QUESTION: Into Thin Air Curriculum Ideas?

[Denise A. Mast]

I will be using an excerpt of Into Thin Air as part of my nonfiction unit.  I continue to add resources to my lesson plans.  This year we are focusing on persuasive writing as part of our study.  Please share any ideas that you might have to make this an engaging study. 

[Ryan Goble]

Hi Denise, can you tell us a bit more about the themes you explore with the film and the grade level (you can edit your discussion using the option feature:

I'm sure you're familiar with this film Everest and while these study guides aren't exactly the most innovative pedagogical tools there are usually some GREAT writing ideas and prompts in the Center for Learning guides.

[Denise A. Mast]

I was able to use clips from Everest and used the Discovery Channel multimedia and interactive graphics to extend the text through research.  The highlight was a panoramic view from the summit for sensory note taking skills. I used them as preliminary prereading tools to activate knowledge and questions and then provided follow up by requiring research notes from outside sources.

[Nancy J.]

 

I love that book. So many interesting science concepts that i think students would find fascinating such as what happens when oxygen gets thinner, how does the body respond, how does the skin freeze as well as some cultural ones about the sherpas and respecting the nature of the climb. I found the idea of so much man created waste such as plastic bottles,etc and the arrogance to bring a computer for someone else to carry  says something about our western  culture as well. Maybe questions on where they prepared enough? If less "creature comforts" were involved, would more have survived. Is there anything you think could have been done differently to prevent the tragedies?

    An interesting counter part might be the description of the scene with the men  once the boat has gone under in A Perfect Storm. I used that with a class once and they were totally engrossed.

[Denise A. Mast]

Nancy,

 

Thanks for the suggestions.  I was able to take the science route as well and use a Discovery Channel interactive graphich showing causes and effects of altitude sickness.  I would like to follow up on the cultural aspect and the need to be "connected."  I will use the Perfect Storm scene as I continue to revise my lesson plans.  Denise

[patsy everett]

There's a Frontline Documentary (about 2 hours, my class watched and discussed the last half of it) called "Storm Over Everest." It covers the same trek and has interviews from some of the names mentioned in Into Thin Air (curiously sans Krakauer which could be discussed as well...) that my students enjoyed. It put visuals of the top of Everest as well as the precarity of their situation. (My students couldn't get past the amputated fingers.)

There was also a brief article in a National Geographic that can be found here http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2010/10/left-on-everest.html that got good discussion as well. (Again, my students couldn't believe that dead bodies were visible on Everest, including Scott Fischer's.)

Finally, there's a Simpsons episode where Homer climbs the tallest mountain in Springfield that has allusions to Mallory's ascent and recent discovery called "King of the Hill." If you're short on time or don't like frivolous Simpsons cartoon watching, the second half (or really last few minutes) of the episode could be watched.

[Denise A. Mast]

Thanks for the resource.  The Frontline Documentary has peaked my interest.  The perspective and point of view element is a bonus in terms of discussion.  The students have read the magazine editorial commentary about this particular trek and analyzed the arguments.