How the Vikings Navigated With the Sun

Abstract

The students are introduced to navigation in general, and, in particular, the skills the medieval people of the Vikings used to navigate on the open sea. The topics of navigation and the Vikings are introduced by questions and a short story. A hands-on activity illustrates to the students how the navigational tool of the shadow board might have helped the Vikings to determine the cardinal directions and to sail along latitude. A miniature version of a shadow board simulates how the shadow cast by the Sun was probably used for this. Finally, a simple math activity for more experience students demonstrates the geometry that is involved in that technique.