Sophomores have been studying Beowulf and The West in the World. As part of their study, students did a special study on Vikings. The eighth century saw great success for the Vikings in campaigns and raids, largely due to their innovative ships and ability to navigate them over the whale-road and up rivers. Much war-sweat was spilt as a consequence of these hefty and impressive endeavors. Nevertheless, the Viking ships, in a word, were great marvels of engineering. They were highly valued possessions, guarded with honor, and praised in much Scandinavian poetry, as students have seen in Beowulf and The West in the World.

For the project, students built their own viking ship and then presented it to the class via a short story or poem detailing its adventures.