Scandinavia: Its Water, Its History, and Its People

Five countries...1,200 years of history...in 12 minutes. Watching this video, students may get a vague idea about some European nations that work together and share a common culture, but I'd be surprised if many could name three of the five nations (confusingly shown without borders on a map graphic) after the video. The montage of images come quickly and unrelentingly, and while students may remember seeing great natural scenery, pony trekking, and naked men smacking themselves with birch leaves in a sauna, they're less likely to recall the central theme (how the seas influenced Scandinavia), the difference between the Danish and Swedish Vikings, or most of the other facts presented here. While the teacher's guide is helpful in amplifying and reinforcing the information, this is an optional purchase, at best. Aud: J. (R. Reagan)