Viking Trade Route Lesson Plan

1	Explain that the Vikings usually went exploring to trade for things they needed or wanted.
2	Discuss how the Vikings "bartered" for these things. By using an example, the teacher will demonstrate the practice of bartering.
3	Ask how the Vikings traveled and include how items gained were brought back to Scandinavia.
4	Give students a combined map of Europe and North America.
5	Draw a trading route. Show route along the coast of Europe and the farthest route over Europe.
6	Using a colored pencil of their choice, the children will duplicate this route as best they can
7	Label the countries of Iceland and Greenland (Vinland).
8	Draw the route of Leif Ericson.
9	The children will duplicate the route using a colored pencil of their choice.
10	Teacher will lead a discussion of bartering. The teacher will have a friend (peer teacher) come into the classroom at the prearranged time and ask to exchange a magic marker for something else the teacher (you) has. When this transaction has been completed, the teacher can now ask the students what has occurred. The students should see that bartering just occurred.
11	Explain to the students that tomorrow each one may bring in one item he or she would like to barter for something else someone else brings in. Explain when the bartering market will occur and the ground rules. The students may trade their one thing for something else. If they are happy with their trade, they will stop bartering. Once they have decided to stop they may not re-enter the bartering. This does not keep someone else who isn’t happy with their trade from coming to them, however. At the end of approximately 20 minutes, the bartering session will end.
12	A discussion will then occur concerning the benefits of this procedure, what you had to do to interest someone in your item, whether everything each person said about their item was true, and if you were happy with your trade.