How the Vikings Navigated With the Sun

TL;DR

This paper explores how Vikings used the Sun and shadow boards for navigation, combining historical context with hands-on activities and simple geometry to illustrate their techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a practical, educational approach to understanding Viking navigation methods using shadow boards and basic geometry activities.

Findings

Shadow boards could have helped Vikings determine directions at sea

Hands-on activities effectively demonstrate ancient navigation techniques

Simple geometry explains how shadow casting was used for navigation

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.