Viking Longboat Craft

 On the blog today is an activity that Freddie’s school set him to make as part of his history lessons now we’re homeschooling: How to make a viking longboat craft. I’m not going to lie- this was something that required a fair bit of adult input as some of the aspects of it are quite fiddly, but it was actually quite a fun thing to do together, and there are still plenty of elements of this DIY homemade viking longboat that the child can take full ownership of. When it comes to how to make a viking longboat, it’s just adults required for some of the putting together! 

Why This Craft Works for Learning About Vikings

There is something about making things with your hands that helps information stick – and Viking longboats are perfect for this. As your child constructs the boat, you can chat about why the Vikings built their ships the way they did: the shallow hull that let them sail up rivers, the oars for rowing when there was no wind, the fearsome dragon heads designed to frighten enemies.

This craft covers several elements of the KS2 Vikings topic, making it ideal for Year 4 homework projects, home education history lessons, or just a rainy afternoon activity when you want something with a bit more substance than colouring in. We made ours during lockdown homeschooling and it genuinely sparked some brilliant conversations about Norse exploration. 

You will need to make your Viking Longboat Template:

• Brown cardboard (we used an old Amazon box)
• A longboat template (it’s very easy to draw your own on paper)
• Wooden skewers or even toothpicks
• White card
• Colouring pens/pencils
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Tape
• Scissors
• Ball of White Tack

How to make a Viking Longboat

1. On the cardboard, use your template to draw around (so you have two sides and a base that join together, see picture). Also cut out 8 little oar heads for the viking ship craft, and 4 ‘seats’ that are strips of cardboard about 1cm in width and 8 cm in length so that you can fold over roughly 2cm each end when you join them to your boat by sticking with tape (more on that shortly). 

2. Then get your child to colour in their viking ship’s ‘heads’ before you construct and tape your boat into what will be its finished shape. 

3. Your child can also then make the colourful shields to stick on either side of their boat – usually 3 per side.

4. To make the seats for the boat, fold over the strips of cardboard 2cm each end. Tape them down on one side of the boat, before joining them to the other side and also taping them (see photo).  

5. To make the oars for your viking longboat craft, stick your little cardboard oar heads to your cocktail sticks using some tape, and then carefully pierce the cardboard in 4 places on each side and feed the oars through. 

6. Lastly, your child can make a sail for their viking ship craft by cutting out a square and colouring it red and white striped. Tape the sail to a wooden skewer, and stick to the bottom of your boat with white tack. 

And there you have it, your very own Viking Longboat or Viking ship craft! As I said before, if you’re looking at how to make a viking longboat, this guide is a great one to do together, and is something that can be a fun way of supporting the curriculum (especially if you have a year 4 child). We also found some great other resources for learning about Vikings on Twinkl. 

Top Tips for Making This Craft Easier

Prep your pieces first. Cut out all the cardboard shapes before you sit down with your child. The actual assembly and decorating is the fun bit – the measuring and cutting is where little ones lose interest.

Use a cereal box for the shields. The cardboard is thinner and easier for small hands to cut into circles. We found Amazon box cardboard a bit too thick for the shields.

Hot glue works faster than tape for the tricky bits. If you have a glue gun, it makes attaching the seats much quicker. Just keep little fingers well clear.

Do not stress about perfection. Real Viking longboats were handmade too – a bit of wobble adds character. The goal is learning and spending time together, not museum-quality results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this Viking longboat craft suitable for?

This craft works best for children aged 5 and up. Younger children will need adult help with cutting and assembling, while older primary-aged kids can take on more of the construction themselves. It is particularly well-suited to Year 4 children studying Vikings as part of the KS2 history curriculum.

How long does it take to make a Viking longboat?

Allow around 45-60 minutes from start to finish. If you prep the cardboard pieces in advance, the actual assembly and decorating takes closer to 30-40 minutes.

Can I use recycled materials for this craft?

Absolutely – that is exactly what we did. Old cardboard boxes, toilet roll tubes for extra decoration, leftover wrapping paper for the sail, and buttons or bottle tops for shields all work brilliantly. It is a lovely way to make use of bits and pieces from the recycling pile.

Will the Viking longboat float?

A cardboard version will not survive water, unfortunately. If you want a floating Viking ship, try using a plastic food tray or craft foam as your base instead. We tested ours in the bath and it lasted about three seconds before going soggy.

How does this craft link to the school curriculum?

Viking longboats are part of the KS2 History curriculum, typically covered in Year 4. Making a model helps children understand how the Vikings travelled, explored and raided – and why their shipbuilding skills were so important to their success as seafarers.

Over to You

This Viking longboat craft has been one of our most-loved making projects – there is something very satisfying about ending up with an actual boat you can play with afterwards. Freddie kept his on his bookshelf for months and regularly recruited his sisters for Viking raids across the living room floor.

If you give this a go, I would love to see how yours turns out. Tag me on social media or leave a comment below – and if you are looking for more hands-on activities to do with the kids, have a browse through my crafts and activities archive. Happy making!

Enjoyed this ‘how to make a viking longboat’ craft? See more of my crafts and activities for kids 

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.