The Vikings

vikings

We continued our journey through our history timeline with Vikings!

We have studied Vikings before when we were learning about Explorers but that was a while ago so the boys did not really remember it.

I had them read some of the same books we used the last time.

Voyage with the Vikings (AIO Imagination Station Books)
is a great introduction to Leif Eriksson and it touches on them going to America.

Viking Ships At Sunrise (Magic Tree House, No. 15)
is a great easy read from the Magic Tree House Series, my boys always enjoy reading those.

Stories in Time: Library Book Grade 5 Discovery of the Americas (Discovery of the Americans)
does a great job giving an overview of the known history of the Americas and does touch on Vikings. It does however start with evolution, just a heads up.

“Eric the Red” is a great detail book with so many neat things that made up there everyday life (at least that we know about).

The Vinland Map is a controversial piece of history and you know how much I enjoy teaching controversial history.

There is an interesting documentary about one side of the debate on Netflix right now called “Secrets: A Viking Map?”

The boys and I really liked it, even though I thought the program jumped to a few conclusions…

vikingship2

We used something new when we started our study on Vikings, Draw and Write Through History: The Vikings, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.

The boys really enjoyed learning how to draw a Viking ship!

write

vikingship

copywork

They also did some cursive copy work about Vikings from the same book.

drawandwrite

We did two crafts from the “Crafts from the Past: The Vikings” book.

I can only find used copies online for sale, it must not still be in print.

flat

This one is a Runestone.

I thought it would really fun to do since we have a Viking Runestone in Oklahoma that we have visited.

lines

The book actually said to use Styrofoam and have them carve out the runes but I did not have any so we used clay.

working2

I had them carve out runes with toothpicks.

working

runes

I really like how they turned out!

runestone

My youngest boy smashed his a bit when he decided to do both sides…

runestone2

drawing

They also made a Viking Sun Compass from the same book.

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suncompass

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If you want to really get an idea about how much we do not know about the Vikings, look up Viking Sunstone.

It is pretty amazing how good they were at navigating.

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If your child really likes Viking weapons (like my boys), Netflix also has “Secrets of the Viking Sword” on instant view right now.

We read stories about Asgard and Thor of course because, you know, I have two boys…

They have several options of tales about Asgard for free download on Amazon.

Sometimes it just hurts.

We were asked to make an impossible decision yesterday.

Just know that if you want to do foster care that you will feel heartbreak that you did not know you could physically handle.

Over and over.

If you really do what is best for these kids and love them like your own, you will get hurt.

My hope and prayer at the end of the day is the decisions we make bring more good than bad.

grass

Is it still worth it?

Yes.

Sometimes I have to remind myself of that though.

Happenings

Nick had been so busy working on projects around the house for me!

We are moving the boys to the room where we keep all of the legos and it needed a few modifications to make it work.

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He put in an exterior steel door in place of the screen one.

door

buildingbunks

He also added a top bunk to the existing bed/couch out there!

I am so blessed to have a husband that can ask what I want and build it!

We will hopefully get the boys moved in this week!

So my 1150sq ft house has 4 bedrooms now, which I think is pretty awesome.

snake

We had a little visitor to the garden.

Since he is not venomous, I told him he could stay.

garden

The crazy amount of rain we got made my peas go crazy!

This is my first year trying them and they took over!

peas

The boys were pretty excited about eating so many sugar snaps and snow peas.

peas2

We have had so many they are not even getting eaten!

reach

morning

Morning Glories are still trying to take over everything.

When the summer heat tries to kill everything I am always thankful these guys are around so it looks like I can keep something alive.

box

I decided to plant some of the ones that popped up in my garden in my window box.

That way when I forget to water them I did not waist my money…

Anyone else forget to water their window boxes?

I am the worst about it when it rains!

Because I should not have to water things after it rained.

I will rig a self watering system one of these days.