Free Printables for Kids
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Mythology
Crossword Puzzle - Norse Gods of Asgard
Activity Sheet & Answer Key (Click to download)
Norse Mythology is the belief system of the Old Norse pagans. In Norse Mythology, Yggdrasil is the Tree of Life. It holds the Nine Realms:
1. Asgard - Realm of the Aesir
2. Vanaheim - Realm of the Vanir
3. Alfheim - Realm of the Bright Elves
4. Jotunheim - Realm of the Giants
5. Midgard - Realm of the Humans (us!)
6. Muspelheim/Muspell - Realm of Fire-Giants
7. Nidavellir - Realm of the Dwarves
8. Niflheim - Realm of Ice and Mist
9. Helheim - Where the dead go to keep living
Gods of Asgard are called the Aesir. They are:
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Odin - The All Father or All Wise. He has two ravens who watch over Midgard, rides an 8-legged horse named Sleipnir, and Odin only has one eye.
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Thor - Odin's son and god of thunder. He owns a powerful hammer called Mjornir.
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Tyr - God of law and justice. He only has one hand.
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Loki - The trickster god - he gets into a lot of trouble
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Idun - Her golden apples keep the gods immortal. (Also spelled Idunn).
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Heimdall - Guardian of Asgard. He protects the Aesir from the Bifrost Bridge
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Bragi - Wise bard of Valhalla
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Frigg - Odin's wife
Crossword Puzzle - Norse Gods of Vanir
Activity Sheet & Answer Key (Click to download)
Colouring/Coloring - Mjornir
Activity Sheet - CA & US (Click to download)
Word Match - Norse Mythology
Activity Sheet (Click to download)
Gods from Vanaheim are called the Vanir. They lost a battle to the Aesir and are now commonly known as honorary members of the Aesir (or the Aesir-Vanir). They are:
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Freya - Goddess of love and beauty
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Frig (or Freyr) - Freya's brother. He is hated by no one
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Njord - Freya's father - God of wealth, harvest and abundance
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Nerthus - Mother Earth
Lifestyle
Word Search - Old Norse Lifestyle
Activity Sheet (Click to download)
Old Norse are a population of northern European people from the Viking Age. The Viking Age took place from the year 793 AD to 1066 AD. (That was over 954 years ago!)
The Old Norse lived in longhouses, and most were farmers, merchants and blacksmiths. Few others were Vikings who travelled to other lands by boat.
The Old Norse were very clean people for their time. They washed themselves every Saturday, back when other people washed themselves once or twice a year!
Everything we know about the Old Norse has been dug up, found or translated by archeologists or historians.
A lot of household and farming items found include: Skis, combs, cauldrons for cooking, ploughs, wool and linen clothing coloured by vegetable dyes, furs used to decorate the home, pets, spices, forks, spoons and cups.
Other cool finds are: runestones, scrolls, spears, bow and arrows, gold coins, viking ships, shields, helmets and swords.
The best source of information found is written on runestones through carvings. Historians have to translate rune symbols into the Old Norse language and then into a modern language for us to understand.
Word Scramble - Wheel of the Year (New Age)
Activity Sheet (Click to download)
Decorate - Wheel of the Year
Activity Sheet (Click to download)
Celebrations
The Old Norse people had a unique set of celebration and festivals. Some have inspired or influenced many holidays and traditions we have today. The original Norse Heathen main celebrations from historical texts are: Yule, Disting, Sigurblot and Winternights.
The neo-pagan Wheel of the Year is a newer set of celebrations based on the old traditions and modelled after the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. The neo-pagan model was created in the 70s to help keep up with the changing times.
These events are celebrated depending on the time of year and the moon phase. Events include:
Yule - The Winter Solstice (Dec 20-23):
Symbolized the longest night of the year. After this the days start to get longer and warmer again.
Imbolc - Also called Candlemas or Disiblot (Feb 1):
Marks the first sign of spring. It is a minor celebration that marks excitement for the year's new life to come.
Ostara - Spring Equinox (Mar 20-23)
The mid-point between the year's longest night and longest day. It is a celebration of new beginnings and new life.
Beltane - May Day or Wakpurgis Night (May 1)
A day to celebrate the first buds of spring, and the greening of the world.
Litha - The Summer Solstice or Midsummer (June 20-23)
Midsummer is one of four solar holidays, and it celebrates the longest day of the year. After this the days start to get shorter.
Lammas - Lughnasadh (Aug 1)
The first of three harvest days. People bake bread, have a feast, and give thanks for their food.
Mabon - Autumn Equinox (Sep 20-23):
The second of three harvest days. A pagan Thanksgiving. People give thanks for what they have and share their food with those who need it.
Samhain - All Hallowe's Eve (Oct 31):
The last of the harvest days. It is a day to respect those who have died, and the balance of the world. Where Beltane celebrated light and fertility of the world, this day is to respect the darkening of the world.
Music
The oldest song from the Medievel Scandinavian period is found in the last known book, at the end of the last page, written in an extinct language called 'Old Norse', and in symbols called runes. This book is called the Codex Runicus. It was found in Denmark, and is over 720 years old.
The song is called Drømde mig en drøm i nat (Dreamed me a dream last night).
Other songs from the Viking Age come from the Poetic and Prose Eddas, sagas and other manuscripts. They include military songs, domestic songs, and songs for entertainment.
The music was played by lur - a string instrument made from a hallowed out bowl, a neck, and willow bands tied at different lengths to make different sounds.
Other instruments include:
Bells
Drums - Drums made from wood and covered with animal skin
Lyre - A harp-like instrument
Rattles
Rebec - A string instrument that looks similar to a violin
Tagelharpa - A harp-like instrument made with horsehair
Music Sheet - Dreamed Me a Dream
Activity Sheet (Click to download)
Midsommar Song: The Little Frogs
Activity Sheet (Click to download)
The Little Frogs is a Pagan Kids translation of a traditional festival song in Sweden called 'Små Grodarna'. Kids dance, sing and laugh while they make silly gestures and poke fun at frogs and pigs.
This song is paired with a dance around a maypole or midsommarstång (a leafy pole that sticks high up in the air), and is always played during Sweden's May Day or midsommarfest (Midsummer festival).
Print out this song and watch your kids laugh hysterically while they 'kawk-ka-ka' like a frog while dancing clockwise in a circle, and then 'snort' like a pig while dancing counter-clockwise.
I add a twist for my upcoming book, 'Midsommar Sól', where the last person dancing is crowned Midsommar King or Queen. Hooray!
If this wasn't enough fun already, you can dress your kids up in flower crowns like they do in Sweden, or get them a little Midsommar frog shirt from my Spring Shop HERE. All proceeds go toward creating more great books and activities for our families.