On the third stop, the Time-O-Matic landed in Norway, the land of the Vikings, in A.D. 988. The passengers on the Time-O-Matic now found themselves having to row Thor the Viking to Iceland. Grabbing their oars (brooms), they jumped aboard the Viking vessel and began obediently rowing.
Upon their arrival in Iceland, they were welcomed into Thor and Helga's longhouse where the Viking servers threw rolls at them and served them chicken legs, carrots, and potatoes.
Some of my eighth grade homeroom students from last year, Sarah Martin, Sheridan Burkholder, and Glenda Beiler were a tremendous help setting everything up and serving.
The students then asked for more oil. The Vikings gave them a barrel full of seal blubber oil for their rowing efforts. Before dessert was served, Thor got upset and ordered them all to leave his longhouse. The students ran back to the Time-O-Matic once again.
At this point we realized we had only twenty minutes left before the parents would arrive to pick the students up. We had to turn the Viking longhouse into a Medieval banquet room, which we did -- very quickly.
After a very short trip in the Time-O-Matic, the students exited the doors to find themselves in England in 1215. King John was just about to sign the Magna Carta . They hurried in, took a seat, and witnessed the event. Jeff made a pouty face and wrote, "I won't be king anymore," on the paper before he signed it.
We then enjoyed English pudding and wafers.
Brianna Nolt from my 8th grade homeroom class last year helped us as well.
The parents soon arrived. Several of the students, parents, and teacher apprentices from Faithbuilders stayed for almost an hour helping us clean up quite a big mess. (Creating four different settings in four different time periods makes a mess.) However, it was a blast and I think all the trouble is well worth the effort. The students enjoy themselves, try harder to make good grades, and actually get to experience what we are learning in history. Camaraderie and teamwork are also developed as we all work together.