Vikings Bingo is a fun, hands-on way to bring history to life for kids, and my boys have been loving it as part of our Gather Round Vikings unit study. They always dive headfirst into unit studies—costumes, crafts, books, and now, bingo. This historical twist on the classic game has quickly become a family favorite around our table.
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Teaching the Historical Vikings
When we study the Vikings, we aren’t just talking about raids and ships; we’re digging into their culture, trade routes, daily life, and even their sagas. Using Gather Round’s Vikings unit makes this so easy because everything is beautifully tied together. We’ve read about their longhouses, explored their craftsmanship, and even looked at “masterpieces” that have survived through history. Bingo has become the perfect way to review what we’ve learned—almost like sneaking in an educational game without anyone realizing it’s schoolwork.
You can see our entire homeschool curriculum plans for the year 2025-2026 here.
Vikings Bingo
Our Vikings Bingo set features images, vocabulary, and unique words from Viking history. It’s not a Minnesota Vikings bingo game (so no football memorabilia here!), but instead a handmade item that’s historically inspired. I designed it to be engaging for kids but still accurate to the time period.
Each card is a little different—no clone of this card exists in the set—so everyone gets their own layout. I did not include a free space in the middle, but all the images are related to Viking life. However, you could just give out a free space at the beginning on the game to make it a bit more like the traditional game.
The result? An activity that feels like play, but is secretly reinforcing all those history facts.
How to Play
Vikings Bingo plays just like the classic version, with a few fun twists:
- Each player gets a bingo card template with Viking-themed images and words.
- Draw cards or call out clues one at a time. These could be artifacts, famous Vikings players in history (think Leif Erikson or Björn Ironside), or cultural terms.
- Kids place custom tokens—or even “loot chest” markers—on the spaces they match.
- The lucky player who gets five in a row shouts “Bingo!” and wins.
We keep the rules simple, but you can also turn it into a review game by asking your kids to explain what each picture or term means before they cover it.
Riddle Bingo
Want to make the game even more engaging—and sneak in a little assessment without it feeling like a test? Try the Riddle Bingo variation. Instead of calling out the vocabulary word or showing the image, give your players a short riddle clue. For example:
- “Viking explorer, bold and brave, who reached North America’s wave.” (Answer: Leif Erikson)
- “Clad in bear skins and wild with rage, they inspired a word we still use today.” (Answer: Berserkers)
- “Slender and swift, I’m a warship of the sea.” (Answer: Snekkes)
This turns the game into an active thinking exercise where kids have to recall facts from your Vikings unit study. It’s perfect for review days, co-op settings, or as a fun wrap-up to the entire unit. Plus, it keeps everyone listening closely—you can’t win if you don’t solve the riddle!
Download – Etsy, Gumroad, and TPT
You can grab Vikings Bingo from my Etsy shop, Gumroad, or Teachers Pay Teachers. All are digital downloads, so there’s no delivery time or shipping service delay—it opens in a new window and you can print right away.
Please note that the FREEBIE is only available on Gumroad. The freebie comes with small calling cards and 10 unique Bingo cards. The upgraded version comes with small calling cards, riddle/large calling cards, and 25 unique Bingo cards.
Whether you’re teaching history at home or adding a twist to your co-op’s lesson, Vikings Bingo is a fun, memorable way to bring the Norse world to life.
Learn more about all our educational Bingos here!
Don’t Forget to Pin for Later!
