Implementation and integration notes: "Goal Setting & Decision Making"

These notes will help educators implement the activities for this phase and theme. They are included to provide an idea of the scope of the Read your Way to Everest activity.

DIVISION I - IV

A. Learner Outcomes

Students will:

• Set a goal to read a predetermined number of pages/words (group decision at the school level).
• Work collaboratively to meet a goal.
• Track and record their progress.
• Submit data and reports electronically.
• Communicate with others and conduct research via the Internet (including websites and E-mail).
• Demonstrate knowledge of Nepalese culture and traditions by planning and carrying out ceremonies and celebrations at the conclusion of the activity.
• Write a book report, news story or other written project.

B. General Information

Students who wish to participate in the Everest expedition can join in the Read Your Way to Everest project. This activity is offered as an alternative to the physical goals of the Stairway to Everest Challenge, introduced in Phase 1. The difference between the two programs is that Read Your Way to Everest is a language arts-based project ending in a choice of a student book report, picture, poem or story, whereas The Stairway to Everest is a physical activity ending with a news-story submission.

Byron will be climbing to the summit of Mt. Everest - an altitude of 8,850 metres. Byron challenges students, working in teams, to read 8,850 pages (or approximately that number of words). Teachers can decide if their entire classroom will form a team or if a class can be divided into a number of teams. This decision will depend on the reading level and interest of the students in each class.

Teachers have an excellent opportunity to integrate the Read Your Way to Everest challenge into their current language arts and literature curriculum. Students are challenged to read as many books - fiction as well as non-fiction - as possible during the expedition.

Students will have an opportunity to submit a choice of book reports, stories, posters or poems to Everest 2000. Selected material will be posted on the Everest 2000 Results and Submissions page. In addition, there may be an opportunity for individual stories, poems and book reviews to be printed in one of the participating SUN newspapers (Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg).

Links to the Other Features and Programs: The Read Your Way To Everest project continues in Phases 3 and 4 of the expedition. Phase 3 begins as Byron and the other members of the expedition reach Kathmandu and begin their trek to Basecamp. During this time, members of the expedition will be stopping in numerous villages and will be providing daily reports on the people and culture of Nepal. Students will be invited to investigate the food, religious ceremonies, celebrations, and the clothing of the Nepalese people.

This project is also an excellent complement to the telecollaborative project, 'Getting to Know You'. In Phase 4 of the expedition, students are invited to compare their own Canadian culture to that of Nepalese children.

C. On-line Opportunities!

• Use information in the Nepal section of the Everest 2000 website to learn about Nepalese culture and the traditional religious ceremonies that climbers participate in before leaving Basecamp. This tradition has been part of the expeditions since they began.
• View the online educational video from the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu.
  Buddhism video | Video and Audio Archive

• In Phase 3, follow the CBC Newsworld broadcasts and online updates (Daily Dispatch) as the Everest 2000 team travels through villages and visits schools and hospitals on their way to Basecamp. Use the information posted on the website, as well as communication opportunities, to help students research and plan their cultural activities for Phase 4 of Read Your Way to Everest.
• In Phase 5, students can post team goals and results, as well as their book reports, poems, pictures with captions, stories or news stories to the Results and Submissions page.

D. Telecollaborative Tips:

Though Everest 2000 is not officially running a telecollaborative project for this activity, teachers may want to team up with classrooms from other schools in their Read Your Way to Everest project. In choosing classes to team up with, teachers may choose their partners in the Getting to Know You telecollaborative project; select a school where they know another teacher; or e-mail the expedition education coordinator at info@everest2000.ca and request contact information for another school that is participating in the Everest 2000 education program.

E. Overview of this Project from Phase 2 - 5:

Phase 2: Set goals, choose reading groups (whole class, whole school or telecollaborataive group) and start reading.

Phase 3: Research and plan pre-climb ceremonies as well as post-climb celebrations to mark the success of reaching the goal of 8,850 pages in conjunction with the Everest 2000 successful summit attempt. Continue reading!

Phase 4: Carry out pre-climb ceremonies. Continue reading!
Celebration of Nepalese culture.

Phase 5: Celebrate the successful achievement of the students' goals and the Everest 2000 summit. Post results of the reading challenge and final versions of book reviews.

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