The Explorers: Leif Eriksson

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The Explorers: Leif Eriksson By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 09.19.16 Word Count 585 TOP: Leif Erikson memorial statue at Shilshole Bay Marina (Port of Seattle).

1 The Explorers: Leif Eriksson By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on Word Count 585 TOP: Leif Erikson memorial statue at Shilshole Bay Marina (Port of Seattle). BOTTOM: Leiv Eiriksson Discovers America by Christian Krohg (1893). Synopsis: Leif Eriksson was a Viking explorer born more than 1100 years ago. The Vikings were almost like pirates. They sailed on great ships and raided lands for money. Unlike pirates, they also settled many countries. Leif Eriksson's father was Erik the Red, who settled the country of People who study history think Eriksson was the first person from Europe to find North America. He found it 500 years before Christopher Columbus. There are different stories of how Eriksson got to North America. One story is that he found it by mistake. Another story says that he had sailed there on purpose. Eriksson eventually went home to Eriksson died around the year In the 1960s, the ruins of a Viking town were found in Newfoundland in the country of Canada. In 1964 the United States declared October 9 to be Leif Eriksson Day. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 1

2 Leif The Mysterious Explorer Leif Eriksson was born more than 1100 years ago. His father was Erik the Red, who discovered the country of Greenland is between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, near the country of Canada. Eriksson was probably born in the country of Iceland. It is an island near He would have grown up in Greenland though, because his father was sent away from Iceland and moved to There are many different stories of Eriksson's life. It is hard to tell what is true. Vinland Around the year 1000, Eriksson sailed from Greenland to the country of Norway, on the continent of Europe. In Norway, he worked for the king. The king hired Eriksson to go back to He wanted Eriksson to tell people there about the religion called Christianity. Eriksson did go back to Greenland, but nobody is sure how he got there. There is a story that says Eriksson s ships got lost on the way home from Norway. Instead of Greenland, they landed on the continent of North America. The continent is made up of the United States and Canada. The ships might have landed on what is now Nova Scotia, Canada. Eriksson named it Vinland. Another story says that Eriksson already knew about Vinland. He had heard of it from another sailor who had been there. The story says that Eriksson sailed to Vinland on purpose. Whichever story is true, Eriksson is said to be the first person from Europe to land in North America. This was almost 500 years before Christopher Columbus arrived in Return Eriksson explored North America but did not stay. Instead, he went home to He convinced his mother to switch to Christianity. She then built Greenland s first Christian church. Eriksson spent the rest of his life in Greenland, and died around Nobody knows exactly where Vinland is in North America. It might be Nova Scotia in Canada. However, in 1963, ruins of a Viking site were discovered in Newfoundland, in Canada. The Viking site is the oldest European site found in North America. More than 2,000 Viking objects have been dug up there. Eriksson and his men may have spent the winter there before sailing home. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 2

3 Legacy In 1964, the United States made October 9 Leif Eriksson Day. Some groups want it to be more popular. Even though Columbus arrived hundreds of years later, he is better remembered. After Columbus arrived, many people from Europe moved to North America. Still, there are statues of Eriksson in the United States, Newfoundland and Norway. There are also statues in Iceland and This article is available at 5 reading levels at 3

4 Quiz 1 Which selection from the biography helps the reader understand that the exact facts of Eriksson's life were never written down? There are many different stories of Eriksson's life. It is hard to tell what is true. In Norway, he worked for the king. The king hired Eriksson to go back to Eriksson explored North America but did not stay. Instead, he went home to Still, there are statues of Eriksson in the United States, Newfoundland and Norway. 2 Select the paragraph from the section "Vinland" that explains where in North America Eriksson's ships probably arrived. 3 What is the purpose of the section "Legacy"? to describe the problems faced by Leif Eriksson to describe the major accomplishments of Leif Eriksson to explain how Eriksson is still remembered today to explain what people do to celebrate Leif Eriksson Day 4 Read the paragraph from the section "Return." What information MOST contributes to the organization of the paragraph below? Nobody knows exactly where Vinland is in North America. It might be Nova Scotia in Canada. However, in 1963, ruins of a Viking site were discovered in Newfoundland, in Canada. The Viking site is the oldest European site found in North America. More than 2,000 Viking objects have been dug up there. Eriksson and his men may have spent the winter there before sailing home. the details about different kinds of Viking objects the illustration of where Nova Scotia is located in Canada the description of the oldest Viking site in North America the explanation of what Eriksson did before sailing home This article is available at 5 reading levels at 4

5 Answer Key 1 Which selection from the biography helps the reader understand that the exact facts of Eriksson's life were never written down? There are many different stories of Eriksson's life. It is hard to tell what is true. In Norway, he worked for the king. The king hired Eriksson to go back to Eriksson explored North America but did not stay. Instead, he went home to Still, there are statues of Eriksson in the United States, Newfoundland and Norway. 2 Select the paragraph from the section "Vinland" that explains where in North America Eriksson's ships probably arrived. Paragraph 9: Another story says that Eriksson already knew about Vinland. He had heard of it from another sailor who had been there. The story says that Eriksson sailed to Vinland on purpose. 3 What is the purpose of the section "Legacy"? to describe the problems faced by Leif Eriksson to describe the major accomplishments of Leif Eriksson to explain how Eriksson is still remembered today to explain what people do to celebrate Leif Eriksson Day This article is available at 5 reading levels at 5

6 4 Read the paragraph from the section "Return." What information MOST contributes to the organization of the paragraph below? Nobody knows exactly where Vinland is in North America. It might be Nova Scotia in Canada. However, in 1963, ruins of a Viking site were discovered in Newfoundland, in Canada. The Viking site is the oldest European site found in North America. More than 2,000 Viking objects have been dug up there. Eriksson and his men may have spent the winter there before sailing home. the details about different kinds of Viking objects the illustration of where Nova Scotia is located in Canada the description of the oldest Viking site in North America the explanation of what Eriksson did before sailing home This article is available at 5 reading levels at 6

The Vikings and Erik the Red

Level 2-10 The Vikings and Erik the Red Rjurik Davidson Summary This book is about the history of the Vikings and a famous explorer and adventurer named Erik the Red Contents Before Reading Think Ahead