Vikings and Dragons
Story STEAM ‘Vikings and Dragons – Moving Pictures’ project
In this project, we take inspiration from the ‘How to Train your Dragon‘ stories by Cressida Cowell and design and make a moving picture that uses levers and linkages, a pulley and then light it up with an LED circuit!
There are 2 ways to complete this project.
1. Follow tutorials week 1 to 8.
Learn about levers and linkages, pulleys and how to build a circuit. Then, design and make your own ‘Vikings & Dragons’ theme moving picture. Follow tutorials from week 1 through to week 8.
or
2. Follow tutorials part A, B and C.
Make the Viking longship design (see picture) following the ‘start to finish’ tutorials – skipping the design process. Then evaluate your model – following week 8 tutorial (optional).
If you are reading the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ stories at the moment, check out author, Cressida Cowell’s website here: https://www.cressidacowell.co.uk/
For younger children, here are some ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ activity sheets: (Click here)
Here is our group collaboration board:
Use this board to share your design ideas, research about Vikings and Dragons and pictures and videos of your finished models. I show you how to use this space in the first session. (See pre-recorded session 1).
Viking Science – Why do Longships Float? (Summer 2025)
PDF (Click here)
Viking Longship Kit
Project Guide and Materials
What you need for each session:
Week 1
Exploring levers and linkages
- Levers & Linkages guide PDF (Click here)
- Card (cereal packet thickness) cut into strips and some larger pieces, split pins (paper fasteners), sharp pencil, ruler, glue, tape, scissors, hole punch.
Timesaver: Techcard comes with ready punched strips that you can use to experiment with levers and linkages. https://amzn.to/431ytVA
Week 2
Prototyping ideas
- Bring the models you have already made
- Template for longship – optional (Click here)
- Extra card strips and split pins for modelling your ideas.
- Pencil and paper for sketching.
- Illustrations or pictures for inspiration – Viking longships, dragons etc.
Week 3
Design planning
- Design brief PDF (Click here) or plain paper / sketch book.
- Pencil, eraser, ruler
- Extra paper, card strips, split pins etc
Week 4
Make a pulley
- Cardboard and card
- Compass for drawing a circle (or something to draw around – between 3-5cm diameter)
- Scissors or craft knife and cutting mat
- Elastic band
- Thread or string
Week 5
Light it up
- Circuits PDF (coming soon)
- LED, cell button battery and case (Available as part of the Viking Longboat Kit) – See materials list
Week 6
Viking art and decoration
- Materials for decorating the backdrop for your moving picture(s) such as pens or paint.
Week 7 / 8
Construct the model
- Gather all the components needed to put it all together to finish your moving picture(s).
-
Evaluate your finished model
- Evaluation PDF (Click here)
By request. . .
Tutorials for making the Viking Longship design – from start to finish
Part A – Making the longship, oars and LED
- Longship template PDF (Click here)
Part B – Adding the sail (warning – it’s a bit fiddly!)
Part C – Adding the pulley
Email pictures of your child’s models for the gallery to Hannah@storysteam.com or post in the WhatsApp group.
Scroll down for pre-recorded sessions…
The Gallery
🎬 Pre-recorded Tutorials Library
These videos are the property of Story STEAM Education. Unauthorised sharing or distribution is prohibited. Please enjoy and respect the content!
Here you’ll find all the pre-recorded tutorials for this project. There are 2 ways to complete this project.
1. Follow tutorials week 1 to 8.
Learn about levers and linkages, pulleys and how to build a circuit. Then, design and make your own ‘Vikings & Dragons’ theme moving picture. Follow tutorials from week 1 through to week 8.
or
2. Follow tutorials part A, B and C.
Make the Viking longship design following the ‘start to finish’ tutorials – skipping ‘levers and linkages’ and the design process. Then evaluate your model – following week 8 tutorial (optional).
Vikings & Dragons – part 1 (week 1)
This is the first pre-recorded video of this block.
Password: Hiccup
Vikings & Dragons – part 2 (week 2/3)
Prototyping and design planning.
Password: Toothless
Vikings and Dragons – part 4 a (week 4)
Pulley system
Password: Langskip
Vikings and Dragons – part 4 b (week 4)
Adding the sail
Password: Drakkar
Vikings and Dragons – part 5 (Week 5)
LED Circuit
Password: Anode
Vikings and Dragons – part 6 (Week 6)
Viking art and decorations.
Coming soon…
Longship model (By request) Part A
Making the longship and oars
Password: Nordic
Longship model (By request) Part B
Making the sail
Password: Sewing
Longship model (By request) Part C
Adding the pulley
Password: Pulley
Vikings and Dragons – week 8
Evaluation
Password: Evaluate