Learning about the Vikings? Us, too! To celebrate the completion of the unit, we threw a Viking celebration feast! Check out the details below to see how we brought history to life!
History is my favorite subject to teach the kids. Not only do we get pulled into the stories, it also brings up incredible conversation topics and gives us many chances to connect fun experiences to learning. This year we are learning about early American history through Beautiful Feet, a literary based curriculum.
See all our current curriculum picks for first and third grade here.
We adore this curriculum, and have used it before for world geography. Literary-based means it uses books to teach history, breaking each one into digestible chunks and offering thoughtful questions and discussion points along the way.
The curriculum is engaging, well thought out, and includes the best extras that bring learning to life. My favorite example of this in our current curriculum is The Historic Table feature in each unit that features foods authentic to the time period and/or people we are learning about.
We just finished our unit on the Vikings, which was taught using the book Leif the Lucky. We all really enjoyed the story of Erik the Red and his son Leif, and all their adventures, including being the first Europeans to set up a settlement in North America. What, not Christopher Columbus?!- the girls’ minds were blown.
In celebration of our conclusion of the study, we had a Viking feast! There isn’t much more we enjoy that connecting a celebration with education. Our Harry Potter book party is still one we talk about weekly. Food and fun just makes things stick in the brain.
We donned our Viking helmets and gathered our goodies. For our feast we had the following Norwegian foods that were listed in the Historic Table section of the teacher’s guide:
- smoked salmon
- rye bread
- cream cheese
- capers
- jam (we couldn’t find lingonberry, so substituted strawberry)
- Swiss cheese
- fresh dill
- lemon
- honeycomb
I was so proud of the girls for trying all the foods! None of us were wild about the salmon (we wouldn’t have lasted long as a Viking for that, among other reasons), but the capers were a surprise hit! The Swiss cheese was loved by all, but the girls said they’d stick to sourdough over rye.
The real star of the show was the cake. The recipe was listed in the Historic Table section of the Beautiful Feet teacher’s guide and was a bit more intimidating than I initially guessed. However, the girls dove in and had a ball learning new techniques.
From separating eggs to whipping egg whites for meringue to making homemade whipped cream, they did it all. And the result was worth it. Apparently the name of the cake translates to Best Ever and it really was. We devoured it.
We listened to Norwegian language being spoken (thank you, internet), reread our favorite parts of Leif the Lucky, finished coloring the pictures in our history journal, and enjoyed laughing at each other’s expressions as we sampled the foods.
Next week we will begin our unit on the Indigenous people and the girls are already chomping at the bit. If only every subject could be this much fun!
What was your favorite subject in school?
I’ve always loved history (I’m a sucker for a good documentary on the subject, too) and appreciate the teachers I had that were passionate about it as well and really made it come to life (ie: Mrs. Battle! Yes, my AP History teacher’s name was really Mrs. Battle. How amazing is that?)
Liz says
This is so great! We will have to check out that book. I’m wondering if/how you touch on the negative parts of history (like vikings plundering villages etc).
Brittany Dixon says
Yes, we did touch on how many (but not all) of the Vikings were fierce and could be violent. Erik the Red was exiled from two different countries because of violence, which is how he ended up in Greenland, so those instances lent themselves to touching on the negative parts.
Dale says
We did this study last year (Actually we spend a year and a half on it) and loved it! I was bummed to see they had added a bunch of stuff to it since I bought it, now it seems even better!! (And more diverse which is great!) Quick question – where did you get your pretty fall leaves tablecloth? I love it!
Sarah says
I agree–we are doing the same curriculum this year, but I bought a used version and I am missing some of these fun extras! I have purchased some of the books that weren’t in the old curriculum and figured out which ones we could get at the library too, and I’m fine making my own questions up (I really appreciate that they increased the diversity!!), but I didn’t notice the historic table in the list. Is that a stand alone book or part of the new teacher’s guide? I want to add these fun ideas in!
We are done with Leif the Lucky, Columbus, (we also read Encounter), Pocahontas, and are now reading the Jamestown book! It’s SUCH a fun way to explore history. We do a bit every day at lunch! Always enjoy your blogs.
Brittany Dixon says
Hi Sarah I hope y’all are doing well!! The historic table is part of the teacher’s guide. It’s an add in for each unit. We did their Around the World curriculum (loved it!) and they had the culinary angle included in that as well.
Brittany Dixon says
Thanks, Dale! My table cloth is from Sur La Table about two years ago.
Alison says
When I was in 8th grade a friend made up a rap about Leif Erikson to the tune of “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” We both still have it memorized!! I would have enjoyed history much more as a kid if it had been presented this way – now I love learning about it – and teaching it to my kiddos.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh my goodness I need to hear that rap!! Amazing- haha!
Rebecca says
History was my favorite subject in school. My family does historical reenacting (French and Indian War).
Have you read the American Girl books? Hailey is at a great age for that. You could choose a character, read her stories, then do research about the time and make a historical meal (they had cookbooks, but I don’t know if they are still available.)
Brittany Dixon says
I love that your family does reenacting! So neat!
I have not read the American Girl books but have a friend that does 6 week long American Girl history units with her girls and they have such fun with it!
Rebecca Simenson says
We are doing the Early American History this school year! I’m curious, the site says 2-3 lesson a week. Did you follow that? I’m trying to figure out how long it would take us to complete. But I have a feeling the lessons can be really involved, in a good way =)
Brittany Dixon says
We took the slow route and got about halfway through. We are continuing with the second half this year. We love it so much we often take a topic and look more into it, so we would typically do 1-2 lessons a week, but weren’t always consistent. You will love it!