Diwali Starts this Week!

        

This year, 2024, Diwali or Deepavali, begins on October 31th and lasts for 5 days.

It's a happy time of year and is the biggest holiday in the country of India.  Practiced mainly by people of the Hindu faith, many other people enjoy taking part in the festive holiday season,too. During the holiday, there will be gift giving,lighting lamps(Dipa lamps) special sweet treats including Laddus(sweet wheat balls with nuts and fruits inside) and Karanjis (flour fried dumplings with coconut and sugar), praying, getting together with family and friends and fireworks to help welcome the new year. Deepawali means "festival of lights". 

Fun Facts:

1. Diwali celebrates the end of the harvest season.

2. President Barack Obama was the first US president to participate in a Deepavali celebration in the White House, in 2009.

3. “Shubh Deepavali” means “Have an auspicious Diwali “and is a common greeting for this holiday time. 

4. Diwali marks the Hindu New Year. It is a national holiday in India.

5. Other countries which have Diwali celebrations include: Australia, Guyana, Trinidad, Nepal(called Tihar), Singapore, Japan, Thailand(called Lam Kriyongh) and the United States.

Learn more about Diwali at these links:

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Holidays/diwali/

Learn about India at these links:

FREEBIE on INDIA: http://gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?traveltoindia.html

WEBQUEST on INDIA: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/India-Country-in-Focus-Webquest-540271

Activities:

Make a Rangoli- Using colored rice flour and water, people decorate patterns on the ground outside their homes and place of worship. It's a way to honor the Hindu goddess Lakshimi and hope the goddess feels welcome in their homes. Use colored markers and create a colorful Rangoli pattern  See some pics:https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/rangoli-crafts

NAMASTE!

Check out my reading passage(with fun facts and additional activities)on Diwali.There are 10 fun Facts in the complete reading activity on the holiday of Diwali. There is also a short paragraph reading with comprehension questions.  The Teacher Page has lots of extension activities and the key: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/DiwaliDeepavaliLearn-about-Diwali-A-Reading-PassageActivity-2176182

IN THE NEWS: 2024

The five day celebration, known as Diwali, will be a bit different this year, in the capital city of India. The holiday celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, held October 29th-November 3rd this year, will not have any festive firework displays in Delhi. Fireworks and firecrackers are very popular during this holiday. Diwali or Deepavali meaning “Festival of Lights “ is a joyous time. People pray, give gifts, light lamps(Dipa lamps), eat special foods such as weet treats called laddus (sweet wheat balls with nuts and fruits) and Karanjis(flour friend dumplings with coconut and sugar). It is a time to get together with family and friends.However, this year, the government has banned fireworks due to increased pollution concerns.

Gail

Illustration from:openclipart.org

National Chocolate Day is October 28th

 

Chocolate Fun Facts

by

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Do you love chocolate? If you do, you may want to hide a few bars away for a future date. Seems that chocolate may be running out and, in the not so distant future. Researchers says that chocolate, which comes from cacao beans, may be a thing of the past in less than 40 years! The reason, the warming of our planet is making for less and less places for the bean to thrive. Additionally, the demand for chocolate is growing, especially in places such as China where people are  developing a “sweet” tooth. More and more people are also especially sweet on dark chocolate, which requires more cocoa than other types of chocolate. Still another problem is that a fungus is attacking the cacao beans as they grow on the trees. Let’s hope that we can solve the chocolate problem, so we can all continue to enjoy its yummy taste! 

Click here for the free downloadable version of this Interactive Notebook Activity:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chocolate-Fun-FactsInteractive-Notebook-Activity-3570232

Chocolate Factoids:

1. Now THIS is a chocolate bar. Weighing 12,770 pounds when made, it earned the title of world's largest! A ton is 2000 pounds. Approximately, how many tons of chocolate was this bar? _______________

2. To make one pound of chocolate, you need about 400 cocoa beans.

3. Did you know that one of the things sold in Ben Franklin’s printing shop was chocolate? Write TWO facts you know about Ben Franklin:_____________and___________

4. Do you like white chocolate? Actually, it doesn’t have any cocoa and really isn’t chocolate!

5. Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, is said to have had 50 cups of a chocolate drink every day. He drank out of a golden goblet.

6. Originally, hot cocoa was served without sugar and was a very bitter drink.

7. An amazing 23 million Hershey kisses candies are made every day.

8. Milton Hershey had tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic but cancelled due to a meeting. Do you know anything about the Titanic? _________________

9. At one time, people in Meso-America(Central America) used cacao beans as money. What might be two problems using cacao beans as money?____________ and ___________

10. “Chocolate” comes from the word, “xocolatl, a Mayan word for “bitter water”.

11. If you have a cough, you may wish to try eating chocolate to get rid of a cough. Seems to work!

12. Chocolate is very dangerous for dogs and cats!

13. For a time in 2013, the country of Belgium made a stamp which had a chocolate flavor.

14. The candy M and Ms were developed as a treat for soldiers during World War 2. The hard shell kept the chocolate from melting too quickly.

15. The chocolate chip cookie was first baked by Ruth Wakefield. The year was 1930. In exchange for a lifetime of chocolate, she gave her recipe to the Nestle’s Company.

16. Did you know that two countries in Africa produce half the world’s chocolate? Those countries are Ghana and the Cote d’Ivoire.

17. On Columbus’ fourth visit, he is credited with bringing back  to Europe the first cocoa beans(1502-1504)

Your Turn:

1. What do you think this saying means? "Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get.”( From the movie, Forrest Gump.)

2. What is your favorite chocolate treat? Write a descriptive paragraph describing your favorite chocolate treat to a Martian who has never experienced the treat.

3. Illustrate one of the chocolate factoids.

4. Using a world map, locate the countries mentioned in this information.

5. Find 7 nouns. Find 7 verbs. Find 4 pronouns.

Teacher Page:

1. Before reviewing the facts on chocolate, ask the students to share any prior knowledge they may have on chocolate.
2. Have students review the factoids on chocolate and do the Your Turn section. Put the handout away and ask the students to write 5 facts they remember from the list.

3.  Review the responses to the Your Turn section.

Check out these resources:

The first in my series, Everything Has a History, check out my History of Candy Internet activity. Why not show your students that even candy has a history with this fun/informative web quest! Learn facts including marshmallows date back to 2000 BC and King Tut's Tomb contained licorice. I also have included several additional resources and extension activities. Great for a Friday, a day before a vacation activity or just when you'd like to share with kids that...everything has a history! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Candy-History-of-Candy-Webquest-516787

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey  My TpT Store

Illustration from: wpclipart.com

Halloween is Coming: Fun Facts

   Halloween Fun Facts

Interactive Notebook Activity

by

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Click here for the free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-FREEBIEPossible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-3413769

1. Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. Fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia.(Yikes-try pronouncing both words!) Did you know that many hotels don't have a 13th floor?(Well, actually there IS a 13th floor but it isn't named 13th). Some airplanes don't have a row named 13 and many hospitals don't have a room 13. There WAS an Apollo 13, a space mission that blasted into space on April 11, 1970.(It was launched at 13:13!) On April 13(not a Friday), there was an explosion. Fortunately, the crew was able to come home safely. 

2. Black cats are thought to bring bad luck in the USA but it is a WHITE cat that is thought to bring bad luck in Great Britain. 

3. Ireland is thought to be the birthplace of Halloween.

4. The colors orange and black are associated with Halloween. In recent years, purple has also become popular at Halloween.

5. If you have samhainophobia, you have a fear of the holiday- Halloween! Do you have a  fears of something? What is it?___________________

6. Snickers are the most popular candy treat at Halloween. What is your favorite candy? Why?____________________________7. Over 35 million pounds of candy corn are made each year! (or 9 billion pieces of the candy). Some estimated that if you placed the kernels sold every year, end to end, the candy corn could circle the earth 4.25 times.

8. Seeing a spider on Halloween is considered good luck. It is believed to be the spirit of someone close coming to watch over you on Halloween. Name 3 creatures associated with Halloween:__________  _____________  _____________

9. There is a Pumpkin Bend, AR, a Tombstone, AZ, a Transylvania County, NC, and a Cape Fear, NC!

10. Turnips were used before pumpkins as Jack O’ Lanterns! Have you ever eaten a turnip? Do you like them?__________________________

11. Halloween dates back about 6,000 years!

12. Did you know there is actually a National Candy Corn Day? It’s October 30th. 

Activities:

1. Illustrate one of the Halloween Fun Facts.(Use the back of this paper or another sheet of paper)
2. Draw/color a Halloween creature such as a scarecrow or witch. Write 4 adjectives to describe your drawing. Write a paragraph describing your drawing.(Use the back of this paper or another piece of paper)
3. Find all the nouns you can find in FACT 1. Write all the action verbs you can spot in  FACTS 1 and 2.(Use the back of this paper or another sheet of paper.

4.  Create 5 three or more letter words using the letters found in the word, “ Halloween”______________  ____________  ____________           __________________   ________________

5. Use a world map and find the country of Ireland. Write 3 facts you know about the country of Ireland.___________   ___________  ________________

6.Write an acrostic poem using each of the letters in Halloween.

H__________   A_________      L____________  L__________   O__________    W____________  E__________     E___________  N____________

7. Find SIX words that have 4 or more syllables in the Halloween Fun Fact.______________  _____________  ______________  _______________  _____________  _____________   

TEACHER PAGE:

1. Review Nouns, action verbs and syllables with students before giving the activity to the students.

2. Distribute the Halloween Fun Facts and have students do several of the activities. Regroup and discuss what they have learned about Halloween with the rest of the class.

Related Resources:

1. With 12 informational web questions, this resource is just the thing to use as a learning tool about the holiday of Halloween. Bats, Owls, pumpkins, the human skeleton, the origin of Halloween, superstitions, and famous stories in literature, are covered. There are comprehension questions, lots of fun facts, extension activities(including writing in the content area), and additional links for teachers.https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-All-Things-Halloween-Webquest-1360175

2. Mummies aren't just found in ancient Egyptian culture. Mummies have been found all over the world! In fact, the oldest man-made mummies are found in the country of Chile! Mummies can be naturally created or man-made. This web quest includes the different types of mummies and has 12 web questions including information on Bog Mummies such as Tollund Man, the Inca Mummies,the Taklamakan Desert Mummies of China, Otzi, the frozen mummy, the Chinchorro Mummies of Chile, the Egyptian mummies... and more. There are comprehension questions, a Did You Know? section, a teacher section with extension activities, additional links and the key. Great for a Friday activity, at Halloween time, or if you are studying ancient Egypt.https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/MUMMIES-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-1915946

3. Candy is on Kids' minds with Halloween.Over 35 million pounds of candy corn is made each year! Show your students that even candy has a history!Learn facts including marshmallows date back to 2000 BC and King Tut's Tomb contained licorice. Several additional resources and extension activities,too. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Candy-History-of-Candy-Webquest-516787

4.This informative webquest on PUMPKIN would be great for LA classes,a fall activity, or for a substitute lesson! 

There are 10 web questions, comprehension questions and 11 extension activities/links.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pumpkins-A-Webquest-359886

5. BOOM CARDS: ALL THINGS HALLOWEEN: https://wow.boomlearning.com/deck/halloween-learn-all-things-halloween-hoTrviRD7PBPD6x6u

Boarder from: wpclipart.com

Pumpkin Time is Here!

 

Learn about Pumpkins! 

Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

Click here for free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/PUMPKIN-FACTS-1482068

1. Pumpkins are thought to have originated in Central America, specifically Mexico. Some seeds found date back to 5500 B.C.

2. Top pumpkin growers are U.S. farmers, growing more than 1.5 billion each year.

3. The word pumpkin comes from the French word for “large melon”,

pompon. The English used “pumpion” and colonists used “pumpkin”.

4. The World’s Largest Pumpkin Pie was made in New Bremen, Ohio, in 2010. 1,212 lbs of canned pumpkin, 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 525
pounds of sugar, 14.5 pounds of cinnamon, 7 pounds of salt and 2796 eggs were used. It weighed 3699 pounds.

5. Did you know that pumpkins are 90 percent water?

6. Some people used to believe that pumpkins could cure snake bites and help remove freckles!

7. In addition to orange, pumpkins can be green, yellow, tan, white,red and blue.

8. The “Pumpkin Capital of the World” and home to Libby’s Pumpkins is Morton, Illinois.

9. The fibrous strands of string and seeds are called the “brains” of the pumpkin.

10. Carving pumpkins originated in Ireland using potatoes,rutabagas and turnips. Irish immigrants to America started using pumpkins as they were easier to carve and hollow! What is ONE fact you know about the country of Ireland?_______________________

11. Part of the squash and cucumber family(cucurbita), pumpkins are actually considered fruit! Did you think the pumpkin was a fruit or vegetable?__________________________

12. Ohio, Illinois, California and Pennsylvania are the top pumpkin-growing states. Name a fact about TWO of these states._____________________________________

13. In 2013, Keene, NH, kept the record for the most lit pumpkins! 30,581.

14. 2023: A man in Minnesota has squashed the previous WORLD record for the biggest pumpkin ever grown. In 2021, a man in Italy grew a pumpkin that tipped the scale at 2703 pounds. Last week, a man in Minnesota, drove his giant pumpkin to the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, located in Half Moon Bay, CA. His pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 2749 pounds! Travis Gienger, a horticultural teacher, called his pumpkin, which he grew in his backyard, Michael Jordan! Gienger said it cost about $15,000 to care and feed his pumpkin.  Gienger, in 2024,again had the largest pumpkin for the Weigh-offs, but didn't break his previous record.

15. A pumpkin grown in the country of (2021) Italy tipped the scale at a whopping 2702. Previously, the record was 2623.5 pounds and was grown in the country of Belgium! This record still holds in the fall of 2022.What is ONE fact you know about the country of Belgium? Italy? If you don't know any, look one up to share._____________________

Pumpkin growers say that a 3000 pound pumpkin is possible in the near future!  It wasn't that many years ago that a 1000 pound pumpkin, now a light weight, would have been news worthy. The problem with growing such jumbos is that gravity often causes them to get smushed and then they can't qualify for judging.

A. Do YOU carve a pumpkin during this time of year?  If, so, what type of face do you create?
B. Do you prefer carving or painting a pumpkin?
C. What is your favorite type of pie?

Activities:
1. Illustrate a picture of one of the facts learned.
2. Write a poem about a pumpkin.Pretend you are a pumpkin and write about your day in the pumpkin patch, on a porch or waiting to be purchased at a farmer’s stand.
3.Discuss syllables. Find 7 words that have 4 or more syllables.
4. Can you spot 7 ACTION VERBS in the Pumpkin Facts?
5. Write an acrostic poem using each letter in the word, PUMPKINS.

* Try my webquest on Pumpkins: 10 web questions with several comprehension questions(lots of extension activities).
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pumpkin-Fun-Fun-and-Informative-Webquest-359886 

Photograph from http://firstwefeast.com

Illustration from wpclipart.com

Election Day is Coming! Learn about Election Process and some Interesting Presidential Election Trivia(2024)

  

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

By

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Click here to download this freebie:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidential-Election-FREEBIE-2024-5969770?st=6b9048a51249a6716fb84be4f1c7d9df

Every four years, American citizens vote in an election for the next President of the United States. The next Presidential Election is in 2024. Each state has a number of “electoral votes”, depending on the state’s representatives to Congress (based on population of the state) and each state’s two senators. Additionally, the District of Columbia has 3 electors. That means there are a total of 538 electors. The presidential election is actually a state by state election. A citizen casts his/her vote and the candidate that wins for each state gets either ALL or most of that state’s electoral votes. To win, you need at least 270 electoral votes. The Electoral College(not really a building) votes in December where the electors cast their votes for president. Although the electors USUALLY vote the way of their state election, there have been a couple of times when an elector does not.

If a candidate wins by large majorities in some states, he/she may have more popular votes but may not win the 270 electoral votes to be declared the next president. It has happened FIVE times, most recently in the 2016 election, where a candidate (Hillary Clinton)with the most popular votes (majority of voters picked that candidate) lost the election due to electoral votes.

DID YOU KNOW?
1. Did you know that George Washington was elected UNANIMOUSLY? It was

the only time this has ever happened in a Presidential election!

2. In the election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson(1800),there was actually a TIE for electoral votes and the House of Representatives determined the winner of the election.

3. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected FOUR times and was the only president

to have served for so many terms of office. Fearing a monarchy, the Constitution was changed(1951) limiting a presidential term to two terms(8 years).This was the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

4. It would take a while to determine the winner of the 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore. The state of Florida originally went for Gore giving Gore the WIN in the Electoral votes BUT then there was a recount of Florida ballots. The Supreme Court stepped in and said the election went to George Bush.

5. In 2016, Hillary Clinton had over 3 million more votes (48.2 percent to 46.1 percent)than Donald Trump. However, Trump had more electoral votes(306 to 232) and was thus, the winner of the presidential election.

6. Grover Cleveland was the only president to serve two non-consecutive (not in a row) terms Elected in 1884, he lost his re-election bid in 1888. He ran again in 1892 and won his second term.

7. Did you know that only 13 presidents have been elected to serve two terms (and serve out their complete term)?

8. Did you know that astronauts at the International Space Station CAN and DO vote in the elections using secure email from space?

9 .At one time the person with the most votes became the president and the person with the second highest amount of votes became Vice President. Can you think of how this might cause problems? After 1804, this rule changed.

10 . Name calling by candidates is nothing new. Stephen A. Douglas called Abraham Lincoln, “two-faced”. Lincoln replied, “If I had another face, do you think I would wear this one?”

11. The first woman to run for president was Victoria Woodhull (1872), before women could even vote(1920). Her Vice Presidential running mate was abolitionist and orator, Frederick Douglass.

12. The only person to be Vice President AND President and never have been elected by the people was Gerald Ford!

13. Most electoral votes are given in total to the winner of the state voting. However, the states of Nebraska and Maine split up the electoral votes among the candidates. THAT is why your vote matters. In New York, there are 29 electoral votes. Even if the winner of the state wins by a few votes, ALL 29 electoral votes go to the winner.

14. The electoral voting for President, by the Electoral College, takes place in the month of December, the first Monday after the second Wednesday!

15. Women got the right to vote in 1920. Native Americans didn’t get the right to vote until 1924(and some states prevented Native Americans from voting until the 1940s.)

16. In the 2016 presidential election, 54.87 % of voters came out to cast a ballot! (129,085,410 of the 235,248,000 eligible voters)

17. In 2020, former president Donald Trump did NOT recognize the election results

and did not CONCEDE (acknowledged he lost) to President Joe Biden. This is the first time that this has ever happened.

18. In 2024, the Republican candidates are Donald Trump and JD Vance. The Democratic candidates are Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

 

Your Turn:

1. What are three character traits that a president should have?

2. What is an issue that you would like to see the next president work to accomplish?

3. What do you think of the Electoral College vs. the popular vote to elect a president?

4.There are some people calling for Election Day to be a national holiday, so people don’t have to worry about missing work to vote. What do you think of this idea?

5. Do you think a president should be a role model for young people? Explain your answer.

Teacher Page:

1. How the electoral College Works: https://ourwhitehouse.org/getting-the-votes- and-getting-elected-the-popular-vote-vs-the-electoral-college/

2. Check out some presidential campaign slogans: https://www.thoughtco.com/top- presidential-campaign-slogans-104625 Have students illustrate one of the slogans. Both the candidates for the 2020 have used several slogans. One used by Donald Trump has been  Make America Great Again. Kamala Harris has used We are Not Going Back and When We Fight, We Win.

3. https://www.usa.gov/election Posters on the process of electing a President of the USA

4. Have students review a map of which states have the most electoral votes and which have the least. https://electoralvotemap.com

Links for Teachers:

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-presidenttrivia/ https://www.factretriever.com/us-presidential-elections-facts https://www.ducksters.com/history/us_government_voting.php

 Check out these resources during Election Time:

   1. The Election Process: A Webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ELECTION- Process-How-do-we-Elect-a-President-A-Webquest-Distance- Learning-2695264

2.  Inauguration Day, A Webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Inauguration-Day- A-Webquest-2870347

3. Presidential Trivia, A Webquest:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-A-Presidential-Webquest-338700?st=ddc83951b1709e8a28272bb5aad1c595

4. The White House: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ White-House-Learn-about-the-White-HouseA-webquest-359868

5. First Ladies, A Webquest:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Ladies-of-the-United-States-Webquest-604151?st=ddc83951b1709e8a28272bb5aad1c595

6. Presidential Challenge. Test Your Knowledge: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidential-Facts-To-Challenge-Your-Students-2586425

Are you Ready for Leif Erikksson Day? October 9th

  

October 9, 2023, is Leif Eriksson Day. Eriksson, a Viking (Norse) and son of Erik the Red, was born around 970 AD, in Iceland. It is believed that Eriksson (also spelled Ericson, Erikson) sailed to North America (area of Canada) around the year 1000 and named the area Vinland. Although some say the name was for the wild grapes found growing in the area, others say the name means “land of meadows”.He eventually left and returned to Greenland and never sailed back to North America again. Erikson is recognized by many as being the first European to reach North America, almost 400 years before Columbus arrived in 1492. 

In Newfoundland, Canada, a camp discovered in the 1960s, supported the fact that Vikings reached the area around the 11th century. The archaeological site is called L’Anse aux Meadows. Learn more here: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/meadows

The first U.S. president to sign a proclamation declaring Leif Erikson Day (October 9th) was Franklin D. Roosevelt. The year was 1935. Since President Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964, Leif Eriksson Day, has been given yearly recognition by U.S. presidents. The day is an opportunity to share the contributions of Americans of Nordic heritage.

NOTE:

Bjarni Herjulfsson, an Icelandic seatrader, is also believed to have spotted the continent of North America about 14 years earlier than Leif Ericsson. He sailed on and didn’t explore the area of land so that’s why the day isn’t called Bjarni Jerjulfsson Day!

To date, Canada has yet to recognize Leif Erikson Day.

Click here for free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Viking-FUN-FACTS-Leif-Eriksson-Day-is-October-9th-4110818

Leif Erikkson Day is October 9th. 

What do YOU know about the Vikings?

Did You Know? 

1. Those horned helmets, you often see with Vikings did not really exist. There weren’t any horns on their helmets. 

2. In addition to a statue to Leif Ericksson in the countries of Norway and Iceland, there are statues of Leif Ericsson in several cities in the United States: Minnesota, Boston, Cleveland and Seattle. 

3. Vikings had “fire-starters”. They mixed urine(sodium nitrate is found in urine) with a fungus called touchwood which was found on tree bark. The felt-like cloth would smolder for days so Vikings could take their “firestarter” with them! 

4. Some Vikings invaded other groups of people, frightening them by wearing wolf and bear skins. The word berserk comes from Berserkers, these particular Vikings. 

5. The first President to give Leif Eriksson credit for being the first European to discover America was Calvin Coolidge. He gave a speech where he made the statement. 

6. Leif Eriksson was honored with a U.S. Postage Stamp, in 1968. 

7. The word “law” comes from the Norse language. It is estimated that 20% of words in English come from the Norse language.

8. In a time when most people didn’t bath on a regular basis, the Vikings had razors, tweezers and archeologists have even found ear cleaners left behind from Norsemen. 

9. Vikings named three of the days of the week, still used today. Vikings worshipped  many gods. On Wednesday, they honored ,Odin, god of war(chief god). This became Wodensday(Wednesday). Thursday honored, Thor, god of thunder, and was called Thorsday(Thursday). Friday, was the day to honor their female goddess, Freya, goddess of love. Freyasday became Friday. 

10. Viking last names(called your surname  was based on the Patronymic naming system. This system is used today in the country of Iceland, home to the early Vikings. Leif, as Erik’s son, got the last name of Eriksson(son of Erik). A daughter of Erik, would have been named Erikdottir. (daughter of Erik).Thus, the last names in a family are different. 

ACTIVITIES:

1. The Vikings used a writing system called Runes. Try writing a message using the Old Norse writing system. https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/vikings/the-viking-alphabet and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/write-your-name-in-runes.html

2 . Icelandic sagas, (stories), told of the Vikings times. Read a story from the Vikings: https://norse-mythology.org/tales/why-odin-is-one-eyed/
How Odin lost his Eye and http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=brown&book=giants&story=house In the Giant’s House. 

3. Write a day in the life of a Viking. What did you do? See on your voyage?

4. Another possible writing activity. The Viking myths(stories) told of a giant mean wolf named Fenrir. Write a story about the wolf. Draw a picture of Fenrir. https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/giants/fenrir/

5. Have students write a paragraph  using 10 words which come from the Norse language: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/139-norse-words

6. More about the Vikings: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z939mp3/articles/zvqnnrd

7. Learn more about the Vikings! https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/visit-viking-settlement-sites-180965257/

Check out this Resource on the Vikings:

Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of plays, Leif Ericsson and his father, Eric the Red are guests on Ms. Bie Ografee's Talk Show. They share information about their lives and the Vikings. There is a Did You Know? section of fun facts, reading comprehension questions and a teacher section with lots of extension activities, links and the key.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vikings-Leif-Erikkson-and-Eric-the-RedReaders-Theater-Script-3382114

• Note: There are different spellings for Leif Ericsson’ name.

Free Illustration from wpclipart and pixabay