USF's WebQuest
Title:
Mountain Madness: The conquest of Mt. Everest
Grade Level:
9th-12th
Author:
Michael R. Tolbert
Date:
April 10, 2005
Dear Colleague:
This unit is off the beaten path. It provides students the opportunity to explore a topic that receives little consideration from history textbook authors. It pulls concepts from several social studies disciplines but primarily deals with historical events. The content of this WebQuest includes a comprehensive history of the Mt. Everest's significance to world culture. Its importance to the people of Tibet, Nepal and many other nations through out the world is a primary focus. Students will explore the failures of men such as George Mallory, Rob Hall and Scott Fisher as well as the successes of Tenzing Norgay, Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner. Students will gain an understanding of the stresses of mountain climbing on the body and why so many have risked life and limb to conquer the mountain. Students will learn how to better utilize technology in the pursuit of knowledge.
Teacher's Page
Goals/Objectives:
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Days:
12 Class periods
NCSS Theme:
III. People, Places, and Environments
IX. Global Connections
Content:
This unit explores the conquest of the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. It allows students to gain knowledge and understanding of the history of Mt. Everest through research of figures such as George Mallery, Sir Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner. The unit also looks at the challenges high altitude climbing presents. Students will place Mt. Everest with in historical, political and national contexts while learning what it takes to be an Everest explorer.
Methods:
Students will construct knowledge and understanding of Mt. Everest related topics through cooperative learning, research of Internet and printed sources and construction of a website..
WebQuest Summary:
Goals/Objectives:
Students will be able to research various aspects of the history of the exploration of Mt. Everest.
Students will be able to develop and present a website that outlines a past expedition..
Students will be able to compare and contrast successful expeditions with unsuccessful expeditions.
Students will be able to respectfully critique other students work.
Students will be able to compare and contrast past climbing techniques and equipment with the present
Students will be able to analyze the significance of Mt. Everest to Nepalese, Tibetan and Western Civilizations and identify other similar icons.
Days:
6 Days
Content:
Landmark expeditions and the men and women who were a part of them.
The motivation behind Mt. Everest exploration
The nations involved with the mountain
How mountain climbing has progressed over the past 100 years
Successes and failures in Mt. Everest conquest.
Methods:
Student led research.
Student developed website
Critiquing others work.
Cooperative learning
Unit Information:
Unit Lesson Sequence
Day 1 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork What makes an explorer? Bellwork PowerPoint Attention Getter Exploration of extreme regions Teacher Developed Powerpoint pres. Introduction Where are we going?----Show some online videos from Website Online Everest video Group Work Break Students into groups of 3-4/ These groups will work together to complete the WebQuest tasks. Have each group create a name for themselves.
Day 2 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Rapid review of yesterday's work Bellwork PowerPoint Webquest/ Computer Lab What is Mt. Everest and what makes it different?----Fill out mountain survey Mountain Survey Worksheet
Day 3 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Online Seek and find Bellwork PowerPoint WebQuest/ Research for Website Develop a Website for an assigned Everest expedition----See guidelines Website Guidelines
Day 4 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Trash on Everest Bellwork PowerPoint WebQuest/ Research for Website Develop a Website for an assigned Everest expedition---See guidelines Website Guidelines
Day 5 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork What do we know so far? Bellwork PowerPoint WebQuest/ Research for Website Create a Website for an assigned Everest expedition---See guidelines Website Guidelines
Day 6 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Why do they risk their lives? Bellwork PowerPoint WebQuest Create an Everest Survival Guide---See guidelines Survival Guide Guidelines
Day 7 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Sherpa Tradition Bellwork PowerPoint WebQuest Finish Survival Guide---See Guidelines Survival Guide Guidelines Homework Letter home from Mt. Everest---See Guidelines Letter Guidelines
Day 8 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Tibet Bellwork PowerPoint Project Construction Everest Expedition Company Poster---See guidelines Poster Guidelines
Day 9 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Dangers of the Mountain Bellwork PowerPoint Project Construction Finish Everest Expedition Company Poster Poster Guidelines
Day 10 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Dangers of Climbing Bellwork PowerPoint Presentation Present websites to class Presentation Guidelines Peer Evaluation Website Critique---See Handout Critique Handout
Day 11 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork Everest Equipment Bellwork PowerPoint Presentation Present websites to class Presentation Guidelines Peer Evaluation Website Critique Critique Handout
Day 12 Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline
Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc) Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)Bellwork ABC Review Bellwork PowerPoint Assessment Everest Test Everest Assessment
This unit takes students off the beaten path traveled by most history textbooks. When the students are finished they should have gained an understanding of the life that has reverberated through out the Everest region for near over 100 years.
Credits/References:
See Teacher Resources