Viking Visitor
6th May 1998
I learnt about Vikings this morning, when a Visitor dressed as a Viking visited our school.
He first of all told us how a Viking built a house. First they made the framework out of wood. Then they weaved twigs and branches through the framework. After that they put Daub on the twigs and branches. The daub is made from mud and straw, and is used to weatherproof the house and keep out the draughts. The roof was made of straw.The houses had mud floors so when they had some rubbish they just buried it in the mud.
Next we learnt about Viking raiders. Raiders sailed their ships to other countries and attacked them. They stole gold, silver and other valuables. Next we learnt about craftsmen. Craftsmen used to make necklaces, bracelets and other things. Sometimes they made the decoration on the necklace out of bone.
Then we were taught about farmers. The man of the house was the farmer and he used to grow the crops and his wife used to cook it. The farmer's wife used to kill their animals for food and use their skins as blankets and clothes.
We then learnt about families. A mother and father had about ten children because a lot of them would die.
Next we learnt about boats. We learnt that they used oars and sails to move. The boat had one deck and it was shallow so it could go right up onto the beaches.The Vikings preferred boats because the roads where they lived were very poor.
Then we learnt about money. the Viking's didn't know how much money was worth so they weighed it. If you wanted change they would chop the coin in half and give you half back. They sometimes used silver as money.
Abigail Hughes. Class 12. Year 4
Here are some Vikings sites on the Internet which might interest you.
The World of the Vikings - The
definitive Viking page on the Internet.
Meet the Websmith - Thorfinn Gunnarsen
