sit on one of the pictures. The child who does not have a picture to sit on must remove one picture for the following round. He/she can help you control the music. Continue the game until there is only one Viking left.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

(Open educ-puzzles-Vikings) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Leave the pieces out for children to manipulate. Encourage them to place the pieces in the correct places on the Viking ship.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Dress-up dolls-Vikings
(Open dress-up dolls-Vikings) Print and laminate. Set the pieces on a table. Children will enjoy dressing the doll different ways.

Mandalas-Vikings
(Open mandalas-Vikings) Print for each child. Invite children to color the mandalas to help them relax when necessary.

Unique Vikings
Provide a variety of materials: modeling dough, salt dough, feathers, buttons, pipe cleaners, glitter, cardboard and construction paper scraps, aluminum paper, etc. Let each child use the materials as they see fit to create a unique Viking.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Viking ship
Prepare sandwiches and cut them to give them a rectangular shape. Add a veggie platter. Encourage children to use the sandwiches and vegetables to create a Viking ship. (Open Viking ship sail) Print and cut out the sail. Use a drinking straw to represent the ship's mast and slide it through the sail. Children will love eating their Viking ship.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Puppets-Vikings
(Open puppets-Vikings) Print the puppet models on heavy cardboard. Invite children to cut them out and decorate them with various materials. Attach a Popsicle stick to the back of each model to create a puppet.

Models-Vikings
(Open models-Vikings) Print the various models and use them for your activities and projects throughout the theme.

Articulated Viking
(Open articulated Viking) Print for each child. Have children cut out and color the various parts. When they are done, have them assemble the parts using fasteners.

Sword
(Open sword) Print the sword model on heavy cardboard and cut it out. Let children paint and decorate their sword as they wish.

Viking helmet
(Open Viking helmet) Print the model, trace it on heavy cardboard, and cut it out. Wrap the helmet shape with aluminum paper and encourage children to decorate it with glittery items. Glue the horns on either side of the helmet and then glue everything on a strip of paper long enough to be wrapped around a child's head. Staple the strip of paper to complete the helmet.

Large cardboard shield
For each child, trace a large circle on a piece of cardboard. Let children decorate their shield as they wish.

Simple shield
Give each child a paper plate and ask them to wrap it with aluminum paper. Help them cut two strips of construction paper and staple them behind their plate to create handles. Let children decorate their shield. They can use markers to draw on the aluminum paper.

Mask-Vikings
(Open masks-Vikings) Print and trace the models on heavy cardboard. Let children select the mask they prefer.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme-Vikings) Print for each child.

SONGS & RHYMES

(Open songs & rhymes-Vikings)

By: Patricia Morrison Sung to: The ants go marching

My Viking ship

Come aboard my Viking ship, explore, explore
Come aboard my Viking ship, explore, explore
Come aboard my Viking ship
Remember your shield, your horned helmet
And we'll sail off to explore, explore
Out to sea, we'll sail off, you and me
(Wave sounds)

Have fun
The Educatall team