KidZone Mythology:
Viking Challenge Cards

Here are six challenge card designed to immerse children in the world of Viking mythology, each focusing on a different deity or mythological concept, complete with objectives and tasks. These cards can be used in a number of ways including as part of a classroom learning station, homemade board game, at booths at a Viking festival or for an outdoor adventure quest.

Thor's Missing Mjölnir

Objective: Help Thor find his lost hammer, Mjölnir, to ensure he can protect Asgard from giants.

Challenge: Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, has been hidden by Loki in the land of the giants. Solve the riddle to discover its location: "I sleep by day, I fly by night. I have no feathers to aid my flight. What am I?"

Task: Once the riddle is solved (the answer is "bat"), children must search for a bat symbol hidden around the challenge area. The symbol will lead them to a small replica of Mjölnir.

Reward idea: A token shaped like Mjölnir (Thor's hammer)

Odin's Wisdom

Objective: Gain wisdom from Odin by finding his missing eye, which he sacrificed for knowledge.

Challenge: Odin has hidden his eye in the Well of Wisdom, guarded by riddles of the cosmos. Answer this question: "What is something that grows the more you take from it?"

Task: Children must answer the question (the answer is "a hole") and then participate in a digging activity in a sandbox or soft soil area, where they'll find a small, decorative eye.

Reward: An eye-shaped token.

Freyja's Necklace - Brísingamen

Objective: Retrieve Freyja's precious necklace, Brísingamen, which imparts her beauty and charm.

Challenge: Freyja's necklace has been scattered by the mischievous Loki into four pieces. Each piece is represented by a puzzle piece hidden in the area.

Task: Children must find all four puzzle pieces by completing mini-tasks: a short poem about beauty, a simple math problem, a task of kindness, and a riddle about love.

Mini-Task 1: A Short Poem about Beauty

Objective: Inspire creativity and reflection on the concept of beauty in nature, much like Freyja's connection to love and beauty.

Task: Children are asked to write a four-line poem about beauty in nature. They can draw inspiration from the natural world, such as flowers, stars, the sea, or animals. Encourage them to think about what makes these elements beautiful and how they feel when they see or think about them.

Example:
"The rose in bloom with petals bright,
Underneath the moon's soft light.
Nature's smile, pure and true,
Brings joy to hearts, both old and new."

Upon completion, children share their poems with a teacher or peer and receive the first puzzle piece.

 

Mini-Task 2: A Simple Math Problem

Objective: Engage children's problem-solving skills with a math challenge that, once solved, reveals a clue to finding the second puzzle piece.

Task: Present a math problem that involves basic arithmetic, suitable for the children's age group. The solution to the problem leads them to a specific location or object in the room or outdoor area where the puzzle piece is hidden.

Example:
"Odin has two ravens and Thor has three goats. If Freyja adds her two cats, how many magical animals are there in total?"

Children solve the problem (2 + 3 + 2 = 7), then search for a group of items numbered 7 or a location marked with the number 7 to find the puzzle piece.

 

Mini-Task 3: A Task of Kindness

Objective: Encourage empathy and kindness, reflecting the nurturing aspects of Freyja and other benevolent gods.

Task: Children are given a simple act of kindness to perform, such as helping a classmate, writing a thank-you note to someone, or sharing something with a friend. The task should be something they can complete within the setting of the activity.

Upon completion of their act of kindness, children report back to a designated "Kindness Keeper" who gives them the third puzzle piece as a symbol of their good deed.

 

Mini-Task 4: A Riddle about Love

Objective: Challenge children to think critically and creatively with a riddle that explores the theme of love, connecting to Freyja's domain.

Task: Present a riddle related to love for the children to solve. The answer to the riddle directs them to the location of the fourth puzzle piece.

Example:
"I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?"

The answer is "a heart" (playing with the multiple meanings of "heart" including love). Once solved, children look for a heart-shaped object or symbol in the area to find the final puzzle piece.

Upon collecting all four puzzle pieces, children can assemble them to form a symbol or image related to Freyja, such as her necklace Brísingamen, completing the challenge and learning about the multifaceted nature of beauty, wisdom, kindness, and love in Viking mythology.

 

Reward: Each puzzle piece collected, which together form a necklace token.

Loki's Shape-Shifting

Objective: Uncover Loki's disguise by identifying various animals he has transformed into.

Challenge: Loki has transformed into an animal to cause mischief. Identify him in each form based on clues given.

Task: Children are given descriptions of animals with one odd characteristic that doesn't fit. They must choose the correct animal from a selection of images, words or figures.

Example 1: The Winged Mammal

Description: "I'm a creature of the night, often mistaken for a bird, yet I bear fur and feed my young as mammals do. What sets me apart is my flight through the dark skies, a rarity in my warm-blooded kin."

• Odd Characteristic: Ability to fly.
• Correct Animal: Bat (Bats are unique among mammals because they can fly, unlike most mammals that walk, run, or swim. This distinct feature sets them apart as the only flying mammals.)

Example 2: The Tusked Swimmer

Description: "In icy waters, I dwell, with flippers to swim and a layer of blubber. But unlike my marine companions, I boast long tusks that reach out like the swords of warriors."

• Odd Characteristic: Long tusks.
• Correct Animal: Walrus (Walruses are unique among marine mammals for their long tusks, which are not found in other marine mammals like seals or sea lions. These tusks make them stand out in the animal kingdom.)

Example 3: The Feathered Swimmer

Description: "Among the birds, I stand unique, with wings too short to soar the skies. Instead, I dive into icy depths, my tuxedoed form gliding through the water with ease."

• Odd Characteristic: Wings adapted for swimming, not flying.
• Correct Animal: Penguin (Penguins are distinctive within the bird kingdom for their inability to fly. Their wings have evolved into flippers, making them excellent swimmers, a characteristic that sets them apart from other birds that use their wings for flight.)

Example 4: The Desert Water Holder

Description: "Across the sands, I trek for days, under the scorching sun, I do not falter. My hump, a curious mound of fat, stores my life's essence, not water."

• Odd Characteristic: Storing fat in a hump rather than carrying water.
• Correct Animal: Camel (Camels are unique in desert environments for their ability to store fat in their humps, which is a common misconception believed to be water. This adaptation allows them to survive long periods without food, making them distinctively suited to desert life.)

Reward: A token with a shape-shifting emblem.

Build Bifröst - The Rainbow Bridge

Objective: Help Heimdall repair the Bifröst, the rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard, ensuring the gods can travel and protect the human world.

Challenge: The Bifröst has been damaged by a storm. To repair it, the colors of the rainbow must be put back in the correct order.

Task: Children are provided with colored ribbons or blocks representing the rainbow colors. They must arrange them in the correct order to "repair" the bridge.

Reward: A rainbow-colored token.

The Valkyries' Choice

Objective: Assist the Valkyries in choosing the bravest warriors for Valhalla.

Challenge: The Valkyries need help determining who among the warriors has shown the greatest bravery. Children are presented with short stories of various deeds and must decide which is the bravest.

Task: After listening to or reading the stories, children vote on the act they believe shows the most courage. There's no right answer... it just encourages them to ponder the idea of bravery.

Story 1: The Storm and the Fisherman

In a small village by the sea, there lived a fisherman named Erik. One evening, as dark clouds gathered and the winds began to howl, the villagers prepared to hunker down for a fierce storm. However, amidst the rising chaos, Erik noticed a small boat adrift in the turbulent waves, with a young boy from the village trapped inside, too scared to row back to shore.

Without a moment's hesitation, Erik grabbed his own boat, fighting against the howling wind and crashing waves to reach the boy. The villagers watched from the shore, their hearts in their throats as Erik and the boy, now safe in Erik's boat, made their way back through the storm's fury. Erik's brave act saved the boy's life that day, showing immense courage in the face of danger.

 

Story 2: The Bear and the Lost Child

Deep in the dense forests of the north lived a brave warrior named Astrid. One day, the village was thrown into panic when a young child wandered into the forest and didn't return. As night fell and the forest grew darker, the villagers feared the worst.

Astrid, armed with only a spear and her courage, ventured into the forest to find the child. Hours passed until she heard the faint cries of the child and the growling of a bear nearby. With her heart racing, Astrid stood between the child and the bear, her presence alone enough to deter the bear and lead it away from the child. She then carried the child back to the village, unharmed. Astrid's bravery not only saved the child but also showed her unwavering courage in protecting her fellow villagers.

 

Story 3: The Whisper of Truth

In the heart of a bustling Viking village, there lived a young skald named Leif, known for his captivating tales and songs. One day, a dispute arose between two powerful families in the village, threatening to erupt into conflict that could endanger everyone. As tensions mounted, Leif discovered a hidden truth that could resolve the dispute peacefully but revealing it meant challenging the most formidable leaders, risking his own standing and safety.

With the well-being of his village at stake, Leif chose to stand before the assembly of villagers and leaders, his voice steady but strong. With eloquence and bravery, he shared his story, unveiling the truth that lay hidden, weaving his words like the threads of fate itself. His courage to speak up, to stand for peace over pride, turned the tide, mending bonds between the families and averting disaster.

Reward: A token shaped like a shield.

These story card challenges are designed to be both educational and entertaining, encouraging children to engage with Norse mythology in a hands-on, creative manner.