ONLINE RESOURCES
Readability: * = easy to read ** = age appropriate reading level *** = a challenging read
1. Website BBC Primary History Vikings (BBC, 2013b)
Readability *
This is a great website with 10 topics students can choose from. Under each topic students can find photos and video. It is clearly set out for student navigation. It is aimed at upper primary as the information is basic yet reliable. It includes a quiz and activity for each section. A fun part is the archaeological dig game that students can do.
2. Website BBC History Vikings (BBC, 2013c)
Readability **
This website is targeted at adults rather than students but it is still written in a fashion that is easy to read. There are four sections you can go to. Each section gives a biography of the author and their qualifications. Each are at the top of their field. The second section of the website, Raiders and Settlers, has a flash game that students would enjoy playing. You must make decisions about sailing a Longship to an English monastery and the choice along the way affect your outcome. Lots of primary sources mentioned so students can gather evidence to support their own historical theory.
3. Website Nova online The Vikings (Nova Online, 2000)
Readability ***
This website is a companion for a PBS documentary on the Vikings. It agrees with The Hammer and the Cross by Ferguson in that it agrees that the Vikings were less barbaric than they have traditionally been portrayed. Under the section 'Who were the Vikings' it challenges what we have thought of the Vikings. It also asks the question as to whether the Vinland Maps were genuine and there is an interactive site to let you decide. The best part of this site for students is the 'write your name in runes' where students type in their names and they get their rune name. They love that!
4. Youtube Clips The Vikings
Part 1 Vikings: Who were the Vikings? (BBC, 2013d)
Part 2 Vikings: The trading empire. (BBC, 2013e)
Part 3 Vikings: End of the Viking age. (BBC, 2013f)
Readability **
A three part series presented by Neil Oliver. The most comprehensive and up-to-date series you can get. It has great production values. Very good at getting kids attention. It focuses on the contemporary theory that Vikings weren't complete savages. It is very international in its perspective, looking at many of the Russian settlements. It could help students if they are trying to disprove the traditional view of Vikings.
5. Youtube clip Discovery Channel Ancient Warriors: The Vikings (Discovery Channel, 2013)
Readability **
Discovery channel produced a series called Ancient Warriors. This Viking edition targets several key Vikings and shows them as blood-thirsy killers. Could contrast this video with the one above to provide critical thinking on who the Vikings really were.
6. Youtube clips Vicious Vikings (Horrible Histories, 2012)
Readability *
A variety of clips are on Youtube taken from the TV series "Horrible Histories'. Very humorous and easy to watch. It will give an insight into Viking life played out by actors. Use this first clip as a starting point, and type 'Vicious Vikings' into the search box on Youtube to get more related videos.
7. Academic PDFs available from Viking Society Web Publications (Viking Society for Northern Research, 1895-1992)
Readability ***
For more advanced readers, the Viking Society has made its publications available on the web. These PDFs are available free for private study. Look through the topics to see if any are relevant to the topic the student wants to research. Authors are listed on each PDF. They are easy to download at school, and at home as long as the student's computer has Adobe Reader.
8. Jorvik Museum, York, England (Jorvik Group, 2013)
Readability **
Jorvik Museum is a dedicated Viking museum. While it is difficult for students to visit this museum (being in England), they have a detailed website. They also have a curator's blog that students can access online. A really, really good thing to do, if your teacher can organise it, is an outreach programme. You can have an interview with a 'Viking' via Skype. That sounds fantastic! Runs all year round.
9. National Maritime Museum, Sydney (Australian National Maritime Museum, 2013)
Readability **
The National Maritime Museum Sydney has a Vikings exhibit running until December 2013. You can visit and see antiquities and set foot on a Viking Ship in Sydney Harbour. The website has information on the Vikings, a curator's blog. The same as the Jorvik Museum, your class can organise a virtual interview with a Viking.
Readability *
This is a great website with 10 topics students can choose from. Under each topic students can find photos and video. It is clearly set out for student navigation. It is aimed at upper primary as the information is basic yet reliable. It includes a quiz and activity for each section. A fun part is the archaeological dig game that students can do.
2. Website BBC History Vikings (BBC, 2013c)
Readability **
This website is targeted at adults rather than students but it is still written in a fashion that is easy to read. There are four sections you can go to. Each section gives a biography of the author and their qualifications. Each are at the top of their field. The second section of the website, Raiders and Settlers, has a flash game that students would enjoy playing. You must make decisions about sailing a Longship to an English monastery and the choice along the way affect your outcome. Lots of primary sources mentioned so students can gather evidence to support their own historical theory.
3. Website Nova online The Vikings (Nova Online, 2000)
Readability ***
This website is a companion for a PBS documentary on the Vikings. It agrees with The Hammer and the Cross by Ferguson in that it agrees that the Vikings were less barbaric than they have traditionally been portrayed. Under the section 'Who were the Vikings' it challenges what we have thought of the Vikings. It also asks the question as to whether the Vinland Maps were genuine and there is an interactive site to let you decide. The best part of this site for students is the 'write your name in runes' where students type in their names and they get their rune name. They love that!
4. Youtube Clips The Vikings
Part 1 Vikings: Who were the Vikings? (BBC, 2013d)
Part 2 Vikings: The trading empire. (BBC, 2013e)
Part 3 Vikings: End of the Viking age. (BBC, 2013f)
Readability **
A three part series presented by Neil Oliver. The most comprehensive and up-to-date series you can get. It has great production values. Very good at getting kids attention. It focuses on the contemporary theory that Vikings weren't complete savages. It is very international in its perspective, looking at many of the Russian settlements. It could help students if they are trying to disprove the traditional view of Vikings.
5. Youtube clip Discovery Channel Ancient Warriors: The Vikings (Discovery Channel, 2013)
Readability **
Discovery channel produced a series called Ancient Warriors. This Viking edition targets several key Vikings and shows them as blood-thirsy killers. Could contrast this video with the one above to provide critical thinking on who the Vikings really were.
6. Youtube clips Vicious Vikings (Horrible Histories, 2012)
Readability *
A variety of clips are on Youtube taken from the TV series "Horrible Histories'. Very humorous and easy to watch. It will give an insight into Viking life played out by actors. Use this first clip as a starting point, and type 'Vicious Vikings' into the search box on Youtube to get more related videos.
7. Academic PDFs available from Viking Society Web Publications (Viking Society for Northern Research, 1895-1992)
Readability ***
For more advanced readers, the Viking Society has made its publications available on the web. These PDFs are available free for private study. Look through the topics to see if any are relevant to the topic the student wants to research. Authors are listed on each PDF. They are easy to download at school, and at home as long as the student's computer has Adobe Reader.
8. Jorvik Museum, York, England (Jorvik Group, 2013)
Readability **
Jorvik Museum is a dedicated Viking museum. While it is difficult for students to visit this museum (being in England), they have a detailed website. They also have a curator's blog that students can access online. A really, really good thing to do, if your teacher can organise it, is an outreach programme. You can have an interview with a 'Viking' via Skype. That sounds fantastic! Runs all year round.
9. National Maritime Museum, Sydney (Australian National Maritime Museum, 2013)
Readability **
The National Maritime Museum Sydney has a Vikings exhibit running until December 2013. You can visit and see antiquities and set foot on a Viking Ship in Sydney Harbour. The website has information on the Vikings, a curator's blog. The same as the Jorvik Museum, your class can organise a virtual interview with a Viking.