Create your own Viking-inspired runestone while exploring the art, patterns and writing of the Viking Age.

This Viking Runestone Art Project introduces students to the fascinating combination of art and writing found on historical runestones. Students explore how Viking artists used rune bands, interlacing, twisting animal forms, decorative details and colour before applying these ideas to a runestone design of their own.

Students also learn about Younger Futhark, the 16-rune writing system commonly used during the Viking Age. Rather than presenting Viking runes as a simple modern alphabet substitution, the project encourages students to listen to the sounds in a name, word or short message and select the closest available runes.

Multiple templates provide different levels of creative freedom. Students can complete existing animal forms and patterns, work from more open-ended designs, or begin with a blank stone and create an original composition from start to finish.

Authentic historical runestones are included for inspiration, along with completed project examples that demonstrate different approaches to the activity.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Viking Runestone Art Project
• Introduction to Viking runestone art
• Anatomy of a Runestone visual guide
• Younger Futhark rune guide
• Viking rune-writing activity
• Authentic historical runestone examples
• Multiple runestone design templates
• Blank runestone template
• Animal forms and interlacing guidance
• Viking-inspired colour guidance
• Step-by-step project instructions
• Materials suggestions
• Completed artwork examples
• Options for different ages and abilities

Students can use coloured pencils, crayons, markers, paint markers, or a combination of materials to complete their designs.

The range of templates makes the project adaptable for different ages and abilities. Some provide more guidance, while others encourage students to complete patterns, develop animal forms or design an entirely original runestone.

The resource is well suited to upper primary and lower secondary students and can be used for Art and Design, Viking studies, Medieval History, Art History or creative cross-curricular learning.

LOOKING FOR MORE VIKING ART?

This Viking Runestone Art Project is also included in the complete Viking Art History Lesson, together with the 3D Viking Longship Art Project.