Conquering Everest!

A WebQuest for Grades 4-8 (Soical Studies, Mount Everest)

Designed by Megan E. Riley

meganeriley@gmail.com

mt everest

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
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Introduction

Beautiful and dangerous, Mt Everest has captivated climbers and spectators for hundreds of years.  It is the tallest mountain in the world and the trip to the top is a treacherous one.   Explorers first ventured to Mt Everest's summit in 1924, and since then over 4 thousand people have attempted to reach its peak.  Get ready beacause you and a team are going to be the next expedition to the highest point in the world!


Task

You and your team have been invited to climb to the top of the tallest mountain in the world!  To prepare for this trip you are going to need to find out about the climate and terrain you will be facing.  You will need and get a feeling for the adventure ahead of you.   Are you ready to learn more?! Here we go!!

Each team will research the history of Mt Everest, along with its climate and terrain to prepare yourselves for the journey.  You will also read interviews of past climbers.  Next you will come up with a list of necessary supplies and plan your route.  Lastly, you will virtually climb Mt Everest and keep a jounal of what you see and do at each of the camp sites on your way to the summit.  You and your team present your findings to the class.



Process

1.  First you and your team will use the websites listed below to research the history of Mt.  Everest.  You are required to answer each of the following questions in complete sentences (EX:  Mt. Everest was named after _____  )Work with your team to answer these questions.  Each teammate is responsible for turning in the answers and drawing of a Sherpa. Use the websites at the bottom of this section to find the answers.
  
   °  Who was Mt Everest named after?  How old is the mountain?
    °  Where is Mt Everest located?  What country and which mountain range?
    °  What is Mt Everest called by Tibetans and what does it mean?
    °  What is a Sherpa?  Also create a drawing of a Sherpa.
    °  How tall is Mt Everest?
    °  How many people have successfully reached the summit?  How many people have died trying?
    °  What is the leading cause of death on Mt Everest?

2.  Next you will read interviews from people who have climbed Mt Everest.  You will also read about the great 1996 tradgedy, where a number of people lost their lives attemptig to reach the summit.  After reading the interviews, you are to work collabortively to create 2-3 paragraphs that explain what you learned from the interviews and what information is most useful to you as perspective climbers.  Each teammate will be responsible for researching one of the following links and sharing the information with the team.  Please provide a list of who researched which link when you turn in this piece. 
Interview with Sir Edmund Hillary
The 1996 Everest Tradgedy
Interview with David Breashears
Transcript communications from the 1997 NOVA Everest expedition


3.  You will also need to know about the climate and altitudes you will be facing and how they will affect your bodies and minds.  Navigate the following link to read about what the experts think about the use of oxygen while climbing Everest.  Make a decision as a team whether you will carry oxygen or not.  Provide a 3-4 sentence explanation as to why or why not. E
ach teammate will be responsible for researching one of the following links and sharing the information with the team.  Please provide a list of who researched which link when you turn in this piece. 

Tom Hornbein
Ed Viesturs
Brownie Schoene, Ph.D.
Peter Hackett

4.  You are almost ready to begin your climb!  The last thing you must do is create a list of 10 items that you will bring with you on your trip.  Explore the following link to determine the supplies you need and thier costs.  You will also need to explain why you picked each item with 2-3 sentences. 
Climbing Gear
This site offers a list of gear and the appropriate times to wear/use it.  It also has pictures of what each layer of clothing looks like.  Be patient, the pictures will change automatically after about 10 seconds. 
Supplies and Products for Climbing Enthusiasts
Use this site to find costs and types of clothing and materials needed for your climb.  Caution:  You are not required to actually purchase any of this gear!  Use this site as a resource only.

5.  The last decision you must make before you begin you climb is the route you want to take.  Use these links to help you decide is you want to take the SOUTH ROUTE or the NORTH ROUTE.

6.  You and your team are ready to start your assent up the tallest mountain in the world!!    Explore each camp site listed on the map and describe what you see.  Click on the images to move the camera for a full 360 degree view of the site. 

While looking at the sites, imagine that you and your team are really standing there, looking out at the mountain.  What do you see and hear?  What do you feel?  How are is your body and mind holding up against these extreme heights and temperatures?  Record your observations, feelings and experiences in a journal. 

Create a cover for your journal that reflects your journey.  Hint--Ask yourself what a journal that has traveled tothe summit of  Mt Everest might look like.

SOUTH ROUTE:  Each team member is required to add one 5-8 sentence paragraph and a drawing of their experiences for each of the following:  Way to the Summit, Base Camp, Khumbu Icefall, Camp I, Western Cwm, Camp II,  Camp III,  and Summit

NORTH ROUTE:
Each team member is required to add one 5-8 sentence paragraph and a drawing of their experiences for each of the following: Way to the Summit, Base Camp, Rongbuk Glacier, Camp II, Camp III, Camp IV, Camp V,  and Summit.

7.  Finally, you and your team are ready to organize you information and present it to class.  Each team will create a map of their route to present to the class.  Each team member will be responsible for a speaking piece during the presentation.  Work as a team to decide who will present which information.  You are required to address the following:
     °  Where Mt. Everest is located (country and range) and who is was named after?
     °  Description and role of Sherpas.
     °   Mt. Everest's height
     °   Information gained from professional climbers and transcripts that helped you prepare your climb.
     °  Knowledge gained from experienced climbers about using oxygen on Mt Everest.
     °  Illustration of Sherpa
     °  Illustration/map of route with campsites and points of interest
     °  The equiptment you brought on your adventure   

Have fun with your presentation!  You and your team can present the above information in any format you deem fit. 

Navigate the Websites below to prepare for your trip!

Mount Everest, Crown of the World
Excellent site, contains information concerning history, facts, supplies and photos.

Mt Everest Facts--from Scholastic.com
Bulleted facts about Mt Everest.  Please feel free to explore the other links on this page, they may help you answer the questions at the top of the page.

History of Sherpas on Mt Everest
Provides great information and photos of the Sherpas role in conquering Mt Everest.

How to Climb Mt Everest
This site provides a list of exactly what needs to be done before and during a real trip to Mt Everest.


Evaluation

Students will be graded on both individually and as a group.  The following rubric will tell you how to earn the most points possible for all if the requirments in this project


Beginning

1

Developing

2

 Meeting

3

Exceding

4

Score

 

Historical Questions and Facts

 (Questions from Process #1)

4 or more parts are answered incorrectly or missing.  Incomplete sentences.
3 of the 6  parts are answered  incorrectly or inaccurately.  Sentences are fragmented
  4 of the 6 parts are answered corectly and in complete sentences.  
All 6 parts are answered  correctly, in complete sentences.

 

Drawings and  Illustration
 

Sherpa drawing is inaccurate and lacking color and details.
Sherpa drawing is not  student's best work.  It lacks detail and color.
Sherpa drawing is student's best work, accurately colored but lacking in detail. Sherpa drawing is student's bestwork and accurately colored and full of detail. 

 



Quality of Writing

 

Wrting lacks organization and thoughfulness. Student demonstrates introductory level of task and question completion.  Several pieces are missing.
Writing is somewhat organized, but several pieces seem out of place.  Responses are accurate but incomplete.  Several pieces are missing.
Writing is organized, although some pieces may be out of place. There are 4-5 conventional errors, but they do not take away from content.  Responses are accurate but lack detail and thoughfulness.
Writing is very well organized and every task is complete.  There are 2-3 conventional errors, but they do not take away from the content.  Responses are thoughful, detailed and accurate.

 

Interview Write-up

 

Piece does not contain paragraphs and contains little to no reflection from interviews/transcripts
1 paragraph that contains flections from interviews and transcripts. 2-3 paragraphs that reflect careful thought and reflection from interviews and transcripts. 3 or more  paragraphs that reflect careful thought and reflection from interviews and transcripts.

 

Climbing Gear List

 

Piece is missing. Itemizied list of less than 10 items.  3-4  corresponding sentences are missing.
Itemized list of 10 items.  Includes cost and corresponding sentences.
Itemized list, including cost, of 10 items with corresponding  sentences.

 




Journal
and cover
Journal is missing several required components.  Responses present lack detail and thoughfulness.  Cover is missing.
Journal is missing some of the required components.  Responses are  lacking thoughfulness and details.  Cover included.
Journal contains each of the required components.  Responses are somewhat  thoughful and detailed.  Cover included.
Journal contains each of the required components.  Responses are  thoughful and detailed. Cover included.

 

Group Presentation

Several required components are missing.   Illustrations lack color and detail. 
2-3 required components are missing.  Each  student  has a speaking part.  Illustrations are colored and  detailed.   All  required components are presented.  Each  student  has a speaking part.  Illustrations are colored and full of detail. All required components are presented and extended.  Each  student  has a speaking part.  Illustrations are colored and full of detail.


Conclusion

Throughout this webquest, you have learned about the history of Mt Everest.  You have read about people who have conquered the tallest mountain in the world and of those who have died trying.  You now understand what it takes to successfully overcome a truly exteme physical and mental challenge.


Credits & References

PBS & Nova
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

Library ThinkQuest
http://library.thinkquest.org

Scholastic
http://teacher.scholastic.com

Everest Gear
http://store.everestgear.com/

EHow.com
http://www.ehow.com

"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere."


Based on a template from The WebQuest Page