How to Make a Viking Shield from Cardboard & Colored Paper
This Viking shield craft for kids uses cardboard and leftover craft supplies to make a super epic Viking Shield. Kids of all ages will have fun making the DIY Viking Shield at home or as part of a history lesson plan in the classroom or homeschool. The best part is, this Viking shield is not only a fun craft and educational, but it is a budget-friendly craft that promotes pretend play!
Viking Shield Craft for Kids
Has your child ever tried to figure out how to make a shield for protection in a pretend battle? Here are some easy steps on making a very sturdy Viking shield.
Making a cardboard shield is actually super easy and a lot of fun. This DIY Viking shield will help not only give your child a creative outlet, but it could also be a fun time to have a bit of a history lesson as well.
How to Make a Viking Shield from Cardboard
Not to mention, when the shield is actually crafted it will promote pretend play as your little one will be ready to dive into battle to fight all the invisible bad guys!
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Supplies Needed To Make A Viking Shield
A lot of these materials you may have already around the house. If not, they are easily found and even easier on the budget!
- Large piece of sturdy cardboard or foamboard
- Scissors or box cutter to cut board
- Materials to color the shield such as paint, heavy construction paper, aluminum foil
- Colored tape such as duct tape, painters tape, or electrical tape
- Two 1/4 inch bolts with round head and flat end (not pointed)
- Four washers
- Four nuts
- Small strip of fabric for handle
Instructions to Make A Viking Shield
Step 1
Use the scissors or box cutter to cut the board into two circles with one much smaller than the other.
Step 2
Color each circle. My son used green bulletin board paper for the large circle, and aluminum foil for the small circle.
Step 3
Decorate the large circle with stripes using the tape.
Step 5
Next you will attach the handle. Punch two holes in the small circle for the bolts.
Step 6
Line up the small circle with the center of the larger circle and punch two holes in the large circle that match the holes in the small circle.
Step 7
Put a washer on each bolt and insert it into a hole on the front of the shield making sure that it goes through both pieces of board with the smaller board on top. Repeat with the second bolt.
Step 8
Line up the strip of fabric with the two holes and punch the holes in the fabric.
Step 9
On the back side of the shield, attach the fabric to the shield by placing it on the two bolts.
Step 10
Add a washer and nut to each bolt.
Step 11
You can decorate the front of the shield a little more or just call it done.
Finishing The Cardboard Viking Shield
I had hoped my son would make a classy looking shield with just two basic stripes on it but he loved decorating with the different colors of tape and went a little crazy with it. I’m glad he had so much fun and customized his shield just the way he wanted it.
What Inspired This Viking Shield Craft?
Back in the Viking age, Vikings would go around on a Gokstad ship and go to war with other people. We don’t like war, but we do like history! And this shield craft is based on the Gokstad shield. It looks much different than Roman shields, pavise shields, or a typical decorative shield.
Now, obviously this is not a fully functional shield, but it is based on the most common type of Viking shield, the round Viking shield. Grant it, they had not only a round shield, but a wooden Viking shield.
Regardless, while we were going through our history lesson I thought this could be a cool craft. Plus, it promoted pretend play. And why wouldn’t it? Who doesn’t want to pretend to be a Viking warrior from the 10th century?
How to Make a Viking Shield from Cardboard & Colored Paper
Has your child ever tried to figure out how to make a shield for protection in a pretend battle? Here's how to make a very sturdy Viking shield.
Materials
- Large piece of sturdy cardboard or foamboard
- Scissors or box cutter to cut board
- Materials to color the shield such as paint, heavy construction paper, aluminum foil
- Colored tape such as duct tape, painters tape, or electrical tape
- Two 1/4 inch bolts with round head and flat end (not pointed)
- Four washers
- Four nuts
- Small strip of fabric for handle
Instructions
- Use the scissors or box cutter to cut the board into two circles with one much smaller than the other.
- Color each circle. My son used green bulletin board paper for the large circle, and aluminum foil for the small circle.
- Decorate the large circle with stripes using the tape.
- Next you will attach the handle. Punch two holes in the small circle for the bolts.
- Line up the small circle with the center of the larger circle and punch two holes in the large circle that match the holes in the small circle.
- Put a washer on each bolt and insert it into a hole on the front of the shield making sure that it goes through both pieces of board with the smaller board on top. Repeat with the second bolt.
- Line up the strip of fabric with the two holes and punch the holes in the fabric.
- On the back side of the shield, attach the fabric to the shield by placing it on the two bolts.
- Add a washer and nut to each bolt.
- You can decorate the front of the shield a little more or just call it done.
Love Making A Viking Shield? Then You’ll Love These Ideas!
So now you know how to make a shield. What will you do with this cool Viking shield? Here are a few other kids activities that might go along nicely with it:
- Make A Viking Longship
- Know How To Make a Shield? Make this Sword.
- Test Your Viking Shield with These Pool Noodle Light Sabers
- Check out these 18 boat crafts! They can all float which makes them super cool!
- Don’t want to be a Viking? What about a princess knight?
- Every princess knight needs a castle! Check out this castle set.
- Check out these fun medieval crafts and activities.
How did your cardboard Viking Shield craft turn out?
