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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. 

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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
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Additional Tags
science
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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