History
Select a Level
NEW
12 Oct 2026
Vikings Reached America Almost 500 Years Before Columbus
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) The Vikings sail on long wooden boats.
b) The Vikings find gold in a dark cave.
c) The Vikings meet a big brown bear.
Ask:
(1) Do you like boats? Why or why not?
(2) What do you know about the Vikings?
VOCABULARY
sailor (/ˈseɪlə/, noun)
Meaning: A person who works on a boat and travels on the sea.
Example: My uncle is a sailor, and he loves the sea.
boat (/bəʊt/, noun)
Meaning: A small ship that moves on water.
Example: We are sitting in a little red boat on the lake.
wood (/wʊd/, noun)
Meaning: The hard part of a tree. We use it to make things.
Example: We use wood to make tables and chairs.
tool (/tuːl/, noun)
Meaning: A thing you hold in your hand to help you do a job.
Example: Dad uses a tool to fix my bike.
ring (/rɪŋ/, noun)
Meaning: A circle shape. Trees have rings inside them.
Example: I can see lots of rings inside the old tree.
scientist (/ˈsaɪəntɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A person who studies the world to find answers.
Example: The scientist is looking at a green leaf.
village (/ˈvɪlɪdʒ/, noun)
Meaning: A very small town.
Example: My grandma lives in a quiet village.
explorer (/ɪkˈsplɔːrə/, noun)
Meaning: A person who travels to new places to find things.
Example: The explorer is walking in the jungle.
It is the year 1021. A group of Vikings is sailing across a big, cold sea. The Vikings come from the north of Europe. They are very good sailors. Their wooden boats are long and fast.
The Vikings stop in a new land. Today, we call this land Canada. The Vikings cut down trees with metal tools. They build small houses with the wood. They live in this village for a short time.
Now, scientists are studying the old Viking village. They are looking at the old wood very carefully. Trees have rings inside them. A tree grows one new ring every year. The scientists count the rings in the wood. The rings show a special year: 1021.
Christopher Columbus is a famous explorer. He sails to America in 1492. The Vikings are in America almost 500 years before him! But other people already live in America. They are the Indigenous people, the first people in America.
Today, children and families visit the old Viking village. It is a very special place with an exciting story.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. Do you like boats? Why or why not?
2. Do you want to be a sailor? Why?
3. How many rings do you think a big old tree has?
4. Do you want to visit the Viking village? Why?
5. Which word describes the Vikings best: brave, strong or clever? Why?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: explorer, rings, sailors, wood
It is the year 1021. A group of Vikings is sailing across a big, cold sea. The Vikings come from the north of Europe. They are very good _______(1). Their wooden boats are long and fast.
The Vikings stop in a new land. Today, we call this land Canada. The Vikings cut down trees with metal tools. They build small houses with the _______(2). They live in this village for a short time.
Now, scientists are studying the old Viking village. They are looking at the old wood very carefully. Trees have _______(3) inside them. A tree grows one new ring every year. The scientists count the rings in the wood. The rings show a special year: 1021.
Christopher Columbus is a famous _______(4). He sails to America in 1492. The Vikings are in America almost 500 years before him! But other people already live in America. They are the Indigenous people, the first people in America.
Today, children and families visit the old Viking village. It is a very special place with an exciting story.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is this story mainly about?
a) Scientists make new wooden boats.
b) The Vikings are in America long before Columbus.
c) The Vikings love cold, snowy weather.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. The Vikings have long, fast boats. T/F
2. The Viking village is in Spain. T/F
3. A tree grows two new rings every year. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Write 1, 2 or 3.
a) Scientists count the rings in the old wood. ___
b) The Vikings sail across a cold sea. ___
c) The Vikings build small houses. ___
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. boat
2. tree
3. village
4. scientist
5. tool
a) It is a very small town.
b) We use it to cut or fix things.
c) It is tall and green. It has rings inside.
d) It moves on water.
e) This person studies and finds answers.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. I want to visit the Viking village ______ it is a special place.
a) because
b) but
c) or
2. My favourite part of the story ______ the tree rings.
a) am
b) is
c) are
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. A) good / B) The Vikings / C) sailors. / D) are / E) very
2. A) the wood. / B) Scientists / C) in / D) the rings / E) count
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
a) The Vikings sail on long wooden boats.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) sailors (2) wood (3) rings (4) explorer
Section 2: Main Idea
b) The Vikings are in America long before Columbus.
Section 3: True or False
1. T
2. F (It is in Canada.)
3. F (A tree grows one new ring every year.)
Section 4: Put Events in Order
1 – b, 2 – c, 3 – a
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 – d, 2 – c, 3 – a, 4 – e, 5 – b
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. a) because
2. b) is
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. B, D, E, A, C – The Vikings are very good sailors.
2. B, E, D, C, A – Scientists count the rings in the wood.
Section 8: Discussion Questions (sample answers – accept any reasonable response)
1. Yes, I like boats because they are fun.
2. Yes, I want to be a sailor because I love the sea.
3. I think a big old tree has 100 rings.
4. Yes, I want to visit it because it is very old.
5. Brave, because they sail across a big, cold sea.
Thank you for your feedback!