Conquering Everest!

A WebQuest for grade 4-8 (Soical Studies)

meganeriley@gmail.com

Objectives

Introduction

This lesson was developed as a fundamental part of a larger unit on Mountains. In this Webquest, students will gather information about Mt. Everest before packing and planning for their virtual climb up to the tallest mountain in the world. It is designed to engage students in working collaboratively to create thoughful and reflective responses to the information they find on the websites selected.

This lesson can be adapted for grades 3-8

Learners

This lesson is anchored in the fith grade social studies and involves geography, art, english/language arts and speaking to a lesser extent. It can easily be extended to the middle school level by modifying and adjusting the criteria. It can also be used in lower grades with some modification.

Before beginning the lesson, students should understand the concept of climate and how elevation affects temperature and atmosphere. They should have some prior experience with reading and using informational text. Students should also have a basic understanding of computers and the internet.

Objectives

1. Students will demonstrate their ability to create reflective, informational writing peices by gathering information from websites and organizing it in paragraph form.

2. Students will demonstrate their appreciation for different cultures by learning about and creating a picture of Sherpas on Mt. Everest.

3. Students will demonstrate their ability to work with others by combining the information they gather individually into a group oral presentation.

4. Students will demonstrate their ability to make descions based on information by completing the webquest tasks and explaining their rationale behind their descions.

Curriculum Standards

Social Sciences

View and draw simple maps and pictures to locate, describe, and show movement among places.

Use basic map elements to display geographic informations

Social Studies

Gather, use, and document information from multiple sources (e.g. print, electronic, human, primary, secondary.)

English/Language Arts

Write for different purposes and to a specific audience or person, adjusting tone and style as appropriate

Use a variety of descriptive word, demonstrating awareness of impact on audience.

Demonstrate knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and penmanship across the subject areas.
Investigate topics of interest and importance across the subject areas, selecting appropriate media sources, using effective research processes, and demonstrating ethical use of resources and materials
Speaking: Engage audience with appropriate verbal cues-- volume, pitch, phrasing, pace, and modulation; facial expressions; gestures; and eye contact.

The Arts

Use experiences, imagination, observations, essential elements, and organizational principles to achieve a desired effect when creating, presenting, and/or performing works of art.

Process

This WebQuest will take 1-2 weeks to complete, depending on how much time students are given during the day. Teachers should arrange for students to have work time in the library or computer lab. Designated time slots should be allocated for online research and inquiry.

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. 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.
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.

Variations

Steps could be broken up into several lessons.

Resources Needed

Describe what's needed to implement this lesson. Some of the possibilities:

School computers with internet access
Poster Board (1 per group)
Drawing/Art supplies/materials (markers, color pencils, ect..)
Books about Mt Everest (optional)

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

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.

PBS & Nova
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/
This site contains 360 degree photos of Mt. Everest campsites, as well as interviews and historical information.

Library ThinkQuest
http://library.thinkquest.org
Great for introducing students to Mt Everest.

Scholastic
http://teacher.scholastic.com
Great, ready-to-use facts and activities for students.

Everest Gear
http://store.everestgear.com/
Mountain climbing gear.

EHow.com
http://www.ehow.com
"How-to" internet site-- offers 'recipe' for climbing Mt. Everest.

One teacher is needed to impliment the lesson. Parent volunteers would be helpful while students are navigating websites. If possible, arrange for a rock climber to talk to the class about his/her experiences.

Evaluation

You can assess when students have successfully completed the required criteria with the following:

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
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.

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 "

Last updated on (12/12/05). Based on a template from The WebQuest Page