Leif Ericson discovered America

I’ve been a bit all over in posting our history lessons this year, partially because they’re getting more complex.  Shortly after we learned of Eric the Red and the discovery of Iceland and Greenland, we also learned Leif Ericson discovered America.

And because Lego history is more fun, let’s see the Lego history version of Leif Ericson discovers America.

 

Supplies for Leif Ericson discovered America

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lots of Legos (I’m partial to these two sets for gaining helpful figures and accessories for history (or you can buy lots of pirate and castle sets): Lego history and fantasy*, LEGO Pirates Treasure Island* or LEGO Juniors Pirate Treasure Hunt Set* for the ship); large map, Mystery of History 2*, and Vis-A-Vis Markers* (I am fairly sure I NEED this set, look at all the pretty colors).

 

Leif Ericson discovered America lesson

To start the story of Leif Ericson discovering America, first we need to talk about his Dad.

Eric the Red was a hotheaded man, and in a fight he killed a man and was exiled from Iceland and so he sailed off to Greenland to start his own colony where he could be in charge.

Young Leif grew up in Greenland with his parents, and heard all the great stories of Vikings discovering stuff.  He wanted to discover something for himself.

Then a trader named Bjarni Herjolfsson came talking about an amazing country with woods, animals, and great farmland.  Now Vikings are always looking for great farmland because they don’t particularly have that.

Leif of course wanted to set out immediately, but his Dad kept saying “No, you need to grow up more.”  But eventually Leif got his way and headed off to find this great new land.

He sailed off with about 35 men (that boat with a few people sure looks like 35 men, doesn’t it?), but don’t worry they were very well armed.

On his trip he named several places, we’re not precisely sure where each one is, but our best guesses (made even worse by my lack of knowledge of Canada geography).  His first discovery he named Helluland (Slab-land).  Then he called an area Mark-land (Forestland).  From there he came upon New Foundland (we think), and he named it Vinland (Wineland).  He and his men wintered there, but didn’t settle America.

 

Leif’s brother and sister capitalize on Leif’s discovery of America

Remember how I said, Leif never founded a colony?  Well his brother and sister found the story fascinating, and first his brother set off with a large number of people.

At first their colony was going well, but then they started having fights with the natives, who they called skraelings, and they gave up on their colony.

Later Leif’s sister would return to harvest fur from the area and go back to sell them, but there is even less records of her journeys then there are of Leif’s brother Thornvald.

 

For more history ideas from the Middle Ages check out my Mystery of History 2 pinterest board.

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