Norway -- School-age
Norway
Official Name: Kingdom of Norway
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
Capital: Oslo
County's inhabitants: Norwegian
Abbreviation: NO
Currency: Norwegian Krone
Official Language: Norwegian
Religion: Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021)
Population: 5,553,840 (2022)
Ethnic Groups: Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021)
Norway is located in Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north. It shares borders with Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The longest border is shared with Sweden.
Norway is a Scandinavian nation. The Scandinavia Peninsula in Northern Europe consist of Norway, Sweden, and a small part of northwestern Finland.
The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are closely related.
The Nordic countries are a region in Northern Europe. Five countries are Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Three autonomous territories Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, are also included.
People
Most Norwegians live in the south where the climate is milder.
Norway is home to some 60,000 Sami, or Lapps who live mainly in the north. They are the largest population of the Arctic reindeer herders.
Norway Government
Norway is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
The monarch is the head of state. The King officially opens the Norwegian Parliament. He visits other countries and host foreign heads of state. Some of the duties of the monarch is Commander-in-Chief of the nation’s armed forces, appointing the state council(cabinet) which has to be approved by the parliament and he chairs the Council of State.
The prime minister serves as the Head of Government.
Norway’s Parliament is referred to as the Storting. The Storting is a single legislative chamber made up of 169 representatives. Parliamentary elections are held every four years.
The Supreme Court is sits in Oslo and is the country’s top court and makes final decisions on appeals. It is made up of the chief justice and 18 associate justices. The Judicial Appointments Board make recommendation and the monarch appoints the justices. There is a mandatory retirement age of 70 for the justices.
Norway Flag Video
Flag of Norway
The flag of Norway was adopted on July 17, 1821.
The flag of Norway has a red background. A blue cross (Scandinavian cross) is superimposed on a white cross.
History
The oldest human skeleton found in Norway, it could be around 8,000 years old.
The Sami are a group of indigenous people that come from a region stretches across the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola peninsula in Russia. The Sami are best known for reindeer herding.
The history of Norway is most famous for its Viking Age. From the 9th to the 11th centuries Vikings from Norway raided and traded along Europe's coasts. The Vikings were a seafaring people and settled much of Greenland, different regions of Britain, and parts of Ireland.
Harald Fairhair (born c. 860—died c. 940) would unite and rule most of the western coast of Norway. He called himself king of Norway. Harald Fairhair great-grandson Olaf united all of Norway in the 1000s. He is the first Christian king of Norway and converted much of Norway to Christianity.
Norway was ruled by Denmark for hundreds of years. In 1814 under the Treaty of Kiel, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden. Norweigns wrote there own constitution. In 1905, Norway becomes independent from Sweden.
During World War I Norway remained neutral.
During World War II in 1940 Germany would invade and occupy Norway until the end of war.How a Fjord is Formed Video
Land
The people of Norway are spread out in small towns and communities. Three-fifths of Norway is covered my mountains. Norway is dominated by high mountains, farmlands in the valleys, fishing villages, and fjords. Fjords are narrow inlets of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
In the north, is a vast region of fjords, mountains, islands, and the Svalbard archipelago. In the south is rolling farmlands, beaches, and the Western Fjords.
Further north and above the Arctic Circle you will find the land of the Midnight Sun. Where the sun shines day and night for part of the summer.
Northern Lights Video
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are a colorful display of lights that can be seen usually in the north polar region.
Norway Is Famous For
Sognefjord is nicknamed the King of the Fjords. It is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway, it stretches 205 kilometers (127 mi) inland and 1,308 meters (4,291 feet) deep.
Fjord is a Norwegian word. It comes from the Norse fjorðr.
There are over 1000 road tunnels in Norway. The tunnels are Norway's solution to build roads though its challenging geography. The Lærdal tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world stretches 24.5 kilometers (15 miles).
Norway is known as the of the Midnight Sun. In the summer months some parts of the country the sun stays up all day.
The Svalbard Global Seed Bank nicknamed the “Doomsday Vault” has over a million plant seeds from all over the world preserved 100 meters into a mountain and preserved in permafrost (natural freezing).
Norway Products
One of Norway's top export is oil and gas. Norway puts all the money made from oil and gas exports into the world's largest sovereign wealth fund which now stands at over $1 trillion.
Norwegians export and eat a large amount of salmon. Norway is the top exporter of fresh or chilled salmon.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Video
"The Three Billy Goats Gruff'" is a Norwegian fairy tale. The author is unknown, it was collected by Peter Christen Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe who first published it.
Stories
The Husband Who Minded the House
A husband gleefully trades places with his wife, only to find that her work is not as easy as it looks. (Nordic Folk Tale)
The Ram and the Pig Who Set Up House
A ram, a pig, a rooster, a goose, and a hare leave the farmhouse to build their very own home in the woods. (Nordic Animal Tale)
Twelve Wild Ducks
To break an evil spell that was cast on her 12 older brothers, a princess must face frightening trials and dangers. (Nordic Magical Creatures)
Boots and His Brothers
The king announces that half the kingdom will be awarded to anyone who can chop down a giant oak and dig a well in deep rock, and three brothers answer the call. (Nordic Adventure Tale)
Edvard Munch Video
Make
Scream Blowing Painting
After looking at Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” create a painting to show how much expression can be created with lines and color.
The Scream by Edvard Munch color page
All About Norway paper craft quilt-print and complete.
Crayola Viking Ship print and make
Things to Do
Type your name in the box and see your name in the Viking Rune alphabet
Write your name in runes printable worksheet pdf
Norway Flag color page
The Last Viking color pages and rune puzzles pdf
Fun Fact
The Vikings
You may think of cutthroat pirates when you think Viking but most were farmers looking for more farmland. Find our more about the Norse people.
Stories to Read
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
by Paul Galdone
The Last Viking
by Norman Jorgensen
