Students can make a Viking ship out of a half-gallon-sized milk carton, straws, tape, string, toothpicks, scissors and a paper bag. Have students place the milk carton on its side and cut the top half off with the scissors. The cardboard hull will make the ship sturdier. Have them make a decorative bow head, cut it out with the scissors and tape it to the front of the "ship." Wrap the milk carton half completely with tape. Use the straw and tooth picks as rudder and oars. Make a mast from the straws and use the paper bag for a sail.
Use scissors to cut off the top half of a rectangular tissue box. One of the box's sides of the ship will be curved from the opening in the tissue box. Rest a pencil along this curve and then trace its shape on the other side. Cut the opposite side of the box. Use wooden craft sticks for oars and the rudder. Draw the rudder, bow head and oar heads on paper. Cut them out and attach them to the craft sticks. Make the ship's sail out of a tissue or plastic bag.
A fun and edible Viking ship project for younger students is the marshmallow Viking ship, made of small marshmallows and toothpicks. Not only will the students learn the shape and characteristics of Viking ships, they will also have to think how to construct the ship from marshmallows and toothpicks. Start with one marshmallow and connect it to another marshmallow with a toothpick. Continue connecting marshmallows with the toothpicks in the shape of a Viking boat. The students can use the ships for presentation or a snack afterwards.
Online resources for paper Viking ships are available if students need an easier project. Conduct an online search, find the plan that works best for you and download and print out the instructions. Each piece will be labeled and include small tabs used to glue together the ships. The instructions also include diagrams how each piece fits together.