Village settlers
QCA Unit 9

Activities for home - How did the vikings navigate?

The Vikings did not have modern technology to help them navigate. They must have used their knowledge of the sun and stars.

Read the facts below:

• The Pole Star is always to the north.
• The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Now try this...

1. Mark N, S, E and W on this diagram.

2. Use the information above and the map below to help you decide in which direction you would sail to reach Greenland.

   Day 1.
   You are at Hernar, Norway. Your instructions say:
   From Hernar sail due west to reach Greenland.
   
   Do you:
   a) follow the coast?
   b) follow the sun to where it sets?
   c) wait for night and head towards the Pole Star?
   
   Day 4.
   You have been blown too far north. Your instructions say:
   Pass north of the Shetland Islands so that you can just see them in clear weather.
   
   You decide to head south until you can just see the islands. Do you:
   a) sail away from the Pole Star?
   b) lower the sail and row into the wind?
   c) follow the sun to where it sets?
   
   Day 6.
   You can see whales. Your instructions say:
   When you are south of Iceland you will see birds and whales from the ship.
   
   Do you:
   a) follow the sun to where it sets?
   b) head north to land?
   c) sail towards where the sun rises?